Memorial for Fallen Mustering Pilots
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Memorial for Fallen Mustering Pilots
From ABC
Fallen chopper pilots killed mustering in Western Australia's north remembered
Family and friends of chopper pilots killed while mustering in Western Australia's vast north have gathered to remember their fallen mates.
Over the last decade 15 people have been killed while using helicopters to round up cattle in Australia.
Six of those were in the state's Kimberley region, where stations can stretch to a million acres and pastoralists grapple with moving their herd over huge distances.
A memorial dedicated to pilots was unveiled at Halls Creek yesterday.
Christina Jones, from Coolibah station, lost her brother in a 2012 crash near WA's Louise Downs Station.
She said she had also lost friends in the industry, and the memorial was appreciated.
"It's very touching, it's fantastic that people have come up with this idea to remember helicopter pilots.
There's certainly a lot that have been killed and there will be a lot more I guess unfortunately."
She said the impact on families was huge, but most were aware of the risks they faced when getting into the machines.
"I've just got shivers up my spine, but they're doing what they love and you can't stop them ... they fly," she said.
"They know that there are dangers associated with it, but you can't stop them."
Her brother Angus Mundell, 40, was killed after his chopper clipped an overhanging rock while taking a solo flight.
The Robinson R22 Beta chopper, commonly used in mustering work, plunged into water at the base of a gorge.
Reviews find common errors in pilot deaths
Not all pilots were mustering at the time their aircraft crashed, one occurred during aerial culling and another while out spotting stock.
Pastoral and veterinarian Peter Letchford, who emceed the event, said there were always areas to improve.
"These blokes do operate in a difficult zone, in that they're operating at heights that are not always the preferable heights, but they're the heights they have to operate at to do the job," he said.
"There are mechanical errors, there are pilot errors... it's just that momentary lapse of concentration that often does lead to an accident.
"I don't know how you totally eliminate that, short of putting helicopters all on the ground."
He said when pilots began their careers, there could be a cavalier attitude, but those attitudes were usually swiftly brought into line.
"I think they wouldn't be doing it if there wasn't a bit of derring-do ... in their attitude," he said.
"I think they are adventurous ... they are not happy to [settle] for the status quo.
"But I think that the are very skilful and become very skilful.
"Probably a pilot who has operated as a mustering pilot in the long term will make the best pilot, it's because they do know exactly what their machines can and can't do."
Fallen chopper pilots killed mustering in Western Australia's north remembered
Family and friends of chopper pilots killed while mustering in Western Australia's vast north have gathered to remember their fallen mates.
Over the last decade 15 people have been killed while using helicopters to round up cattle in Australia.
Six of those were in the state's Kimberley region, where stations can stretch to a million acres and pastoralists grapple with moving their herd over huge distances.
A memorial dedicated to pilots was unveiled at Halls Creek yesterday.
Christina Jones, from Coolibah station, lost her brother in a 2012 crash near WA's Louise Downs Station.
She said she had also lost friends in the industry, and the memorial was appreciated.
"It's very touching, it's fantastic that people have come up with this idea to remember helicopter pilots.
There's certainly a lot that have been killed and there will be a lot more I guess unfortunately."
She said the impact on families was huge, but most were aware of the risks they faced when getting into the machines.
"I've just got shivers up my spine, but they're doing what they love and you can't stop them ... they fly," she said.
"They know that there are dangers associated with it, but you can't stop them."
Her brother Angus Mundell, 40, was killed after his chopper clipped an overhanging rock while taking a solo flight.
The Robinson R22 Beta chopper, commonly used in mustering work, plunged into water at the base of a gorge.
Reviews find common errors in pilot deaths
Not all pilots were mustering at the time their aircraft crashed, one occurred during aerial culling and another while out spotting stock.
Pastoral and veterinarian Peter Letchford, who emceed the event, said there were always areas to improve.
"These blokes do operate in a difficult zone, in that they're operating at heights that are not always the preferable heights, but they're the heights they have to operate at to do the job," he said.
"There are mechanical errors, there are pilot errors... it's just that momentary lapse of concentration that often does lead to an accident.
"I don't know how you totally eliminate that, short of putting helicopters all on the ground."
He said when pilots began their careers, there could be a cavalier attitude, but those attitudes were usually swiftly brought into line.
"I think they wouldn't be doing it if there wasn't a bit of derring-do ... in their attitude," he said.
"I think they are adventurous ... they are not happy to [settle] for the status quo.
"But I think that the are very skilful and become very skilful.
"Probably a pilot who has operated as a mustering pilot in the long term will make the best pilot, it's because they do know exactly what their machines can and can't do."
