Helicopters (NZ) Agusta AB139 ZK-HNE visited Richard Pearce Airport, Timaru over the weekend as it made the journey from New Plymouth to Dunedin in support of sciesmic vessel "Polarcus Naila" operating in the waters off Otago. The helicopter has already been operating in the south during February in conjunction with the vessel's visit to our region.
ZK-HNE was placed on the Kiwi register in July 2013 and is the fourth helicopter to wear these marks. Built in early 2006, the 139 was initially registered N139WH with Southern Aircraft Sales, Fort Lauderdale. In late 2007 it was with Aviation Enterprises of Wilmington, Delaware and later at Roswell, New Mexico two years later. It joined the vast number of aircraft on the books at Wells Fargo Bank Northwest NA Trustees in May 2010 and is understood to have been flown on behalf of the Miami Dolphins basketball team! The helicopter was initially deployed for operations from Western Australia before being shipped to New Zealand.
