Business Central February 2021

52 | Phone: 03 983 5500 waterfordpress.co.nz Your Business, Your Industry, Your News. DO OUR READERS KNOW YOU EXIST? Mid West Helicopters Diverse firm enjoys steady growth Sue Russell Mid West Helicopters has nine aircraft covering the central lower and western North Island. CONTRACTING KCFERT supports MIDWEST MIDWEST supports KCFERT We both provide written data as to where we’ve been and KCFERT explains what results can be expected when our products are applied by MIDWEST . If you want different results from your fertiliser application then you need to discuss these with Robin on 027 444 3432 or you can visit our website www.kcfert.co.nz Improvements we have made to farms using our products Quality DM, Quantity DM, reduced bearings 40 per 1000 to less than 2 per 1000, Improved animal health, improved plant health, dairy empty rates - last year 8% 0800 KCFERT | 027 444 3432 | robin@kcfert.co.nz | www.kcfert.co.nz We remove the hassle and provide you with everything you need to thrive. www.doyles.co.nz WHANGANUI • TURANGI • OHAKUNE W anganui-based Mid West Helicop- ters is the result of the merging in April 2018 of two former aviation businesses, Hill Country Helicopters and the helicopter division of Ravensdown, Aerowork. Founding Director and Chief Pilot Dean Lith- gow leads a team of 21 permanent staff and a number of casuals with nine aircraft covering the central lower and western North Island. “Basically draw a line across the country from Taupo south to just north of Wellington and that’s us,” Dean says. He’s joined in the discussion by CEO Shan- non Carr, a role she is passionate about. “The CAA implemented Rule Part 100 ‘Safety Management Systems’ and we’ve really worked hard over the last year or so to ensure our systems and procedures are second-to- none,” Shannon says. There are 13 elements to the SMS and each one has to be company specific and Shannon says they were fortunate that from Day 1 in 2018 they were able to implement it then. “Six months after receiving your certificate from CAA you get audited and over time this extends up to five years, depending on the results of their audit. “We have been doing very well with our systems and the auditors have commented on the quality of what we implement on an on-going basis.” Pilots are not easy to come by either Dean says, with a minimum of an Agricultural Rating on top of a commercial license. “We have put one of our pilot through the Agricultural Rating process which is followed by 100 hours supervision. We have two junior pilots at this time we’re putting through,” Dean explains. By providing a comprehensive range of services, from spraying, lifting, engineering, power lines, search and rescue, aerial survey- ing and photography, topdressing, through to recreational pursuits, such as hunting and fishing and scenic flights, Mid West Helicop- ters has certainly continued to grow in recent years. And just like any contractor in the Ag indus- try the team at Mid West Helicopters are con- stantly prioritising work, given the vagrancies of the weather. Dean says living and working in Wanganui, based at its airport, has been a really positive journey. “It’s the most beautiful of cities and out here at the airport the scene is busier with other multiple organisations. Wanganui airport is hardly ever closed for operation as its close to the coast.” Two months ago, the business evolved again with the introduction of the NZ Heli- copter Training Academy, with a dedicated instructor. The academy is capable of training pilots all the way through and its establish- ment will help ease the shortage of pilots. “It is a professional industry and through the 30 years I’ve been a pilot there have cer- tainly been a lot of regulatory changes. This is where having Shannon on board has really benefited the business.” In all the years Dean has been in the avia- tion business he says right now he’s absolute- ly got the best team with him. “We’re one big bloody family.” Shannon agrees: “You know the saying that it takes a village and in areas where I lack knowledge I’ve got some excellent people to input their help.” It’s this collaborative approach and all hands in that has contributed to the success Mid West Helicopters enjoys today.