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.

Meet The Team

Shah

Chief Executive Officer

After completing the final year of his MBA from the National University of Singapore, Shah spent numerous years in leading businesses before returning to NZ. He worked with BNZ in Corporate Finance specialising in leveraged buyouts, mergers, and acquisitions. He left his position to join SO Capital full time and lead the charge on growing Air Napier. 

Arsel (Mike)

Chief Business Development Officer

Mike has a wealth of experience in sports management including working for The Rugby World Cup, FIFA and University Sports NZ. He is one of the cornerstone partners/founders of SO Capital and is an expert of digital marketing. 

John

Chief Operations Officer

John has an extensive aviation background with RNZAF, first as a helicopter pilot then flying instructor before ultimately becoming Chief of Air Force. John retired from the RNZAF in 2006 and then spent eight years as the Director of Civil Defence & Emergency Management in Wellington. John is also the Director of the Walsh Memorial Scout Flying School.

Johnny

Chief Marketing Officer

Johnny followed in the footsteps of Isaac Newton and graduated from England with a Bachelors of Mathematics. He then proceeded to work as a financial analyst for the esteemed IBM before starting up a digital media company and e-commerce clothing brand. 

John

Quality Assurance Manager

John joined the New Zealand National Airways Corporation (NAC)  in 1963. He started his career in aviation as an engineer for the first 25-years, ultimately as foreman at Line Maintenance for both NAC and, following the merger, Air New Zealand, including 5 years in Los Angeles. 

Craig

Maintenance Manager

Aircraft:

Single Engine Aircraft, Turbo-prop Planes, Vintage Aircraft, Helicopters, Multi-engine Planes, War Planes

Services:

Repairs, Preventative Maintenance, Maintenance, Overhauls, Engineering, Inspections, Modifications.

​

Born in an aviation family, his family used to manufacture aircraft in Hamilton.

Adam

Avionics Manager

Ex-Air Force Engineer.

Sammy provides sound technical support, maintaining and servicing the fleets radios, GPS systems, and navigational instruments.

He is a wizard with cables and electronics.

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. 

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

Luke

Line Pilot

Luke commenced flying in 2005 and has done a myriad of jobs before joining Air Napier in 2018. Luke conducts most of the Part 135 Line Training for the company. He has experience in both Australia and New Zealand and also holds a B-Cat flight instructor rating.

​

1,800 hours

Alec

Line Pilot

Alec started flying in 2015 in Sydney, Australia. He holds a Diploma of Aviation and has a broad array of flying experience. This includes advanced mountain flying in Queenstown, being an authorised jump pilot with Skydive Australia and more recently a remote area charter pilot.

​

1,000 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.