24 | REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Rotorcraft: Construct Ltd - C&L Partners T T Hugh de Lacy Steady growth drives new project Steelwork and wall panels under construction at the new Rotorcraft site at Titanium Park. For 33 years the helicopter maintenance company Rotorcraft lived on one side of Hamilton Airport, but by the end of the year it’ll be in brand new purpose-built quarters at Titanium Park on the opposite side of the airport, south of the terminal. Rotorcraft was started in the early 1990s at the current premises by Chris Minnee, with Curly Roe as his senior engineer, when Wishart Helicopters gave them the opportunity of going into business on their own account by out-sourcing its maintenance work. Chris and Curly grew the business until selling it in 2017 to two people named Brad – Brad Lentfer and Brad Collins, the latter with wife Tracey Collins coming in as office manager. Both Brads had worked for Rotorcraft for various periods over the years and were keen to take the company over when Chris and Curly retired. When they did the Collins were in Fiji, but returned to New Zealand when they got the call from Brad Lentfer that the company was for sale. Brad Lentfer, the son of an aircraft engineer, joined Rotorcraft for work experience, and stayed on, apart from two years in London working, between his travel, as a helicopter engineer. A licensed and rated engineer, Brad Lentfer is Rotorcraft’s Chief Engineer – including the two Brads the company has seven engineers and an administrative staff of two – and is a co-director. Brad Collins started out in the Royal New Zealand Air Force but left there in 2003 to take up a positing with Rotorcraft, until he was hired by Air New Zealand’s Eagle Air, where he gained his fixed-wing experience. He returned to Rotorcraft for a while, but then worked in other roles around New Zealand and overseas, before coming home when he and Tracey got the call from Brad Lentfer. Brad Collins is also a licensed and rated engineer who serves Rotorcraft as Engineering Manager and as a co-director. The decision to set up a new helicopter maintenance facility at Hamilton Airport was forced on the company by its steady growth under the two Brads. The new premises, into which the company expects to move in October, will be on a 5000m2 section, of which 1195m2 will comprise offices, a large hangar and workshops. SOLUTIONS WITHOUT SURPRISES Specialist consultants in property project management and quantitiy surveying under one roof. ANZ Building, Level 2, 527 Victoria Street, Hamilton 3204 | PO Box 12664, Chartwell, Hamilton 3248 Phone: 07 839 4423 | Jason Smith Mobile: 0210 2176 484 | jason@ecsgroup.co.nz GET IN TOUCH QUANTITY SURVEYING | PROJECT MANAGEMENT | DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT PROUDLY SUPPORTING ROTORCRAFT Let us interpret the numbers. At Herbert Morton we are dedicated to providing timely and accurate solutions tailored to suit your individual needs. By building a working relationship with you we can provide advice and support so you can drive growth in your business. Proudly Supporting Rotorcraft BUSINESS ADVISORY · SPECIALIST INDUSTRIES · SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS · COMPLIANCE Our team offer a wide range of expertise and experience in the world of business, taxation, and wealth creation. Cambridge (07) 823 1203 | Carterton (06) 379 6560 | hello@herbertmorton.co.nz | www.herbertmorton.co.nz
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