Anyone flying in Laos?

[TheMonk]

Anyone flying in Laos? I hear there are a few Squirrels flying for the Gold mine over there.

Monk

[flyheli]

Hey Monk,

I used to fly in Cambodia and there was a big NZ company named Cambodian Helicopters using AStars... I've heared that they have quite a few operations in SE Asia incl. Laos.

From what I remember a few are on standby for emergencies so not much flying... could be wrong though.

cheers,
flyheli

[skidbiter2]

Helicopters New Zealand have a few there.
Not sure of the work load though, give them a call if you are interested, they do some month on tours there from memory?

[Peter PanPan]

Ppruners,

Is anyone currently based in Vientiane? I'll be spending a bit of time there soon and would happily meet up with fellow aviators!

[SASless]

There used to be a rather large outfit there called "Air America" but that was Years ago!;)

[Mark Six]

HNZ has been there for many years: Welcome to Lao WestCoast helicopter, Vientiane, Laos (http://www.laowestcoast.com/)
Dave Reed (ex RAN Wessex pilot) was running the company for years but not sure whether he is still there.

[terminus mos]

David Reid is at head office in Nelson NZ nowadays. I don't know who runs the Laos operation or what HNZ has there now.

[Peter PanPan]

Thank you gentlemen, I am already in touch with HNZ. Regards, PPP

[nuthin]

I just finished a two month stint moving drills at a Copper/Gold mine north of Vientiane.
First heli supported drill program for 20 years so it was a learning curve for the locals but I had some top notch crews on the ground from the drilling company.

After 6 seasons in Canada it was a nice introduction to working in Asia.

I may even have some good photos somewhere.

PM me if you want to know anything specific.

[nuthin]

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j237/parker_photo/Laos/P1040962.jpg (http://s81.photobucket.com/user/parker_photo/media/Laos/P1040962.jpg.html)

Demobing one of the Pad building camps

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j237/parker_photo/Laos/P1040956.jpg (http://s81.photobucket.com/user/parker_photo/media/Laos/P1040956.jpg.html)

Morning crew change

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j237/parker_photo/Laos/P1040924.jpg (http://s81.photobucket.com/user/parker_photo/media/Laos/P1040924.jpg.html)

Rice, Chickens and AK47s. The LPA acted as security for anything in the jungle.

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j237/parker_photo/Laos/P1040912.jpg (http://s81.photobucket.com/user/parker_photo/media/Laos/P1040912.jpg.html)

About 25-30 loads per drill move. Average weight was maybe 600kg up to 800kg max

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j237/parker_photo/Laos/P1040911.jpg (http://s81.photobucket.com/user/parker_photo/media/Laos/P1040911.jpg.html)

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j237/parker_photo/Laos/P1040894.jpg (http://s81.photobucket.com/user/parker_photo/media/Laos/P1040894.jpg.html)

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j237/parker_photo/Laos/P1040905.jpg (http://s81.photobucket.com/user/parker_photo/media/Laos/P1040905.jpg.html)

Nice clear skies in most of these after some rain had gone through. Most of the time we were above the haze in the valleys below.

[Peter PanPan]

Killer shots nuthin! Thanks for sharing. Sending you a PM now. PPP:ok:

[chopperboys]

can you tell me what i need to fly in Laos as a canadian pilot ?

[nuthin]

In short the ability to work in New Zealand

Most of the commercial machines there are run by HNZ so NZ/Lao registered.
There is not much cross over of pilots between HNZ and owner Canadian but you could find out.