Global heli-aviation company, PHI Aviation, has chosen Perth as the location for its new Asia-Pacific (APAC) headquarters and is on a recruitment drive to fill 42 vacant positions to add to its 175-strong workforce.
PHI Aviation Managing Director, Keith Mullett, said that Perth was chosen as the regional headquarters because of its proximity to key customers and strategic growth and diversification opportunities in the region. The headquarters will oversee bases across Australia, New Zealand the Philippines.
“Our decision to expand in Western Australia was primarily driven by a strong focus on customer service, potential growth opportunities, and our priority on safety that requires key decision making on-the-ground.
“We are investing in the growth of our business – hiring more people, expanding to bigger premises, and bringing more helicopters into Australia. We are currently on a recruitment drive to fill approximately 42 vacant roles in Perth across our corporate head office, engineering and pilot staff. We expect to triple the size of our head office team in Western Australia over the next 12 months to service growth in Australia and across Southeast Asia,” he said.
Industry veteran Cory Latiolais, who has over 25 years’ experience, has been appointed as Chief Operating Officer (COO) PHI Aviation (APAC) and relocated to Perth from the United States to take up his new role.
Mr Latiolais said that the company sees growth opportunities with oil and gas clients working offshore in Australia; in supporting renewable energy investments such as offshore wind; in offering advanced helicopter maintenance capabilities; and in air medical and search-and-rescue in regional and remote communities.
“We regularly provide support to Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) and recently completed two critical rescue operations. We also see huge growth opportunities in the region in provision of mining support, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), and sustainable aviation fuels (SAF),” he said.
The company will also continue its focus on training and cadetship programs in Australia. In early 2021 PHI Aviation launched a cadetship programme in Western Australia, offering 12 months on-the-job training to cadets, with the goal to become qualified Search and Rescue (SAR) crew members. Two of these cadets have completed lifesaving rescues in the last 6 months off the coast of Broome and at Horizontal Falls.
Previously PHI Aviation managed its work in Asia-Pacific out of its Nelson, New Zealand office, however time zones, border closures and travel restrictions demonstrated to the company it needed to have key resources on the ground and closer to its customers.
PHI Aviation’s global headquarters is in Lafayette, Louisiana USA and it also has an office in London, United Kingdom to service Europe, Middle East & Africa (EMEA) region.
PHI Aviation has been operating in Western Australia since 1980 and currently has operating bases in Broome and Karratha, with Exmouth due to start in early 2023. It has also operated in Onslow, Port Hedland and Truscott. Its customers include INPEX, Shell, Woodside, BHP, Santos, ENI and Western Gas.
PHI Aviation will be moving to a new and expanded office building in West Perth mid-July (1100 Hay Street).