McCaw adds helicopter company to list of directorships

Richie McCaw and Gemma Flynn at the Steinlager Rugby Awards in 2014. Photo / Norrie Montgomery

All Black captain Richie McCaw is flying high after becoming a director of commercial chopper company Christchurch Helicopters.

McCaw is no stranger to the skies with his love of gliding and flying fixed-wing aircraft well known.

His new venture pushes his company directorships to eight, two of which he shares with fellow All Black Dan Carter.

He became a director of Christchurch Helicopters in February, fellow director Terry Murdoch said.

Mr Murdoch - who was taken for his first flight by McCaw's dad, Donald, - said the company was in the process of getting its private training establishment status.

"We're specialists really, so we choose our students, and spend a lot of time with them in making them good, so that's how Richie came about with us too because he learned to fly with us a number of years ago.

"He's got a massive brain in his head, God, he's a bright bloke, he's really intelligent. So he's always really keen and inquisitive about the business."

Mr Murdoch said he had been asked about McCaw's involvement and what it meant after the Rugby World Cup.

"The truth of it is, I'm not really sure what he's up to really, he keeps things close to his chest ... I'm not sure if he really knows what he's going to do after the World Cup."

All the directors were friends so it was logical to get McCaw on board.

"He's a friend so therefore he's really keen to learn about aviation and the aviation industry so he's become a director, he's not a shareholder ... when he's not playing rugby he tends to spend time with us flying.

"He's interested in flying and everyone wants to do something that they're interested in but there's been no decision made [on his future] or anything like that."