Chopperline acquired by the Curry Kenny Aviation Group

In late February 2007, Chopperline Flight Training was acquired by the Curry Kenny Group. The group is a major player in Australia and Papua New Guinea. The Curry Kenny Aviation Group has  steadily grown in size to about a dozen aeroplane and helicopter companies which operate over forty aircraft ranging from the Robinson R22 training helicopters to the twin engine IFR Bell 430 used in off shore marine pilot transfer and SAR operations. Aeroplane types include Cessna Citation Jets, Twin Otters Cessna Caravans and other smaller aircraft used in training and tourism operations.

The group is also involved in large property development and aviation projects. Although the property development projects overshadow the aviation portfolio, the group’s Principal, Grant Kenny, describes his aviation interests as his real passion. Further aviation acquisitions are underway. For example, Grant Kenny is finalising his offer to purchase Alan Sweeney’s share of Aviation Tourism Australia (AVTA). AVTA has grown at an enviable pace, and has number of helicopters, seaplanes and aeroplane servicing the entire Whitsunday region's mainland & island resorts.

In summary - group’s assets

The Curry Kenny Aviation Group now operates Chopperline Flight Training at Caloundra; OceanAir at Dreamworld, Gold Coast; Aviation Tourism Australia, at Hamilton Island and Sydney; and Mackay Helicopters a marine pilot transfer operation.

Career path for new pilots

The takeover of many other operations has enabled Grant to pursue a personal objective. When Chopperline was acquired by the Curry Kenny Aviation Group, Grant said he wanted others to share the passion which drove him to acquire a licence, and many years later form the aviation element within the Curry Kenny Aviation Group. He stated his dream was to somehow provide an opportunity for new Chopperline graduates to enter his company group and get that “first job” to build up their flying hours.

As Grant now operates over 40 aircraft, it is feasible a new graduate can move up a career ladder within the Curry Kenny Aviation Group. Selected graduates can now move from a Robinson helicopter to a heavy multi-engine IFR helicopter within his group, subject to vacancies.
Grant’s first step in delivering his dream occurred when a recent graduate from Chopperline Flight Training was employed by AVTA at Hamilton Island. The new pilot started his career flying a Robinson R44 helicopter around the Whitsundays on tourist operations; hopefully, more will follow when vacancies occur.

When he acquired Chopperline Flight Training, Grant saw it as a way of assisting the group's needs in terms of quality pilots. Grant wants to identify people who are potentially good pilots to grow through the business, stepping up into more complex multi-engine IFR types in the fleet. In a recent media interview Grant said, “Hopefully we can give people a start. They can start on the simple missions, and then with experience, grow through the ranks. I’m pretty sympathetic to the plight of newly qualified pilots. So I'm very aware new graduates need a break." Chopperline staff was also identified as a source of expertise and experience. Some staff members will become involved with other companies in the group by using a short term exchange programme.

In this way Chopperline staff can be rotated to gain experience or supervise those who have recently joined the happy team. It is interesting to note Chopperline instructional staff have accumulated 45,000 hours of flying and instructing experience. The school is also a good venue to conduct short courses for other group staff in the more remote areas; thus bringing them up to date or qualifying them for promotion on their flight line.