HeliSupport
HeliSupport is a privately held New Zealand helicopter MRO company based in Wanaka, CAA Part 145 certified and an approved Airbus Helicopters Service Centre. Founded in 2004 by the Buick brothers, it maintains 50+ helicopters across the South Island and provides maintenance, refinishing, avionics, parts, leasing and the StartStick portable GPU product.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2004
- HeadquartersWanaka, New Zealand
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What HeliSupport does
HeliSupport New Zealand Limited is a privately held helicopter maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) company headquartered at 8 Mustang Lane, Wanaka Airport, founded in 2004 by brothers Kelly Buick (CEO) and Jason Buick (Engineering Manager), both 30+-year aviation veterans. Operating from a single facility in Wanaka with 11-50 employees, HeliSupport is CAA Part 145 certified and an Approved Airbus Helicopters Service Centre with authorized Safran (Turbomeca) Arriel engine support, holding the MRO Certificate CER-MRO-4774-2025. The company maintains over 50 helicopters nationally for operators across Queenstown, Wanaka, Te Anau, Mount Cook and Fox Glacier.
HeliSupport operates six integrated service lines: (i) line and heavy maintenance, inspections, component repair and refurbishment on Airbus/Safran platforms (AS350, EC120, EC130, H125/H130, Arriel 1B1/1D1/1E2/2B1); (ii) airframe refinishing via an on-site custom paint booth and Generation Global interior solutions; (iii) avionics installation, repair, upgrades and certification; (iv) specialist capabilities including dynamic component inspections, engine module changes, Dalic cadmium plating and ACES vibration analysis calibrations; (v) helicopter sales and leasing with multiple Airbus AS350B3+ and H125 airframes listed; and (vi) parts sales through its HelisShopNZ sub-brand carrying 209+ SKUs of airframe parts, dynamic components, Arriel engine modules, FCU/HMU assemblies and avionics, with international logistics support. The company has also productized the StartStick portable 28V Li-Ion ground power unit (patent-pending) available in 10/15/20 models.
Commercially, HeliSupport runs a sales-led, high-touch B2B model with regional contacts across New Zealand and now Australia (via a Sydney-based Sales & Marketing Manager), quote-based pricing on all services and parts, and 24/7 Aircraft-on-Ground (AOG) emergency response. Distribution is through the Wanaka facility and the HelisShopNZ online storefront; customer segments are commercial and private helicopter operators and aircraft buyers requiring certified MRO, parts, and acquisition support. The company carries no external investment and operates as an independent family-owned business.
HeliSupport firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- HeliSupport
- Legal name
- HeliSupport New Zealand Limited
- Website
- https://helisupportnz.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2004
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- HeliSupport is a privately held New Zealand helicopter MRO company based in Wanaka, CAA Part 145 certified and an approved Airbus Helicopters Service Centre. Founded in 2004 by the Buick brothers, it maintains 50+ helicopters across the South Island and provides maintenance, refinishing, avionics, parts, leasing and the StartStick portable GPU product.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
HeliSupport industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Helicopter Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) Services
- NAICS
- Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing (33641), Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336413), Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance (811210)
- SIC
- Aircraft Parts & Auxiliary Equipment, Nec (3728), Aircraft Engines & Engine Parts (3724)
- akta.pro primary industry
- MRO Engineering, Technical Publications & CAMO Support (IMABALAO)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Parts & Materials Support (Rotables Pooling, Distribution, Repair Management) (TLAKAJAK), Component MRO (Avionics, Hydraulics, Pneumatics, Electrical) (TLAKAJAC), Maintenance Planning, CAMO & Technical Records/Continuing Airworthiness (TLAKAJAJ), Component MRO (LRU/Rotables, Hydraulics, Pneumatics) (IMABALAD)
Keywords
Where HeliSupport is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Wanaka
- HQ country
- New Zealand
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices1 record
Markets served
HeliSupport business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Maintenance Services: Line maintenance, inspections, heavy maintenance, refurbishment, and component repair services for helicopters. CAA Part 145 certified maintenance operations.
- Parts Sales (HelisShopNZ): Comprehensive stock of spares, rotable, overhauled and repaired components and modules. Online exchange inventory with international logistics support.
- Helicopter Sales & Leasing: Aircraft sales including pre-purchase inspection, paint finish, custom configuration, documentation review. Also offers leasing options for own aircraft and for third-party owners.
- Refinishing Services: Airframe repairs and refinishing with on-site customized aircraft paint booth. Interior and exterior painting services.
- Avionics Services: Full new aircraft configuration, repairs, and additions to existing avionics suites. Installation, testing and certification services. StartStick sales and installation.
- Specialist Capabilities: Engine module changes, dynamic component inspections, Dalic cadmium plating, ACES calibration services.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Quote-based pricing for all services |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
HeliSupport product offering
Product offeringCore offering
HeliSupport operates a CAA Part 145 certified helicopter maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility at Wanaka Airport, specialising in Airbus Helicopters and Safran engine products. The company delivers line maintenance, heavy maintenance, inspections, refurbishments, engine module changes, dynamic component inspections, Dalic cadmium plating, ACES calibrations, avionics installation and upgrades, airframe and interior refinishing, helicopter sales and leasing, and online parts supply through HeliShopNZ.
Product overview
HeliSupport is a helicopter maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) company operating as an approved Airbus Helicopters Service Centre. The company offers a unified portfolio of aviation services organized into six core areas: Maintenance (CAA Part 145 approved MRO specializing in Airbus and Safran products), Refinishing (with on-site paint booth and Generation Global interior services), Avionics (installation, repair and upgrades), Specialist Capabilities (dynamic component inspections, engine module changes, Dalic cadmium plating, ACES calibrations), Sales & Leasing (helicopter acquisition and leasing services), and Parts Sales through HeliShopNZ. The HeliShopNZ component provides a comprehensive parts inventory including airframe parts, dynamic components (Bevel Reduction Gearbox, Epicyclic, Tail Rotor, Main Rotor Shaft, Swashplate, Servo Controls), engine modules (Arriel series), avionics, and StartStick ground power units. The company currently has several Airbus AS350B3+ and H125 helicopters listed for sale or lease.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- HelisShopNZ: Parts and components e-commerce platform offering helicopter spares, rotable, overhauled & repaired components and modules.
Products and services
- Helicopter Maintenance Services CAA Part 145 approved MRO service specializing in Airbus Helicopters (AS350, EC120, EC130, H125/H130) and Safran engine products. Services include line maintenance, scheduled and unscheduled inspections, heavy maintenance, refurbishment, component repair and facilitating overhaul for commercial and private helicopter operators in New Zealand.
- Refinishing Services Full airframe repairs and refinishing with an on-site customized aircraft paint booth, offering interior, exterior and component refinishing including Generation Global interior refurbishment services tailored to aviation design requirements.
- Avionics Services New aircraft avionics configuration, repairs, upgrades, and additions to existing avionics suites. Includes installation, testing and certification services, plus StartStick portable ground power unit sales and installation.
- Specialist Capabilities Dynamic component inspections, Safran engine module changes, Dalic selective cadmium plating for corrosion resistance and friction reduction, and ACES systems calibrations for aircraft vibration analysis and precision balancing.
- Helicopter Sales and Leasing Helicopter acquisition services including pre-purchase inspection, paint finish, custom configuration, documentation review, and domestic or international shipping. Leasing options offered for HeliSupport-owned aircraft and on behalf of third-party owners.
- HeliShopNZ Parts Sales Online parts storefront stocking 209+ helicopter parts including airframe components, dynamic components (Bevel Reduction Gearbox, Epicyclic, Tail Rotor, Main Rotor Shaft, Swashplate, Servo Controls), Safran Arriel engine modules, FCU/HMU assemblies, avionics, starter generators, batteries, and StartStick ground power units. International shipping available.
- StartStick Portable Ground Power Unit Ultra-lightweight patent-pending 28V Portable/Stowable Ground Power Unit powered by high-power Li-Ion (Nanophosphate) cells. Available in StartStick 10, 15, and 20 models for helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft, and ground vehicles.
Companies that use HeliSupport
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
HeliSupport technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
HeliSupport partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Airbus HelicopterscoreLong and established relationship as an Approved Airbus Helicopters Service Centre. Specialises in Airbus products including AS350, EC120, EC130, and H125/H130 helicopters. Network partner status with Airbus Helicopters.
- SafrancoreSpecialises in Safran (formerly Turbomeca) Arriel engine products including Arriel 1B1, 1D1, 1E2, 2B1 engines and related modules/FCU/HMU components. Authorized support for Safran engine products.
- Concorde BatteriesminorPreferred supplier of Concorde Batteries for aviation battery needs.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
HeliSupport competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Heli-One: Independent helicopter MRO provider (Canada-headquartered) serving S-92, H175 and other Airbus platforms with full MRO, component repair and rotables support. Directly comparable in that it is a helicopter-only aftermarket specialist offering OEM-aligned services and rotables pooling in a manner analogous to HeliSupport.
- Able Aerospace (Velocity Aircraft): U.S.-based helicopter component MRO focused on dynamic components, rotor head assemblies and rotables overhaul across Airbus and Bell helicopters. Overlaps with HeliSupport's dynamic component inspections, engine module work and parts/repairs distribution (HelisShopNZ).
- Precision Aviation Group (PAG): Multi-brand aerospace aftermarket provider offering helicopter and fixed-wing MRO, component repair, rotables and accessories support. Comparable to HeliSupport's bundled MRO + parts + accessories model targeting smaller operators rather than airline-scale MRO customers.
- Vector Aerospace (a Safran subsidiary): A helicopter-focused MRO specialist now part of Safran, providing line maintenance, heavy maintenance, component repair and rotables across Airbus, Bell and Sikorsky platforms. Closest direct comp to HeliSupport given similar Airbus/Safran platform orientation, helicopter-only focus and component MRO + parts distribution model.
Broad incumbents
- StandardAero: One of the largest independent aerospace MRO providers globally, with a substantial helicopter MRO division (including the former Vector Aerospace business) supporting Airbus, Safran, Pratt & Whitney and GE platforms. Comparable as a multi-platform helicopter MRO with equivalent capability scope to HeliSupport but at vastly greater scale, often paired with component repair and parts distribution.
- Safran Helicopter Engines Support Network: OEM-driven global MRO network for Arriel, Arrius and Arrano engines, including in-house overhaul centers and authorised support centers like HeliSupport. Comparable because HeliSupport is an authorized Safran support center for Arriel 1/2-series, participating in the same support ecosystem.
- Airbus Helicopters Service Centre Network: Airbus Helicopters' own network of approved service centers and subsidiaries worldwide performing warranty, heavy and line maintenance on AS350, H125, H130 and other Airbus platforms. HeliSupport is a Network Partner within this very network, making it both peer (other regional AS350/H125 MROs) and channel partner.
Regional players
- Pacific Aerospace: New Zealand-headquartered aerospace company with type-certified aircraft manufacturing (CT-4, PAC-series) and MRO services out of Hamilton. Operates in the same NZ regulatory environment with CAA approvals, comparable NZ-based aviation services footprint even if the company's center of gravity is fixed-wing rather than helicopter.
Emerging players
- Texelis / Helicopter Support Inc: Boutique helicopter parts distribution and MRO support firm trading under a similar brand to HeliSupport, focused on rotables, avionics and component support for the Airbus/Bell fleet. Comparable in its scaling-up attempt to combine parts distribution with MRO technical services across a regional helicopter operator base.
- Trakka Group: Aviation design and MRO group operating in Australia/New Zealand providing avionics, mission systems and component support for helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft. Comparable as an adjacent regional MRO and avionics player with cross-Tasman reach into the same ANZ helicopter operator base.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
HeliSupport social profiles
Digital presenceHeliSupport compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
HeliSupport financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
HeliSupport leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
HeliSupport funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
HeliSupport M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about HeliSupport
What does HeliSupport do?
HeliSupport operates a CAA Part 145 certified helicopter maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility at Wanaka Airport, specialising in Airbus Helicopters and Safran engine products. The company delivers line maintenance, heavy maintenance, inspections, refurbishments, engine module changes, dynamic component inspections, Dalic cadmium plating, ACES calibrations, avionics installation and upgrades, airframe and interior refinishing, helicopter sales and leasing, and online parts supply through HeliShopNZ.
Is HeliSupport a public or private company?
HeliSupport is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was HeliSupport founded?
HeliSupport was founded in 2004. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is HeliSupport based?
HeliSupport is headquartered in Wanaka, New Zealand, in the Oceania region.
How does HeliSupport make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Maintenance Services are the primary driver. The others are parts Sales (HelisShopNZ), helicopter Sales & Leasing, refinishing Services, avionics Services and specialist Capabilities.
Who are HeliSupport's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Heli-One, Able Aerospace (Velocity Aircraft), Precision Aviation Group (PAG) and Vector Aerospace (a Safran subsidiary). Broad incumbents are StandardAero, Safran Helicopter Engines Support Network and Airbus Helicopters Service Centre Network. Pacific Aerospace is listed as a regional player. Emerging players are Texelis / Helicopter Support Inc and Trakka Group.
Does HeliSupport have an API?
No public API is recorded for HeliSupport.
What industry is HeliSupport in?
HeliSupport's product category is Helicopter Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABALAO, MRO Engineering, Technical Publications & CAMO Support, with a secondary code of TLAKAJAK, Parts & Materials Support (Rotables Pooling, Distribution, Repair Management). Its NAICS code is 33641 and its SIC code is 3728.