ABOUT AIR NAPIER & OUR CHARTERS
Air Napier's aim is to provide a service encompassing safety, convenience and privacy.
Air Napier, long established in 1993 is a company that has kept pace with an ever changing aviation industry. Whether it be a private charter planes, jet charters, passenger flights or freight service, we can help. Our comfortable charter planes combined with the highest standard of service ensures an enjoyable, stress-free experience.
Portfolio company of SO Capital
Meet The Team
Shah Aslam
CEO
Shah is a corporate finance specialist in the fields of consultancy and start-ups, gaining his Bachelors of Commerce double major in Accounting and Finance, and Post Graduate Diploma in Finance at University of Otago, before completing his MBA at the National University of Singapore. Following this, Shah returned home to Aotearoa where he took up a position with the Bank of New Zealand (BNZ). There he honed his skills in leveraged buyouts and mergers & acquisitions.
He made the decision to leave BNZ to start up his own venture capital firm SO Capital. Its success led to him purchasing Air Napier in 2018 where he is currently disrupting and growing the aviation industry.
John Hamilton
Operations Director
John has a long and distinguished career in aviation with 35-years in the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF). Enlisting in 1971, John initially qualified as a helicopter pilot before later becoming a flying instructor. He held command and leadership appointments at all levels of the RNZAF culminating with a four-year period from 2002-2006 as the Chief of Air Force.
John received the Royal Victorian Order (RVO) for serving as the Queen’s equerry, was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2001 for leading in East Timor, and promoted to Companion (CNZM) in 2006 for his leadership as Chief of Air Force.
He followed this with eight years as the Director of the Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management.
Mark
Director of Training
Mark enjoyed a distinguished 26-year career with Cathay Pacific, rising to Senior Captain. He was renowned not only for his skill and precision as a pilot, but also for his leadership in mentoring the next generation of aviators.
His commitment to excellence, safety, and professional development left a lasting impact both in the cockpit and beyond.
22,000+ flying hours
Stephanie
Deputy Operations Director
Stephanie oversees our crew and aircraft scheduling, ensuring smooth and efficient operations every day. Before joining us, she served as Head of Operations for the Royal Air Force (UK) Hercules fleet, leading complex logistics and operational planning at the highest level.
Stephanie’s depth of experience, attention to detail, and leadership in high-pressure environments make her an invaluable part of our team.
Craig
Maintenance Manager
Craig comes from a family of aviation designers and
engineers, who in the 1980’s and 1990’s owned Pacific Aerospace in NZ which was
manufacturing top dressing aircraft.
Aircraft:
Single Engine Aircraft, Turbo-prop Planes, Vintage Aircraft, Helicopters, Multi-engine Planes, War Planes
Services:
Repairs, Preventative Maintenance, Maintenance, Overhauls, Engineering, Inspections, Modifications.
Phill
Director of Safety & Audits
Phill is a seasoned aviation executive with a distinguished background in the Royal New Zealand Air Force. He has held senior leadership roles as CEO of the New Zealand International Commercial Pilot Academy in Whanganui and CEO of Skyline Aviation, where he drove strategic growth and operational excellence.
A trusted advisor to global airlines, Phill brings deep industry expertise, commercial acumen, and proven leadership to our team.
John
Senior Pilot
John grew up locally in Hawkes Bay and has been with Air Napier for 2 decades. In his current role as senior pilot he provides boundless knowledge and experience regarding weather, air law, and maintenance. He has flown large multi-engine turbine aircraft in America and Africa and has also been a CAT B flight instructor in New Zealand.
6,500 hours
Maxine
Office Manager
Maxine has an extensive background in Accounting, HR Management with over 25 years’ experience in aviation, and the tourism industry. Maxine was, for example, in charge of Accounts and HR for Jetgo in Australia, a regional airline operating the Embraer E- Jets. During her time she oversaw the growth of the company from 18 to 115 staff. Upon return from Australia, Maxine spent time in Real Estate Accounting and a large logistics company before joining Air Napier.
Adam
Avionics Manager
A former Air Force engineer, Sammy brings expert technical knowledge and precision to our operations. He is responsible for maintaining and servicing the fleet’s radios, GPS systems, and navigational instruments, ensuring everything runs at peak performance.
Known for his skill with electronics and wiring, Sammy is often called a "wizard" when it comes to anything technical. His attention to detail and hands-on expertise are vital to keeping our aircraft mission-ready every day.
Alistair
Flight Examiner
Alistair has flown for a living since 1984 in all sorts of roles, with single engines and single seats to the large Safe Air Argosy aircraft, and passenger airliners in between. Alister joined Life Flight in 2013. For Air Napier he performs cyclical training as well as rigorous six monthly competency assessments. He is one of the most experienced pilots in New Zealand.
20,000 hours & still flying.