Meet Our Pilots, Your Hosts

Kirkhope Aviation has more than 40 years experience flying around Australia. Our qualified pilots are all instrument rated, commercial and professional.

All Australian Air Safaris Outback Air Tours and Custom Air Tours operate with one pilot, who also act as your tour guide and personal organiser, while assisted by local guides who share our passion for this country.

Out multi-talented pilots/tour manager are some of the most experienced and dedicated in the industry, with a combined 20,000+ hours of flying time. The pilot leads the group, making sure everyone is engaged. We listen to any problems and issues and you can be assured you are in good hands, flying with Australian Air Safaris.

Tony Kirkhope Owner and Founder

Kirkhope Aviation Founder and Chief Pilot, Tony Kirkhope has been hosting outback tours for over 40 years. Tony started flying in Wollongong while working as an engineer and eventually turned a weekend hobby of flying to outback destinations into a full-time business.

The business soon grew and in the 2000s Kirkhope Aviation under Tony’s guidance acquired a Piper Navajo and Piper Chieftain, then subsequently followed it up in 2011 when it purchased the Beechcraft 200 Super King Air

When he’s not navigating the skies, you’ll find Tony navigating the waters as a member of Cowes Yacht Club, enjoying weekends down at Phillip Island, or at his farm at Gembrook.

David Hayward General Manager

A tourism professional of more than 20 years experience, specialising in the Australian domestic market. David is a graduate from Monash University in Australian Tourism Management, Positions held include, Operations Manager for a major tourist attraction and Brand Manager for Australian Air Holidays. Joining Kirkhope Aviation in September 2018, he is passionate about creating exceptional tours that take people out of the cities to experience regional and outback Australia. And there is no better way to do this than by private aircraft.

Nick Stobie Chief Pilot | Head of Training and Checking

Nick first worked for Kirkhope Aviation between 2013 and 2018, before spending time flying aeromedical retrieval for the Royal Flying Doctor Service in Western Australia. Nick returned to Kirkhope in 2021 as Chief Pilot, providing training, checking and support to the Touring Pilot team. Nick's favourite tour is Taste of the Outback - the perfect introduction to both Outback Australia and Australian Air Safaris.

Keith Siler Charter Pilot | Training Captain

Jacob Gatt Charter Pilot | Training Captain

Jacob has been flying for more than 8 years and joins AAS after several years flying in outback South Australia including over Lake Eyre. Naturally, Jacob’s favourite trip is Taste of the Outback, and he loves sharing his extensive local knowledge with guests on each tour. Jacob is also part of our training team and mentors new company pilots on the Cessna Grand Caravan EX and Piper Chieftain.

Rob Thomas Charter Pilot | Training Captain

Rob returned to Australian Air Safaris in 2022 as a Touring Pilot. Rob has been flying for more than 20 years, including flying throughout Australia and the USA. Having spent time based in Cairns, Rob's favourite tour is the Cape York Air Safari - the breathtaking Great Barrier Reef against the stunning backdrop of the Great Dividing Range makes for a fantastic mix of sights and destinations.

Tom Bouchier Charter Pilot

Tom joins Kirkhope Aviation in 2024 as a charter pilot on the Cessna Grand Caravan EX and the Piper Chieftain. Originally from Geelong, Tom has recently migrated to Melbourne and has extensive experience flying over Bass Strait to King Island and northern Tasmania. When not working for Kirkhope Aviation, Tom flies scenic aerobatics flights for a local warbird operator in a Nanchang CJ-6A, a Chinese licence built version of the Yak-18, a Russian WW2 military training aircraft.

Peter Tomanovits Charter Pilot

Callum Jones Charter Pilot

David Sugar Operations Manager

Luke Moulton-Brooks Safety Manager

Meet Our Pilots, Your Hosts

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