Our Family Company

You’ll see a commitment to service and customer satisfaction with Safari Helicopters that only comes from a family-run business. And a commitment to the art and craft of aviation that you’d expect from Preston Myers, Safari’s founder, with over 40 years of U.S. military, commercial and civilian experience.

Safari Helicopters has been the recipient of many independent and prestigious awards over the years given by local newspapers based on readers votes. Safari has been the People’s Choice since 1987. A locally owned and operated business that treats you like family.

Preston Myers

USNR-R Commander Preston Myers (ret) started flying at Mt. San Antonio College near Pomona, California and graduated with a degree in aviation before entering the US Navy. As if by fate, he was notified by the US Army to take a physical for the draft but instead volunteered for the US Navy as a Naval Aviator. During his active duty, he was based in Okinawa and flew throughout Asia including Japan, Taiwan, Philippines and Vietnam.

When he was released From Active Duty in 1970, flying job opportunities were rare and unobtainable. He found employment in Asia flying for Air America, a contract company for the US Government. Air America proved to be one of the most memorable experiences of his life, giving him the opportunity to work and travel throughout Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and South Vietnam on quasi-military and secret missions.

Prior to the fall of Saigon and after his departure from Air America, he obtained employment in Singapore flying throughout the archipelago of Indonesia in such remote locations as Borneo, Sumatra, Celebes, Ambon and Irian Jaya (old Dutch New Guinea) on oil exploration projects including off-shore logistics and heli-rig movements with an emphasis in external load operations.

A lung infection forced him to seek medical attention while in the remote city of Sorong in Irian Jaya where he was flown to the Southern Philippines in Davao City on the island of Mindanao. He had never been to Manila and that is where he eventually met his wife Grace and started a family. After Singapore, they moved to Guam where he attempted his first aviation business providing air cargo services to the oil, construction and mining industries in Indonesia.

However, the isolation and jungle camp life started to interfere with Preston’s family relations and he decided to return to the U.S., moving back to San Diego, California. There he sold commercial real estate for Merrill Lynch and maintained his flying proficiency with the Naval Reserves as Executive Officer for a combat search and rescue squadron based at NAS North Island.

The corporate world was not for him and after a series of financial disruptions he made another drastic move to Kaua‘i. Here, Preston welcomed the opportunity to trade the suit and tie for an aloha shirt. Working as a line pilot for several other helicopter companies, he realized that if he were going to start his own company, he would have to take another chance and just go for it. So with the help of his wife Grace, and a strong resolve, Safari was born. And the rest, as they say, is history. Read more about the Safari Company history.