Alpine Helicopters Ltd was formed in 1972 when Sir Tim Wallis's venison recovery business, Luggate Game Packers, needed an alternative mode of transport to move the game to meet demand. When the fleet was not engaged in venison and live deer recovery, the increasing number of helicopters were deployed for commercial work.

By 1986 the commercial business had grown to the extent that a public company, The Helicopter Line, was formed. The business included tourism and 40 helicopters were owned and operated by Alpine Deer Group and its subsidiaries throughout New Zealand.

The business was passed down through a generation to Sir Tim Wallis's sons, Toby and Nick, who are now managing directors and pilots of Alpine Helicopters, a division of The Alpine Group.