$70m chopper spend
A CAIRNS tourism operator is about to cast a $70m vote of confidence in the post-Covid economy with 10 of the most hi-tech aircraft in the world.
Nautilus Aviation has made its name as Northern Australia’s biggest helicopter operator with the lion’s share of its business coming from Cairns.
It is set to buy 10 new aircraft that are not quite helicopters – a fleet of zeroemission flying machines that are poised to revolutionise the traditional fuel-heavy industry.
Nautilus owner, rich-list entrepreneur and Morris Group chief executive Chris Morris, has signed a partnership to aerospace giant Embraer Group offshoot Eve Air Mobility to introduce the new aircraft, with flights to take off by 2026.
It is understood the electric vertical takeoff and land sustainability ing (eVTOL) machines cost about $7m apiece – and the first ones off the factory floor will be stationed in Cairns.
“This partnership is an exciting development for Morris Group and Nautilus Aviation,” Mr Morris said.
“We believe economic success and environmental go hand-inhand and aim to strengthen and enrich the environments in which we work.
“Eve’s eVTOL technology will integrate seamlessly into our operations to deliver a range of exciting zero-emission tourism experiences.”
Eve Air Mobility has big plans for the industry and is initially launching piloted aircraft with the intention of evolving to autonomous machines.
It dovetails perfectly into Nautilus’s goal of making all of its Great Barrier Reef scenic flights use electric aviation, in line with the wider Morris Group’s 2030 zeroemissions target.
Nautilus chief executive Aaron Finn said it had been difficult to avoid the biggest impact of greenhouse gas emissions from the burning of fuel in helicopters, despite the company having had an advanced eco-tourism certification for eight years.
“This will allow us to provide emission-free and quiet tours over the Great Barrier Reef, providing an unmatched eco experience to our customers,” he said.
Nautilus has been on a growth surge in recent years and now operates from a network of bases spanning Cairns, Port Douglas, Townsville, Darwin and Horn Island in the Torres Strait.
Last year, it bought GBR Helicopters from ASX-listed Experience Co, for about $17.5m.
Experience Co had spent $19.6m buying the company just two years earlier.