A pilot killed in a Hobart helicopter crash was a "driving force" behind the establishment of Tasmania's rescue chopper service.
Roger Paul Corbin, 57, died just before 5.30pm on Tuesday when his Rotorlift helicopter nosedived into the Hobart Airport tarmac from a height of about 200 metres.
It was practising emergency procedures at the time, police said.
A 33-year-old trainee pilot remains in a serious but stable condition in the Royal Hobart Hospital.
Mr Corbin's family released a statement on Wednesday, confirming the tragedy.
"Roger will be hugely missed and we will have more to say as circumstances permit," the statement from Allana, Isabella, Indiana and Sophia Corbin reads.
"We are unable to say anything further in relation to the circumstances of the accident until the completion of the official investigations."
The family thanked emergency services and Hobart Airport officials.
Tasmania Police Inspector Natasha Freeman said investigators continued to look into the crash.
"The circumstances surrounding the crash are being investigated and at this point, it is not possible to say who was in control of the dual-control aircraft at the time," Insp Freeman said on Wednesday.
Mr Corbin, from suburban Otago Bay, was the managing director of Rotorlift and his website said he had more than 14,000 flight hours in fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters.
Rotorlift operates the Tasmania Police rescue helicopter and also conducts tours and flight training.
"Roger contributed greatly to helicopter rescue services around Australia for many years, and he along with his wife Allana, were the driving force behind the very establishment of our own Westpac Rescue Helicopter service in 2000," the Tasmanian Westpac Rescue Helicopter service posted on Facebook.
"Roger's contribution to our service and to Tasmania undoubtedly saved many lives and he will be missed."
Flying school Advanced Flight Theory said Mr Corbin was a "legend of the skies taken too soon".
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau said the aircraft was a single-engine AS350BA Squirrel helicopter.
A preliminary ATSB report will be released in about a month and the final report could take up to a year to complete.
Hobart Airport was closed on Tuesday night as a result of the crash, but operations returned to normal on Wednesday.
