92 | Safety is first and foremost for pilots Ravensdown Aerowork was founded in 2004, following the acquisition of Whanganui Aerowork. Richard Loader From experienced pilots, through to talented engineers, dedicated ground crew and office support, it is always the people that make the difference at Ravensdown Aerowork (Aerowork), says Chief Pilot Mark Tocher. “The people are key to the whole operation. Our pilot group has an average flight hour experience of just over 13,000 hours per pilot - that is pretty special and something I am very proud to boast from the tree tops. These pilots live and breathe in the communities in which they operate and take real pride in doing what they do. They invest themselves heavily in their work, and with an ethos that safety is first and foremost, closely followed by productivity.” Complementing the pilot team are the engineers and ground operations teams that include the loader drivers, mechanics, area coordinators, mapping team and office staff - each providing an integral role in the success and safety of the aerial activities. “There is a group of 15 engineers based in Whanganui who keep the fleet going and they are a major part of the operation. We can manufacture our own parts and service all our own machines. We also operate thirty-eight loader trucks that are spread across the North and South Islands.” With a proud history that stem back over 75 years, Aerowork is New Zealand’s largest aerial fertiliser applicator, with eleven fixed-wing aircraft operating across much of the North Island and South Island. Ravensdown Aerowork was founded in 2004, following the acquisition of Whanganui Aerowork which had aircraft based throughout the lower North Island providing a range of arial services including top dressing and firefighting services. RURAL SERVICES » Ravensdown Aerowork Further growth occurred when three South Island aerial agricultural businesses were acquired in Rangiora, Nelson / Marlborough and Fairlie, making Aerowork a truly nationwide business. While operations in the North Island span from Waikato down to the Wairarapa, South Island operation run as far south as Moeraki (Otago) and right up to the Nelson/Marlborough region. “Our aerial operations are predominantly the application of solid fertiliser and lime, but we also provide some firefighting during the dry season. We are contracted to FENZ (Fire & Emergency New Zealand) so when there’s a fire in a certain area or of a certain magnitude we get called to assist.” Aerowork’s fleet of modern aircraft are primarily turbo-prop Cresco’s top dressers manufactured by NZ AERO (formerly Pacific Aerospace Corporation) in Hamilton. “We’ve invested significantly in technology, Your Complete Engineering Services Workshop - Hydraulic and pneumatic service / sales / repairs / design - EWP certified / maintenance / servicing / compliance - Full mechanical / machining workshop and breakdown service - Heavy and light fabrication - Hydraulic hose and fittings 100 Ravensbourne Rd, Dunedin - Ph: (03) 471 0516 | www.palmersmech.co.nz for further information PLEASED TO WORK WITH RAVENSDOWN AND PROVIDE THEM WITH ENGINEERING SUPPORT • Residential Glazing • Balustrades • Showers • Showerdomes PH: (03) 455 6134 | 45 Otaki St, Dunedin | www.aburnsglass.co.nz Aburns Glass Proud to support Ravensdown Aeroworks including GPS mapping capability and variable rate application, which means that we can accurately change the application rate depending on land use or topography. We have an inhouse mapping specialist who produces the aerial maps and we work closely with the agri-managers and farmers to determine what application is required. Fertiliser is a very expensive product and you want it applied at the right place, at the right time and the right amount, and that is what we pride ourselves in doing. Once the job is done, we’ll forward the farmer a proof of placement map giving provable peace of mind that fertiliser was applied where it was wanted, and in the quantities ordered.”
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