Anyone flying in Laos?
 

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

Monk

Laos choppers
 

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

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?

Laos - Vientiane
 

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!

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

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

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.

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

Work in Laos
 

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.

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j2...s/P1040962.jpg

Demobing one of the Pad building camps

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j2...s/P1040956.jpg

Morning crew change

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j2...s/P1040924.jpg

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

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j2...s/P1040912.jpg

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

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j2...s/P1040911.jpg

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j2...s/P1040894.jpg

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j2...s/P1040905.jpg

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.

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

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

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.