7 hours ago
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Robyn Wuth
July 21, 2026 — 4:39pm
The skies surrounding a theme park where a fatal mid-air helicopter crash occurred are so busy that pilots rely mainly on a “see and avoid” approach, a coroner has heard.
Three tourists and Sea World Helicopters pilot Ashley Jenkinson were killed in a mid-air collision between two helicopters near the Gold Coast theme park on January 2, 2023.
Former Sea World Helicopters pilot Scott Menzies on Tuesday said the Gold Coast Broadwater was a small, busy area where traffic built up, particularly over the Christmas-New Year period.
Effective radio communication was critical because without it, pilots could not properly manage safety or avoid collisions, Menzies said.
He said he did not recall Jenkinson making a taxi or departure call on the day of the crash.
Radio calls on the common traffic advisory frequency were often “stepped on” as multiple helicopters and training aircraft competed for airtime, the coroner heard.
Pilots operating out of the Broadwater still relied mainly on “see and avoid” to prevent collisions, Menzies said, warning that electronic traffic systems could suffer delays and occasionally show aircraft half a mile from their actual position.
Menzies flew for Sea World Helicopters before starting his own operation.
He is now chief pilot of Gold Coast Helitours, which was not involved in the crash.
Former Sea World Helicopters chief pilot Brett Anderson told the inquest the Broadwater had long been recognised as a complex environment, with multiple helicopters operating from closely spaced pads outside the theme park.
Anderson, now head of flying operations for a Sydney helicopter company, said conflict points in the airspace were not uncommon but had been managed through procedures, radio calls and ground support rather than major changes to flight paths.
He said pilots still depended on “looking out the window” and “keeping your head on a swivel” to spot other aircraft.
Extra radio channels, electronic displays and ground crew were options to boost situational awareness, he said.
The inquest has also examined aviation drug and alcohol rules and how they applied to Sea World Helicopters.
Witnesses earlier told the court they saw Jenkinson take cocaine at a New Year’s Eve party before the fatal flight.
The crash also killed British newlyweds Ronald and Diane Hughes, aged 65 and 67, and Sydney mother Vanessa Tadros, 36.
Nine others were injured including Tadros’ young son, Nicholas, who lost a leg and spent months in hospital.
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority requires operators to have drug and alcohol management plans for safety-sensitive staff.
Operators can introduce their own routine testing, including daily pre-flight breath tests for alcohol, but there is no mandated minimum frequency for regular illicit drug screening.
AAP
