McDermott Aviation

McDermott Aviation was established in 1982 by John McDermott on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, initially operating as an aerial application specialist. Born from John's passion for aviation during his apprenticeship and a pivotal trip to Europe, the company officially launched its own operations in 1984. It conducted its first firefighting mission in 1991 and has since evolved into Australia’s largest privately owned helicopter company, pioneering the aerial firefighting industry and becoming the world's largest operator of the Bell 214 series.

To bolster its national reach, the company expanded its permanent operations to Western Australia by establishing a significant base at Jandakot Airport in Perth. This strategic move allows McDermott Aviation to provide year-round regional support and maintain a critical hub for its heavy-lift fleet, which often returns to the Perth facility via sea freight from international deployments. Today, the company operates over 50 aircraft globally, utilizing the Perth location as a key gateway for rapid deployment across the continent to support bushfire seasons and major infrastructure projects.

McDermott Aviation is a major shareholder in the New Caledonian operator Hélicocéan, maintaining a strategic partnership alongside the Georges Montagnat mining group. This alliance allows McDermott to list Magenta Airport in Nouméa as one of its permanent global bases, facilitating regional engineering and heavy-lift support. The companies collaborate on specialized missions including aerial firefighting, medical evacuations, and mining logistics throughout the South Pacific. By leveraging McDermott’s extensive Bell 214 fleet and Hélicocéan’s local Airbus assets, they provide a comprehensive aviation network across the region. This cross-border relationship solidifies McDermott’s presence in New Caledonia, serving as a critical hub for their international maritime and utility operations.