Our Staff/Instructors

Dick Arnold

Managing Director/CEO

Dick is the owner, CEO and Managing Director for Townsville Helicopters which has grown since first opening in 2008 to know include three other sister brands - National Aviation Academy, ZephAir Australia and Aviatrix Australia. He has been flying helicopters for 34 years and during this time he has accumulated over 19,500 hours in command of helicopters with over 7,000 hours instructing. He is qualified to conduct flight tests for Private and Commercial Helicopter licences throughout Australia and for his own company. He is endorsed in a variety of aircraft including the following;

• Bell 47
• R22
• H269
• R44
• Bell 206 and Bell 206L
• Bell 407
• Bell 204/205
• AS350 BA, B2, B3, FX
• H500
• EC130

His career has included 11 years mustering in the Cloncurry/Gulf region and 6 years permanent flying in Canada.  He has flown in almost all VFR operations including:

• Wildlife surveys
• Precision longline and sling work
• Film and photography
• Tranquilizer darting of Bears
• Geophysical Survey/ Bird Towing
• Aerial fire suppression both in Australia and Canada

Tim Tanner

Head of Operations/ Chief Pilot

Tim has a leading role in the management of the company in his position as Type Specialist for helicopters; managing student flight training and developing the company’s tourism operations.

Tim holds a Commercial Pilot's Licence – Helicopter, with ATPL theory credits and is our senior Grade 1 Flight Instructor, endorsed on all company aircraft including R22, R44, & AS350.

As the senior pilot Tim regularly conducts specific air-work operations supporting companies around North Queensland with small, medium, and large-scale projects.

Sam Arnold

Senior Grade 1 Helicopter Instructor/ Charter Pilot / Safety Manager

Sam obtained his Commercial Pilots Licence at the age of 18 and has since become a valued member of the team.

Starting out teaching theory, Sam soon achieved his flight instructor rating and is now a grade 1 instructor endorsed on the R22, R44, & AS350. With experience in charter, remote air-work and vertical reference long line operations Sam aids various companies across all of Queensland. 

Having had exposure to aviation from a young age Sam understands the importance of his role as company safety manager. Sam works hard to ensure that the companies staff, students and clients experience a secure working environment. 

Mick Eden

Helicopter Examiner / Senior Grade 1 Helicopter Instructor / Charter Pilot

Mick joined our team from a rural agricultural and civil construction background, bringing with him valuable experience for teaching rural helicopter operations and conducting air-work supporting construction companies. As a retired serving member of the Australian Army, Mick brings with him strong leadership and instructing qualities to assist with student training.

After completing his licence through Townsville Helicopters, Mick originally started with the company as a theory instructor. He soon moved up the ranks to become one of our Base Pilots, flying scenic and charter flights, and is now a qualified flight instructor flying and instructing on the R22, R44, & AS350 helicopters.

A great profile of Mick discussing making the move from a military career to civilian career in aviation can be found here.

Isaac Lowe

Grade 2 Flight Instructor/ Charter Pilot

Beginning his aviation career as a student here at Townsville Helicopters in 2018, Isaac quickly gained his Commercial Pilot Licence and was sought after as a pilot in North West Queensland spending 2 years working in tourism, charter and cross country ferrying. A much welcome repose from being a Carpenter in Sydney.

Isaac got his first taste of teaching life as one of our Private Theory Instructors and has since worked his way up as our newest Grade 2 Flight Instructor, endorsed in R22, R44 and AS350.

 He is known as our office coffee pot and tells the most terrible jokes... however, his bright and bubbly - always positive attitude makes him an incredible asset to our crew. 

Georgie Arnold

Social Media Marketing Manager / Charter Pilot / Aviatrix Australia Business Manager

Growing up in the industry, becoming a Commercial Helicopter Pilot was a dream Georgie had since she was young. After completing high school she committed to her dreams and worked hard for her licence at the age of 19. As the only female in her class of seventeen, she became super passionate about educating and encouraging more women into the aviation industry and took on our sister brand Aviatrix Australia. 

Growing up in this community she always felt supported and was introduced to the numerous career pathway options available in aviation however, knew that there are other females who didn’t feel welcome and stereotypically only see aviation as mustering, tourism or airline work. She connects with hundreds of women around Australia to highlight the different options available in this industry and is a strong ambassador for women in aviation. 

Georgie is our 5ft little pocket rocket, she handles all our social media and marketing as well as taking to the sky as our bright and bubbly charter Pilot. 

Will Ellis

Senior Flight Theory Instructor / Charter Pilot

Will comes from a Helicopter Licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineering background of 17 years. During that time he has supported various helicopter operations around the world including Africa, The Middle East, Europe, UK, The Mediterranean, PNG and Australia.

Will has aviation experience in support:

• Offshore oil and gas
• SAR/EMS
• Charter/scenic
• Australian Defence Force

Will has always been fascinated with aircraft since a young age and always loved to travel; finding a career in aviation was the perfect fit and he fell into it seamlessly straight after high school.

Will completed a CPL(H) with Townsville Helicopters in 2015 and has joined us this year as our Theory Instructor. He currently holds endorsements on the R22 and R44.