Meet Captain Paul Chappell
Owner and operator of Simba Sea Trips. 23+ years as a professional pilot, marine operations across Hong Kong and Phuket since 2014.
Captain Paul Chappell has been a professional pilot for more than 23 years, with a career spanning world-leading airlines and private jet companies. He served as Chief Pilot of Slingair (now Aviair) in Kununurra, Western Australia, from 1994 to 1998 — a four-year tenure during which the company won three consecutive Sir David Brand Awards (Western Australia's supreme tourism honour) in 1996, 1997, and 1998. Later in his career he held a Lead Captain position on the Boeing Business Jet — a management role combining flying responsibilities with flight training and checking authority over other captains. He is a qualified Flight Instructor.
His commercial marine experience began in 2014 in Hong Kong and continued in Phuket from around 2014–2015, where he imported and operated a luxury private charter boat servicing the Phuket luxury market. That decade-plus of Andaman Sea operating experience underpins how Simba Sea Trips runs its small-group tours and private charters today — itineraries chosen for sea state and time-of-day conditions, not just headline destinations.
Paul joined Simba Sea Trips in 2017 as investor and owner-manager. The company itself was founded in 2005 by Australian business owners — over 20 years of continuous Andaman Sea operations under TAT Licence 34/02111. Paul oversees daily operations, fleet, crew (Momo, Harry, Beam, and the wider team), and the booking experience.
Boating has been a constant since childhood: waterskiing and houseboat operation as a kid, then commercial marine work as an adult. The aviation-grade safety culture — checklists, sea-state assessment, weather decision-making — is the discipline that shapes every Simba departure. Maximum 18 adults per boat. All-inclusive pricing. Departures from Soho Pool Club, Boat Lagoon Marina.
Chief Pilot — Slingair (now Aviair), Kununurra, 1994–1998
Before joining Simba Sea Trips, Paul served as Chief Pilot of Slingair (now Aviair) in Kununurra, Western Australia, from 1994 to 1998. His four years leading the flight operation overlapped with the company's most decorated period in its history.
Three consecutive Sir David Brand Awards — Western Australia's supreme tourism honour — during Paul's tenure as Chief Pilot.
- 1996Sir David Brand Award for Tourism
- 1996WA Tourism Award — Significant Tour and Transport Operator
- 1997Sir David Brand Award for Tourism
- 1997Kimberley Tourism Awards — Aviation category winner
- 1997WA Tourism Award — Major Tour and Transport Operator
- 1998Sir David Brand Award for Tourism
- 1998WA Tourism Award — Major Tour and Transport Operator
Slingair operated scenic air tours across the Kimberley region — the World Heritage Bungle Bungle Range, Mitchell Falls, and the Kimberley coast — and remains, under the Aviair name, the iconic scenic air tour operator of north-western Australia. The company was subsequently inducted into the Tourism Council WA Hall of Fame.
Sources
23+ years on the route map
Every yellow line is a route Paul has flown commercially across his aviation career — across Asia, the Pacific, Europe, North America and Australia. Marine operations and aviation share the same disciplines: weather assessment, route planning, and safety culture. That is the operating standard Simba Sea Trips applies on every Andaman departure.
Professional credentials
Chief Pilot — Slingair (now Aviair), Kununurra
Western Australia · 1994–1998 · Three consecutive Sir David Brand Awards during tenure
Lead Captain — Boeing Business Jet
Management position with flight training + checking authority
Commercial Pilot
23+ years with world-leading airlines and private jet companies
Flight Instructor
Qualified early in flying career
TAT Licence 34/02111
Tourism Authority of Thailand operator licence (Simba Sea Trips Co., Ltd)