who we are
Skyhorse Aviation™ has over 80 years of collective experience, supplying aircraft to mining houses, drilling and construction projects, geophysical companies and agencies across more than 40 countries throughout Africa, Middle East and Australia and most recently the USA. Our dedicated and highly qualified team have flown over 50.000 hours with an excellent safety record.
Ryan Louw
Ryan Louw is the founding Chief Executive Officer for Skyhorse Aviation. Ryan has been involved in the commercial aviation industry for over 18 years, and is an experienced bush pilot having worked in over 30 countries throughout Africa,Middle East, Australia, Greenland and the USA. He has over 4000 hours flying experience with an excellent safety record. Prior to the establishment of Skyhorse Aviation, he served as Chief Pilot and Person Responsible Aircraft for Wild Dog Helicopters, who specialized in heli-borne exploration throughout Africa and the Middle East. There, he oversaw over 20 pilots ensuring production levels and safety standards were consistently upheld. Ryan’s hands-on experience in helicopter operations across Africa brings invaluable know-how to the company.
Megan Sparrow
Megan Sparrow has been involved in survey operations since 2007. She has undertaken formal aviation training as a Safety Officer. As well as being responsible for the day-to-day administration of aircraft and crew, she also has first-hand experience with the logistical complications that come with operating in harsh African challenging environments. She leads all compliance affairs with the South African Civil Aviation Authority and manages external safety audits including the annual BARS audit. Her experience in the field of safety and her no-compromise attitude are essential to Skyhorse Aviation safety standards.
Ollie Wright
Ollie Wright, a pioneer in airborne geophysics, has been involved in geophysical exploration and the aviation industry since 1980. Before founding Skyhorse, he served as the Managing Director of Geodass for 17 years and later became the Operations Director of Fugro Airborne Surveys until 2005. Since starting his flying career in 1990, Ollie has accumulated over 6200 commercial flying hours. His extensive experience and formal training as a helicopter pilot, operator, and owner are invaluable to our operations, particularly in his role as Flight Operations Manager.
Tamarin Bond
Tamarin Bond has been working in the financial side of commercial aviation since 2006. She oversees all financial operations, including project budgeting, forecasting, cash management, and cost control. Before this role, she served as the financial manager at Wild Dog Helicopters. She brings a range of experience beyond finance, including human resource management, logistical planning, quality assurance, maintenance of aircraft parts as well as flight administration tasks. Her background is supported by formal training in Aviation Specific CATS & CARS and quality assurance, giving her a solid foundation in the aviation industry.
Darius Schoultz
Darius Schoultz has over 3000 hours of flying time and 12 years in the helicopter industry. Prior to becoming the Chief Pilot of Skyhorse Aviaion, he served as the company’s Training Manager. Among other things he is reposnsible for the development of standard operating procedures, and the implementation and development of all required approved training programmes for the flight crew. He oversees and supervises flight crew and ensures compliance with regulations and safety standards. His extensive survey and related flying experience are invaluable to the company.
Gregory Clegg
Gregory Clegg has his Multi IF Commercial Pilots license and has over 2500 hours of flying time. He worked as a mechanical engineer for 7 years in the military and aerospace environment and is passionate about aviation. He is technically minded and hands on. These skills and his wealth of knowledge are imperative to the role of Responsible Person Aircraft. He is responsible for the safe aeroplane operations and for all maintenance and inspection personnel. He ensures the aircraft are maintained in an airworthy condition and all inspections repairs and component changes are accomplished in accordance with manufacturers procedures. Compliance with airworthiness directives, service bulletins and regulations all form part of his core duties.
Nicol Roos
Nicol has been an invaluable member of Skyhorse Aviation’s Flight Operations team since 2015, contributing significantly to the company’s day-to-day operations and long-term strategic goals. With a keen focus on legal compliance, maintenance, and security, Nicol ensures that Skyhorse Aviation adheres to industry regulations and safety standards. Her meticulous approach to compliance management has helped maintain the company’s exemplary track record in regulatory matters. A key part of Nicol's role is overseeing the maintenance schedules and protocols, ensuring that all aircraft are in optimal condition and that safety is never compromised. Her leadership in this area extends to coordinating with technical teams to address any issues before they escalate, making sure that Skyhorse Aviation’s fleet remains reliable and airworthy. Nicol’s dedication, expertise, and leadership continue to drive the company’s success in maintaining the highest standards of safety, efficiency, and legal compliance.