Alpine activities can be dangerous. Weather and snow conditions can change rapidly, a fact that must be respected by
all mountain adventurers. Because of this our number one priority is your safety. Alpine Heli Ski have developed a range
of programs, systems and standards to minimise risk and maximise excitement.
Alpine Heli-Ski Ltd guides are chosen for a wide range of skills. Not only must they hold professional industry
qualifications, they must also be highly experienced (locally and internationally), personable and most importantly
be able to deliver an excellent heli-day to all abilities of skiers and boarders. Our guides are certified to NZ industry
standards; however at Alpine Heli-Ski Ltd we have even tighter requirements than the NZ industry code. All senior
guides are level 2 avalanche certified; this is the highest avalanche certification available in NZ and is only achieved
after many years of field training and study. Our Guiding Director position is held by a NZMGA fully certified ski guide.
This qualification is the highest Heli-Ski guide qualification available in NZ.
Every winter all guides attend our pre-season training program.
This program covers:
• Crevasse rescue
• Avalanche Transceiver searching
• Avalanche Rescue
• Ski guiding techniques
• Snow safety
• Route selection
• Helicopter loading certificate
• Emergency Procedures
• Radio Communications
• Emergency snow shelters
• Safety briefings
• First Aid
Snow Safety
Alpine Heli Ski Ltd has developed a comprehensive snow and avalanche management system. This includes
procedures for collecting weather and snow information, evaluating snowpack stability, assessing hazards in
the terrain, and determining our daily skiing program. Observations are also exchanged between highways
departments and ski areas in Queenstown and Wanaka. Alpine Heli-Ski Ltd is a contributing member of the NZ
Mountain Safety Council ‘infoex’ avalanche program.
All guests are provided with avalanche safety beacons and instructed in their use.
Pilots
All of our pilots have extensive hours of flying in local conditions and are highly skilled and experienced in winter
mountain operations. They hold a New Zealand Commercial Helicopter Pilot Licence and are regularly subjected to
stringent performance checks to meet New Zealand CAA Part 135 requirements. These are specific to specialised
techniques required for alpine flying.
Helicopters
Alpine Heli-Ski Ltd only use high performance AS350BA/B2/B3 Squirrel and Hughes 500E helicopters, both these
models are powerful, light and maneuverable making them ideally suited to NZ mountain flying conditions. Helicopter
maintenance facilities are inspected and approved by the NZ Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). All maintenance
procedures comply with international civil aviation safety standards.
