As part of its growth strategy, Hevilift Australia has opened a new operating base at Perth International, Western Australia, with the repositioning of an ATR72-500 from its home base at Brisbane International for fly-in/fly-out charter work for the mining and resources sector, chief executive Ashley Roy announced.

“Looking forward to delivering FIFO services to our Western Australia launch customers from our new operating base at Perth Airport. A great effort by our ATR72 operating crew delivering VH-FVM (msn 979) to Perth from Brisbane yesterday. Exciting times ahead!” he commented.

The charter specialist has also added its own line maintenance capability and spare parts depot in Perth and has pilots and maintenance personnel stationed there, Roy told Smart Aviation. Maroomba Airlines' former chief executive Peter Scott has been appointed as Hevilift Australia’s regional manager for Western Australia.

According to the ch-aviation fleets module, Hevilift Australia operates three ATR 72-500s, with a fourth, VH-FVX (msn 986), to be delivered from lessor Avation. The aircraft, currently in storage at Cairns, will be delivered in September, said Roy. The company also owns two ATR42-300s – VH-YWH (msn 194) and VH-YWX (msn 304), ch-aviation data reveals.

It also used to operate a DHC-6-300, P2-KSG (msn 509), which has been transferred to its operational base at Mount Hagen, Papua New Guinea, according to Roy.

The company's rotor-wing fleet includes AW139, S-76, Bell Helicopter 412/212 and 407, Eurocopter 145, and Russian MIL-8 Mil Helicopters, according to the company website. Its charter services cover a variety of sectors, including mining, construction, survey, cargo, garrison support, and aerial firefighting operations.

Roy said Australia’s mining and resource sector had continued to grow during the pandemic, creating opportunities for charter operators, especially for those with newer aircraft. However, mining companies increasingly were looking for environmental performance. They were not just choosing charter operators based on the environmental performance of their aircraft, but also on companies’ level of environmental awareness.

With an ageing fleet of DHC-8-100s and DHC-8-300s in Western Australia, Roy said Havilift, with its ATRs, is well placed to secure more contracts from mining and resource companies in the region. He said the company’s ATR - Avions de Transport Régional turboprops are equipped with gravel kits, giving them the flexibility to fly in and out of unpaved airstrips.