Our News

December 23 2012 The ATR-72 landing in Aoraki Mount Cook after ten years absence First visit to Mount Cook after ten years, Welcome back. The service is running throughout Christmas and New Year. There are 13 flights scheduled. Have a look at the Air New Zealand web site for details of prices and availability.

November 2012 - Follow us on Facebook Please like us on Facebook . You will be able to keep track on all daily updates and see all of the wonderful activities going on with Mount Cook Ski Planes and Helicopters.

July 2012 - Skiing Opens on the Tasman Glacier Daily Skiing trips are now running on New Zealands longest Glacier, the Tasman Glacier.  In the last couple of weeks more than 5 metres of snow fall has been recorded in the Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park, making for some great skiing conditions. There are two guiding companies located here in the Mount Cook Village offering daily ski trips on the glacier using our fixed wing Ski Planes and Helicopters.  For more information please contact us by phone or email.

Friday 25th February 2011 - Christchurch Earthquake Our heartfelt sympathies go out to all Christchurch residents and those in our wider community that have been directly effected by this devastating earthquake. Although it was felt by some here in the Mount Cook National Park we have been unaffected by the quake so it's business as usual for us.  Please don't hesitate to phone or email us if you wish to discuss any possible changes to an existing booking as a result of the earthquake or if you require assistance with a new booking. We wish you all safe travel.

 

Alex Miller - CEO...Sadly Missed It is with deep sadness that we record the death of our friend, business partner and CEO Alexander Bruce Miller (“Alec”) on Friday 4th February after a brief illness. Alec was a long time passionate enthusiast for Mount Cook Ski Planes, and a similarly passionate enthusiast for the New Zealand Southern Alps, and the flora and fauna of New Zealand. He realised his dream by becoming a co-owner of Mount Cook Ski Planes in 2002, and continued to bring his passion for the mountains and making them accessible to the wider community through our ski plane business until his death. He will be sadly missed by his family and by all our past and present staff, as well as by all the members of the alpine community and the aviation community. In remembrance, Richard Royds Director and General Manager

Seiya Morita - Home to Japan 12th Nov 09 Those of you who have visited us regularly over the past 4 years will know Seiya Morita, he has done a great job taking care of our Japanese Passenger Services and Aircraft Loading.  Seiya is heading back to Japan with his wife Naoko, he is going home to assist with the running of the family business and to await the arrival of their new baby due in March next year.  Here are a few of our staff and partners who gathered to wish them well. We are now busy recruiting our new summer staff so will have some new faces in the team next time you visit!

 

Thursday 22nd October .... TNZ/CCT Japan and Korean Air Famil visit the Tasman Glacier Mount Cook Ski Planes recently hosted this famil group who were lucky enough to land on the Tasman Glacier in one of our Pilatus Porter Ski Planes.  Our Pilot Ross Anderson snapped this great photo for us. Taking great care of this group of Agents from Japan and Korea are Katy Medlock and Naoki Inohiza from Tourism New Zealand.

 

Mass fly-in creates buzz at Aoraki/Mount Cook  21-23 August 09 More than 25 Cessna 180/185 aircraft carrying 95 pilots visited Aoraki Mount Cook Airport this weekend. Richard Royds, General Manager Mount Cook Ski Planes, is  a member of the aviation enthusiasts group and helped organise this popular weekend visit. "Not only is it a beautiful setting with loads of activites for people to enjoy, it's the ideal opportunity to use the Cessna aircraft for what they were designed to do - remote area flying.  They're a real workhorse of an aeroplane which is why we still have five in operation at Mount Cook Ski Planes."

Mount Cook Ski Planes on Youtube   Click on this link to view the footage  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0keAkM_BbZM

Skiing Opens on the Tasman Glacier - 28th June 2009 Mount Cook Ski Planes have flown the first group of skiers for the season up on to the Tasman Glacier.  The Alpine Guides party lead by Mountain Guide Dave McKinley, fresh from the top of Mt Everest, have had an awesome day with 16km of untracked powder snow.  No lift queues or give way signs required here  when you have the whole glacier to yourself.  For more information on this easily accessible intermediate terrain visit www.skithetasman.co.nz.

 

TRENZ - June 2009 Karen McBride our Passenger Services Manager and Marijke Dunselman, Heliworks Queenstown Ltd and Strategies Marketing Consultancy Ltd attended TRENZ in Auckland last week. TRENZ  (Tourism Rendezvous New Zealand) is an annual event giving Tourism Operators the opportunity to promote their products direct to the overseas Wholesale Market.  This world class event attracts Buyers from all over the world, this year we met with strong contingents from Australia, Asia, UK, Japan and the United States. We showcased our new Helicopter Flight products this year which attracted a lot of interest from both the overseas buyers and New Zealand Inbound Operators.

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TNZ Media Famil - April 2009 We were delighted to host a Tourism New Zealand Media Famil last month.  The 'Walker' TV programme is a top-rating show on the Chinese TV Travel Channel, with an audience of over 60 million.  Liang Zi, pictured interviewing our pilot Ross Anderson, is the #1 host for this programme.  She is also a well known documentrary director, author and photo jounalist in China.  Thanks very much to Anthony Sturrock from TNZ for this image.
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	GTA Tour Group - March 2009 Early March we had a visit from a very special group.  We pride ourselves on providing a personal and caring service tailored to meet the special needs of all our clients. This group were delighted with their glacier landing scenic flight with us.  Hope those brakes are on!
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CAA Directors Award for Safety 2005 The Director of Civil Aviation Awards are presented each year to an individual or organisation with an overwhelming safety ethos. The winners have gone out of their way to do the right thing. Their actions have directly resulted in safety standards being raised, and they have encouraged others in the aviation industry to do the same. The 2005 Organisation Award went to Aoraki Mount Cook Ski Planes. This organisation has been involved in the aviation industry for 50 years. Today, they operate scenic flights using Cessna and Pilatus Porter aircraft. They are the only fixed-wing company making glacier landings in the Southern Alps. Aoraki Mount Cook Ski Planes have led by example in mountain flying safety. Knowledge of their reputation for safety has spread around the world. The Director of Civil Aviation, John Jones, said on presenting the award, "This organisation's safety culture is readily apparent from the ticket counter to the cockpit - it is reflected in all activities associated with its operations. Surviving the challenges of operating in a difficult environment for so many years in such a safe and professional manner is an example to all aviation in New Zealand." The award was received on behalf of Aoraki Mount Cook Ski Planes by Alex Miller,"We are thrilled and proud to be recipients of the Directors Award. As we operate within 2 national parks of world heritage status, we have worked at developing an environmental awareness and policy sensitive to other park users and the environment of the Aoraki/Mount Cook and Westland National Parks. We recognise the global significance of this outstanding area, and we are delighted to work in harmony with the Department of Conservation's vision."
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Dorothy Cooper 2003 Dorothy Cooper first flew with us in 1963, we were delighted to have her back again for another flight with us 40 years later!  Both of these photos were taken on the Tasman Glacier.  Thanks very much Dorothy for sending us these images.  We hope to see you again soon!	Dorothy Cooper 1963
	Dorothy Cooper 2003
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