Business Rural North Summer 2021

50 | Aviation in the DNA for family owned Skywork has invested heavily over the years, not only into the very best of technology available. S kywork has been operating now for almost 25 years, and its Chief Pilot Roger Stevenson has been involved in the industry for more than 40 years, having followed in his father’s footsteps, who was one of the original top-dressing pilots working for Barr Brothers in Northland in the 1960’s, before going onto helicopters. Greg, Roger’s son, has followed in his father’s footsteps, and has been working predominately in Northland carrying out agricultural and forestry jobs, on forest estates, where his father and grand-father worked before him for several years now. However, today, the job, comes with far more compliance parameters, but does provide more accessible tools to ensure precision delivery of expensive agri-cultural products, onto the land- owners required target areas, than his grand-father experienced. For example, all boundaries and water-ways are mapped out onto a GPS maps for all forestry jobs, to ensure the pilot knows where to start and stop whilst carrying out their work, whether it be aerial top-dressing or pre-plant spray- ing to eliminate heavy weeds. As well, Skywork has invested heavily over the years, not only into the very best of technology that is available for its various types of operations, but has also developed its own refinement of equip- ment and systems used. This enables jobs to be carried out swiftly, efficiently and effectively, which is paramount, to ensure jobs are affordable for clients, given the expensive nature of helicopters. With careful planning, and due to their ability to be so mobile, and provide such timely delivery, the advantage of utilising helicopters is priceless, in a country that has such isolated and challenging terrain. In its 25 years of accident-free operation has seen Skywork twice awarded the prestigious NZ Civil Aviation Authority’s Safety Award of Excellence, which covers the entire civil aviation sector in New Zealand, including fixed-wing craft and airlines. Company’s pilots and ground crew go through months of training “to ensure they know the cor- rect procedures and safety measures to protect themselves, property, and our clients,” Skywork Helicopters CEO Miriam Stevenson says. “Both ground crew and pilots require a variety of competency checks and refresher training each year.” Skywork’s fleet comprises three single-engine AS 350-B3 Eurocopters, and one twin-engined AS355N Eurocopter, working from bases in Whangarei, Warkworth and Thames, and capable of deployment nationwide. This gives the company comprehensive cover- age of a huge range of helicopter operations, from agriculture, forestry, fire-fighting, filming, charters and tourism to precision lifting, the power industry, salvage, search and rescue. The company organises itself, so that it can turn to change types of operations, quickly and effec- tively as required. The industry’s currently facing similar challenges as are other businesses, namely the impact of Covid and attracting young people to the industry for RURAL SERVICES » Skywork Helicopters Groundcrew as well as upcoming Pilots prepared to do the hard yards that comes along to become an Agricultural pilot. Although a number of operations are still able to continue at reduced Covid-19 restriction levels, not all jobs can be carried out until Level 2. The impact of covid continues with increased costs being faced in all its supplies. As well, careful planning for maintenance is required, to allow for adequate lead time to ensure aircraft parts are present, when due for replacement on the aircraft or its equipment. The lack of the industry having developed a recognised profession for ground crew, where a certification structure for groundcrew, should have been established exists within many other trades, is a major reason behind the chronic shortage of such staff for NZ aviation companies. “There has been no formal structure put in place in the public arena, to attract prospective candi- dates to take a career path as that of a Ground crew support to Commercial Helicopter Companies. Typically, with lots of competition on the career path to attract young persons, the lack of a recognised certification for this profession, is causing issues for companies throughout New Zealand to secure, hard working, long term competent staff that require many skills to perform this job capably. Perhaps, the focus, was too orientated on the pilot role devel- opment, rather than the persons below. “We would like to see the ground crew position getting some backing from industry leaders or government bodies, to put in place a formal qualifi- cation, so that it could be recognised as a job like a builder or electrician, where you can gain qualifica- tions and become certified. “It’s a job which requires years of training, and more than justifies a system that allows someone to gain knowledge and certificates in aviation, rigging, safety management systems, chemical handling, truck-driving, mechanics, forestry units and many more. “If ground crew were to become more of a rec- ognised job, we feel people may be more interested in choosing it as a career path,” Miriam says. Also, compared to 10 years ago, there is also a vast shortage of young individuals wanting to see a career in the Agricultural sector, which is something we do hear of in many of the primary industries. While, some will say drones are going to get better and better, it will be some time before they are able to complete the volume of work, within all of the parameters required, that a pilot competes in the larger aircraft currently to complete this important sector of work for the Agricultural and Forestry Sector. 09 425 8456 2 Gumfield Drive, Warkworth Onsite COF Inspections Dedicated to diesel Proud to work with Skywork Helicopters Quality Stainless & General Sheetmetal Fabrication WARKWORTH SHEETMETALS LTD Malcolm Patterson P: 09 425 7366 E: wsm@helix.net.nz 27 Woodcocks Rd. Warkworth 0910 WSM is proud to be associated with SKYWORK HELICOPTERS Ltd, a local company providing essential services throughout New Zealand. The team at WSM takes pride in producing quality fabrications for Skywork Helicopters interesting and varied projects. • ARCHITECTURAL • COMMERCIAL • MARINE • JOBBING • WELDING 45 Woodcocks Road, Warkworth Bftwarkworth@xtra.co.nz We specialize in a wide range of services from puncture repairs and replacement tyres to shock absorber & suspension upgrades, lift kits & everything in between. We also have a Fleet Maintenance service that deals with a range of work from OTR fleet work to farm tractor call-outs. Our team is highly experienced & ready for whatever task is put in front of them. CALL 09 425 8661 PROUDLY SUPPORTING SKYWORK HELICOPTERS Who you turn to for tyres