80 | New Jet Ranger adds scope to business RTB Helicopter’s Nick and Alex Stratton. Kelly Deeks RURAL SERVICES » RTB Heli Ltd After two years of providing high quality agricultural helicopter services in and around Whanganui, Nick and Alex Stratton of RTB Heli now have a new Jet Ranger and a second pilot to provide all your agricultural requirements when you need it with reliability and precision. Nick has been flying for more than 10 years and just loves the agricultural work and relationships he and RTB Heli are establishing and maintaining with farmers. After six years with Gisborne Helicopters and starting their family, Nick and Alex moved closer to home to Pahiatua where Nick contract flew as well as running a contract fencing business. Nick took up a line pilot role at the Palmerston North Rescue Helicopter in 2019, and after a year, realised he greatly missed the ag work, so he contract flew for Rangitikei Helicopters for the summer of 2020/2021. By the end of that season, Nick and Alex were ready to have a crack at running their own business but first, Nick took a once in a lifetime opportunity which was going to help them achieve their goal. “Contrating under Heli A1, Nick was offered a five-month stint aerial baiting on one of the most remote islands in the world, Gough Island in the South Atlantic Ocean,” Alex says. “He was on the island for about three months but away for five due to Covid quarantines and a weeklong journey on a ship between Capetown South Africa and Gough Island. It was the adventure of a lifetime and a big financial boost which helped us set up RTB Heli’s base and operations.” Nick and Alex built a hangar about 100m from the home on a little block up the Paraparas. As Nick had gone to school in Whanganui, he had local family and friends on farms as well as neighbours who were good enough to give RTB Heli a chance, From there, word of mouth grew their business and they leased a second chopper and brought on Jake Anderson as a second pilot. Then bad weather, falling meat and wool prices, and the recession in general made for a really challenging second year in business. “Farmers were tightening their budgets and the weather wasn’t conducive to spraying,” Alex says. “We had to learn a lot last year so we started working with a business advisor and got a plan in place that would allow us to do what we do well and get where we wanted to go.” Forestry work has helped to fill in the gaps in the agriculture industry while Nick and Alex focus on maintaining their current relationships and building new ones. Alex says there is a lot of competition in agricultural aviation so the provision of a high quality service is paramount. “We can make any of your agricultural needs happen with a high quality, reliable, and personal service,” Alex says. “We’ve got all the equipment required, certified and up to spec, and with 10 years of experience our jobs are always done well.” We cover what is important to your business. Specialising in Insurance for commercial motor, mobile plant, heavy machinery, agriculture, liability 06 388 1113 contactus@ginsure.co.nz www.ginsure.co.nz SAVE TIME &MONEY: SAY GOODBYE TO PAPERWORK! aerialtoolbox.com Aviation Operators Call our dedicated team on Let us help you Streamline your Operation 0800 777 202 Proud to support Alex and Nick at RTB Heli
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