GCH Aviation

25/05/2025

Helicopter Pilot Training – Garden City Helicopters, Christchurch.

Whether you're pursuing a career as a commercial pilot, looking to expand your skills for business use, or simply chasing the thrill of flying for fun, Garden City Helicopters offers the experience, expert team, and world-class facilities to help you reach your goals.
With an unwavering commitment to quality, professionalism, and safety, we ensure every trainee pilot receives top-tier instruction and real-world experience. These values are at the core of our operations and are passed on to every student who trains with us.
There’s nothing like the exhilaration and satisfaction of piloting your helicopter. Begin your journey with Garden City Helicopters in Christchurch and lift off into the skies.

21/05/2025

Bacon butties & muffins this morning at our Christchurch base for the Breast Cancer Foundation. GCH Aviation raised $752.50 for the cause 💕🎀

21/05/2025

A great shot of our Challenger 604 on her recent visit to Tauranga!

The Challenger 604 continues to prove why it’s one of the most popular large cabin business jets in the world. With a spacious, stand-up cabin that comfortably seats up to 10 passengers, a 4,000 nautical mile range, and exceptional performance on shorter runways, the C-604 offers true intercontinental capability while still being highly versatile for regional trips like this one.

Whether it's a quick hop across the Tasman or a non-stop journey deep into the Pacific, the C-604 delivers unmatched comfort, reliability, and value.

Get in touch with our team today
Ph/WhatsApp +64-275443408
[email protected]




Thanks to Warwick Hamilton for this beautiful photo of our C-604.

18/05/2025

Meet the Commercial Pilot Team: Juliet

Duration of being a pilot:
16 years - started working as a pilot in 2009.

What inspired you to become a pilot?
Flying anything is pretty epic, but I thought airport to airport in a plane wasn’t quite it for me...then I did a glacier flight as a passenger down at Mt Cook. The pilot on that flight was kind enough not to fob me off when I asked about what was involved in becoming a heli pilot, and talked me through it. The rest is history...I actually saw that same pilot 2 years into my career, and had to go thank him for the part he played in helping me get here. He had no clue he’d had so much impact!

What is your favourite flight we offer?
Aoraki-Mt Cook tour - can’t get enough of that awesome scenery.

Where is your favourite place to fly in NZ?
Anywhere in the mountains!

What is your favourite machine to fly and why?
I like all the types I fly. They’re all my babies for different reasons...and apparently, it’s not good form to pick one kid out as favourite over the others..?

Why should people add a helicopter flight to their bucket list?
Being in a helicopter is unlike anything else - you have a spectacular view, you feel like you’re going slowly, so you get a good look at everything. But you actually cover a lot of distance in not much time. It just gives you a very different perspective on things that you think you’re familiar with.

Interesting fact about you?
For as long as I can remember, I’ve loved space, and originally wanted to be an astronaut. But when it became clear that wasn’t an option, I started looking closer to home. And that’s how I ended up flying helicopters...

15/05/2025

Meet Our Commercial Pilot Team:

1. Duration of being a pilot?15 years

2. What inspired you to become a pilot? I was inspired by the diverse opportunities within the aviation industry and the many career paths it offers. The ability to continuously grow, specialize, and explore different aspects of flying really drew me in.

3. What favourite flight you recommend people do? I like the Mt Cook Experience, you get to view the the Southern Alps, Canterbury Plains, Lord of the Rings Country, Mt Cook and even get to land on top of a mountain.

4. Where is your favourite place in NZ to fly? Thats a really hard one! I loved my flying I did with Wellington Helicopters, Great variety of flying up there.

5. What is your favourite machine to fly and why? The BK117 - The versitily of these machines is incredible. They are great for fire fighting, lifting and transporting big groups of people.

6. Why should people add a helicopter flight to their bucket list? Taking a helicopter flight is something you’ve got to experience at least once in your lifetime. It’s such a cool way to see our country, everything looks completely different. Whether you’re flying over a city, mountains, or the coast its unforgettable.

7. Interesting fact about you?I can fly 9 different varieties of helicopters and have flown in South America, Fiji & Vanuatu as well as at our New Zealand bases of Kaikoura Helicopters Wellington Helicopters GCH Aviation Coastwide .

13/05/2025

🛩️ Tonga, redefined! 🤿

For those who value privacy, comfort, and flexibility, our dedicated Challenger 604 (pictured) offers direct access to the untouched beauty of Tonga - on your terms.

Touch down and skip the crowds, and tailor your itinerary to suit your pace. Morning snorkel with humpback whales? Sunset beachside dinner on a private island? You decide.

No more timetables, missed connections, or lost days. This is travel elevated - every detail, taken care of.

Your South Pacific escape, your schedule.



Ph +64-275443408
[email protected]
www.gchjetops.com

12/05/2025

We are proud to support the Child Cancer Foundation's, Sparkle for Hope online auction.

Garden City Helicopters Christchurch City TourTake your adventure to new heights with a scenic helicopter ride over Ōtautahi Christchurch. Soar above snow-cappe

08/05/2025

A clear afternoon at the GCH Aviation Jet Centre in Christchurch yesterday with Originair’s Jetstream fleet on the ramp.

Our dedicated facility is purpose-built for private and charter flights, offering spacious ramp parking, secure hangarage, VIP lounges, and direct jet-to-helicopter transfers - all backed by a team that understands discreet and efficient support.

We welcome our guests both domestically and internationally, where they can enjoy a stress-free transition from aircraft touchdown to their ultimate destination.

Efficient, discreet, and ready when you are.

📧 [email protected]
📞 +64 3 741 5334
🌐 www.gchaviation.com

06/05/2025

At a ceremony in Parliament last night, two of our Greymouth team Hernan Holliday and Zack Armstrong were honored with a NZ Search and Rescue award for the rescue of a tramper who was trapped between boulders on the Taipo River on the 14th July 2024.
By the time the helicopter reached the tramper, she had been in fast flowing icy cold water for 40 minutes and was becoming unconscious.
We thank Zack and Hernan for their service to the people of the West Coast.

06/05/2025

Land on the lawn of one of New Zealand's premier luxury Lodge Wharekauhau Country Estate from our downtown Wellington Helicopters Helipad.
Let our pilot do the driving and have a luxurious degustation lunch in style.
https://gchaviation.com/wellington-wharekauhau-heli-lunch/