BLACK OPS HELICOPTERS PTY LTD

Black Ops Helicopters is a Sydney helicopter operator offering military-style flights in a jet powered McDonnell Douglas MD500E. The company and aircraft are owned and operated by chief pilot Mark Fitzsimmons, who founded Sydney Airport's Blue Sky Helicopters in 1996, started Black Ops in 2015 and sold the Blue Sky brand in August 2019. The company holds a CASA air operator certificate and flies from a hangar at Sydney Airport.

Flights

Passengers fly doors off at up to 130 knots (240 km/h) over Sydney, with an optional tethered GoPro that records the walk up to the aircraft and the flight, including pilot and air traffic communications and a movie soundtrack. The aircraft seats up to four passengers. Flights are sold as share with others (Friday to Sunday) or as private flights seven days a week, with a minimum of two passengers for a private flight.

• Recon Flight: about 18 minutes, covering the Harbour Bridge, Opera House, Manly, Bondi and Botany Bay
• Special Ops: about 40 minutes, adding Olympic Park and a low run down the Parramatta River
• Other missions of up to 80 minutes, plus gift certificates

Aerial firefighting

During summer the MD500E, registration VH-MDE, can be tasked by the NSW Rural Fire Service, National Parks and Wildlife Service and ACT fire agencies under the callsign Firebird 225. It provides air attack support directing water bombers, and aerial mapping with FLIR infrared cameras. The company prioritises this work over passenger flights, so bookings can be postponed. In 2021 Mark Fitzsimmons received the National Emergency Medal for firefighting work on the Orroral Valley fire.

Company facts

• Started in 2015, based at Sydney Airport (Mascot)
• CASA air operator certificate CASA.TAAOC.0369
• Aircraft: McDonnell Douglas MD500E
• Owner and chief pilot with more than 9,000 flying hours