Company History
We are a family-owned, Tasmanian company with a 25-year history and passion for flying.
Tom Osborne’s Tomcat Helicopter
We started as a small agricultural spraying business working from a shed on a property in Stanley, Tasmania, with one pilot, founder Tom Osborne, and one Bell 47 Mark-6C Tomcat Helicopter. Since then, we have steadily grown, expanding from aerial application into forestry operations, powerline inspection, remote construction, precision long line, firefighting, filming, law enforcement and production filming. Through our industry partners and deep connections in the United States we have been innovative leaders in helicopter operations in Australia. We pioneered agricultural operations using trucks with built-in helicopter landing decks, micro-flow nozzle technology, and long-line fire fighting in Tasmania.
Our growth has increased over the past 10 years, adding aircraft, expanding into new industries, and buying and selling aircraft throughout the world. Though things are bigger now, what remains are the core beliefs: that excellence in flying cannot be compromised, and that gritty determination in delivering for the customer is the backbone of success. In 2013 we launched the remote sensing arm of the business, offering remote sensing services such as powerline inspections, LiDAR and photogrammetry. These operations are carried out by helicopter or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) In 2016 we launched a new tourism focused brand, Osborne Heli Tours to focus on showcasing the dramatic and wild beauty of the Tasmanian coastline. Regular scenic flights are now available out of the company bases in Port Arthur and Stanley.
Father and son directors, Tom and John Osborne
