SeaWorld helicopters return to the skies after horrific accident where two choppers collided killing four people

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A helicopter tour operator has reopened three months after two of their aircraft were involved in the horrific Sea World crash.

Sea World Helicopters revealed on Tuesday that it had been given the all clear to resume operations after it was forced to ground its services at the start of the year.

Four people were killed when two choppers collided with each other over Broadwater, on the Gold Coast, on January 2.

Pilot Ash Jenkinson, 40, British couple Ron and Diane Hughes, 65 and 57, and Sydney mother Vanessa Tadros, 36, died while nine people were injured. 

Sea World Helicopters revealed on Tuesday it had been given the all clear to resume operations after it was forced to ground its services at the start of the year

It came after four people were killed when two choppers collided with each other over Broadwater, on the Gold Coast, on January 2

Sea World Helicopters said they were given the greenlight to resume operations by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority weeks ago.

Sea World Helicopters director John Orr-Campbell shared his condolences with the families who lost their loved ones in the recent tragedy.

'In many ways today is a difficult day for all of us as we pay our deepest respect to Vanessa Tadros, Diane and Ron Hughes, our friend and late chief Sea World Helicopters pilot Ash Jenkinson, their families, and those who suffered physically and mentally in the accident,' he said.

'I know Ash would have wanted to have been flying with us today. 

'Helicopter flying is what we do and our staff wanted to get back to work and continue to provide the service to those who want to fly with us.' 

The reopening comes shortly after the Australian Transport and Safety Bureau (ATSB) released its preliminary report into the crash in March.

Air crash investigators said pilot Michael James told them he saw five passengers boarding the second helicopter at a helipad near Sea World as he was coming in to land his aircraft at another helipad nearby on January 2.

The ATSB said the pilot thought the second helicopter would pass behind his aircraft and he doesn't remember the other pilot radioing him to say he was taking off.

'They did not recall the pilot of XKQ making a standard 'taxiing' call announcing their intention to depart,' the ATSB's preliminary report into the crash said.

A third helicopter pilot in the area at the time recalled hearing Mr James' inbound call, but did not recall hearing a taxi call from the other pilot taking off.

A fourth helicopter pilot could not recall hearing calls from either of the two pilots involved in the crash before their aircraft collided.

Pilot Ash Jenkinson, 40, British couple Ron and Diane Hughes, 65 and 57, and Sydney mother Vanessa Tadros, 36, died while nine people were injured

However, ATSB commissioner Angus Mitchell said that evidence 'did not necessarily mean that a taxiing call was not made' by the pilot taking off and investigators would probe the radio calls in the lead-up to the crash.

The report said Mr James also told the ATSB he didn't see the second helicopter take off from the helipad.

'While video footage taken by passengers in both helicopters on mobile phones contained images of the other helicopter, this does not mean that the other helicopter was visible to either pilot,' Mr Mitchell said.

'The investigation will look closely at the issues both pilots faced in seeing the other helicopter.'

The findings are part of a preliminary report into the disaster led by Mr Mitchell.

'We're looking at everything that may have contributed, whether that be equipment, whether that be procedures whether that be individual actions … they will all be part (of the investigation),' he said.