Home > About Us > Our People > Pilots

Pilots

Ian Osborne (Senior Pilot Bell 412SP, BK117)
Formerly of Qantas, Ian Osborne joined the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service in 1991. He is the most experienced pilot in the Helicopter Service having a very extensive fixed wing as well as helicopter background. Ian is a keen surfer and is married with two teenage daughters.

Mike de Winton (Check & Training Pilot Bell 412SP, BK117)
Mike de Winton has worked for the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service since 2000, after leaving a career in the Royal Navy. He is responsible for pilot training standards and has a wealth of experience in maritime operations. 

Graeme Anderson (Line Pilot Bell 412SP, BK117)
Graeme has served with the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service since 2002, formerly working at 'Child Flight'. He began his career as an 'aerial cowboy' mustering cattle in the remote north of Australia and working his way up through the industry. Graeme is a keen surfer; he lives on the Central Coast with his wife and young son and daughter.

Mark Goolmeer (Line Pilot Bell 412SP, BK117)
Former NBN Television technician Mark Goolmeer commenced employment with the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service in 2000. He spends a significant amount of time in Tamworth as relieving pilot and his computer technology skills are an advantage to the organisation. He worked part time with the Service from from 1997 to 2000. Mark did ten years of commercial helicopter flying which included television, radio traffic patrol reporting, fire fighting and transporting gold from mines to Darwin in the Northern Territory. He holds his Instructors Rating. He is a Novocastrian from birth.

Roger Priest (Line Pilot BK117)
Roger Priest joined the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service in 2003. For the past 20 years he has done general 'bush flying' throughout Australia. Originally from Victoria, Roger is an avid sailor.

Ian McFadden (Senior Pilot BK117 Tamworth)
Originally hailing from country Victoria, Ian McFadden began his aviation career as a Licensed Aeronautical Maintenance Engineer (LAME). Currently, he ensures that the high standards of aircraft 'online availability' are maintained.

David Davies  (Line Pilot BK117 Tamworth) Educated in Sydney, David Davies spent 3 years jackarooing in North Queensland and attended agricultural college. He received fixed wing aircraft training at Coffs Harbour and helicopter training at Brunswick Heads. Dave worked for 4 years for the AA Company and 10 years as owner/operator of Marine Pilot Transfer at Gladstone in Queensland. He has also done aerial surveilance in marine parks (fixed wing), helicopter agricultural spraying in most states, firefighting, powerline survey, animal culling and sling work. He has been with the New England North West Service since November 2004. Dave’s hobbies include sailing, boating and fishing and the occasional game of golf.

Kevin Ratcliffe (Line Pilot Bell 412SP, BK 117)
Kevin Ratcliffe immigrated to Australia with his wife and two sons after retiring from a career as a pilot and engineer with the Royal Navy. Prior to becoming a full time pilot with the Service in 2007 he worked with a helicopter company which transfers marine pilots to vessels anchored off Newcastle before their entry into the port.

Martin Nash (Casual Pilot BK 117)
Martin Nash was born in Port Moresby PNG and attended school in South Australia. He commenced fixed wing training in 1981 and proceeded to mainly charter flying in the Northern Territory, ACT/NSW and South Australia from 1982 to 1986. Martin joined the Army in 1989 training at Point Cook as a helicopter pilot. He was posted to Townsville flying Blackhawk helicopters for six and a half years performing gun lifts, counter terrorism and high altitude operations in PNG. In 1995 Martin was selected to train on CH47D Chinooks in the USA. He transferred to the RAAF in 1997 later working casually for Lifeflight in Melbourne. In 2001 Martin began flying Bell 412 helicopters for CHC. He moved with his family to Newcastle in 2002 flying on marine pilot transfers on contract to Newcastle Port Corporation. He began with the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service in November 2007. Martin is married to Nicola and has two daughters. His hobbies are fishing and radio controlled model aircraft.