Meet our pilots

With over 4 500 hours of flying time and a lifelong passion for flying, Anthony is the chief pilot of the NAC Helicopters Cape Town branch.

Having started flying while still at school, Anthony trained for his Commercial fixed-wing license (with an instrument, multi-engine rating) at 43 Air School in Port Alfred. Soon after, however, he realised helicopters were his true calling. After completing an NAC Helicopters training course, he converted his fixed-wing license and was recruited into our skilled flying team.

For Guy, the freedom of hovering and landing almost anywhere was the main attraction to helicopters – in addition to enjoying “the best office view in the world”, he says.

Having received his Private Pilots License at Virginia Airport in Durban, Guy moved to Cape Town, where he went on to attain both his fixed-wing and Commercial Helicopter licenses. Guy has accumulated over 2 600 flying hours thus far and has been part of the NAC Helicopters Cape Town family since 2012.

Born in Cape Town, he grew up in the Southern Suburbs, enjoying a wide variety of sports that are popular around Cape Town. He began flying helicopters in 2008 and completed his commercial license in 2013.

He is passionate about flying and is proud to show local, as well as foreign tourists around his home town from a bird’s eye view. Apart from enjoying the mountain and coastal views, he often flies charters to wine estates and game reserves.

When he’s not flying, there’s a very good chance you will find him surfing at one of Cape Town’s wonderful beaches.

If you had asked Juan-Pierre many years ago what he wanted to be when he grew up, he would say “a pilot”. Like many pilots, though, after going on his first helicopter trip he found himself hooked on the versatility and maneuverability of helicopter travel.

After receiving his Commercial Helicopter pilot license in 2011, Juan-Pierre finished an instructor’s rating shortly after. Since then, he has worked all over South Africa, and has completed many vehicle recovery operations around Cape Town through NAC’s Netstar contract.

A Conservation ecologist graduate-turned-helicopter pilot, Azél was originally drawn to helicopters after being exposed to its crucial role in conservation management.

After dedicating her helicopter career for 8 years to aid in the conservation and protection of wildlife in Africa, Azél returned to her home to join the skilled NAC Cape Town team. According to her there is no better way to experience a landscape and explore specific spots than in a helicopter. 

She feels honoured to take visitors to the Cape on an amazing journey overhead the picturesque place she calls home.

Federico graduated from the University of Pretoria with a B-Comm degree, but couldn’t help feeling that it wasn’t the right path for him. As his father was a salesman for an Italian helicopter brand, Federico had been surrounded by helicopters nearly his whole life and becoming a pilot was a natural next-step.

He completed his commercial helicopter license soon after and then worked as a game capture pilot in Pretoria before joining the NAC Helicopters Cape Town team.

Julian tells the classic story of always wanting to be an airline pilot – right up until he flew in a helicopter for the first time, upon which he suddenly switched to dreaming of being a helicopter pilot instead.

Having climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, competed in martial arts and travelling all over the world, Julian considers himself a true adventurer and thrill-seeker – and yet he is still excited by the prospect of flying within the NAC helicopter fleet every day.

From a farm in Riversdale, Janu is a pure Boerseun at Heart… The youngest child in his family and also the youngest pilot for NAC helicopters at the V&A Waterfront.

One of Janu’s hobbies is flying, so he is guaranteed to have a good time while at work. On his days off, he’ll keep himself busy at the Gym or at beach with his friends.