Roger Corbin
Having worked extensively in remote areas in conjunction with the helicopter operators, Roger took the opportunity to attain his Commercial Helicopter Licence in 1981, and then entered into a partnership with Mr. John Currie. The company formed was Garden City Helicopters Pty. Ltd and it commenced deer recovery operations with a leased, piston engine Hughes 300 helicopter.
The company progressed over the next four years with the purchase of its first jet engine helicopter, a Hughes 500 in 1982. Moving towards the tourist market, a base was set up at Christchurch International Airport. The move to Christchurch in 1982 also initiated the start of the first Rescue Helicopter Service to be based in the South Island of New Zealand. Roger worked as Chief Pilot and Operations Director from 1982-85 establishing a sound reputation for what is presently the Westpac Rescue Helicopter for Canterbury, New Zealand.
Leaving Garden City Helicopters in 1985 Roger took a position with a small helicopter company (3 helicopters), called Hevi-Lift Pty Ltd, based at Mount Hagen in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea. Over the next five years he progressed to Senior Check and Training Pilot then on to Operations Manager. Working closely with the two owners of the company, Mr Tony Karas and Mr Mick McDonald, Roger assisted in building Hevi-Lift into a fourteen helicopter fleet and the most respected helicopter operation in PNG. Hevi-Lift was sold to Bromley and Manton, a larger public trading company in 1990.
In 1990 Roger joined Lloyds Aviation, an Adelaide-based company, for a one year contract on Oil Exploration based in Thailand and Burma. At the completion of this contract, Roger spent four years flying for the Surf Lifesaving Association as a pilot for the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service based in Sydney, Australia. On reaching Sydney, Roger found there was a need for experienced instructors. While continuing his work with Westpac Rescue, Roger formed Rotor-Lift Pty Ltd in early 1992 establishing a reputation for quality and high standards in pilot training and aircraft sales. Since then Rotor-Lift has prospered with more than thirty aircraft being sold world wide.
In early 2000, Rotor-Lift was awarded Tasmania's Police Rescue contract and Roger made a commitment to ensure Tasmania was served with an operation second to none. Rotor-Lift in Tasmania is now recognised for providing one of the most professional Helicopter Rescue services in Australia. In addition to managing the Tasmanian contract, Roger continues to pass on his expertise and experience to other services. In 2003 Roger provided the New South Wales Government with their new anti-terrorism twin engine helicopter and trained their pilots and crew.
Having established Rotor-Lift Helicopters in Tasmania, Roger sold his Sydney base of operations. The company now operates a further five helicopters in Tasmanian providing a variety of work including fire bombing, surveys, sling loading, scenic flights and pilot training.
