Rogue Pilots in NZ
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Joined: Jul 2008
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From: New Zealand
Rogue Pilots in NZ
I'm not sure this can be disputed.
Heli Association: Rogue New Zealand helicopter pilots risking life and industry reputation | Stuff.co.nz
Is this a Kiwi phenomenon or is it world wide? Is the venison era a unique influence, or in other countries is the same space filled by something else like ex mil war vets?
Heli Association: Rogue New Zealand helicopter pilots risking life and industry reputation | Stuff.co.nz
Is this a Kiwi phenomenon or is it world wide? Is the venison era a unique influence, or in other countries is the same space filled by something else like ex mil war vets?
Joined: May 2002
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From: Wanaka, NZ
I wrote in the tech log of a 212 "failed power assurance check", and with the open entry still in the book a kiwi pilot thought nothing of then taking it out and doing a job for a customer. It was incomprehensible for him to think that it might need maintenance before the next flight. Or at least for the open entry to be deferred by the mechanic. I used to see a lot (and I mean a lot) of that sort of stuff from kiwi pilots.
Joined: Sep 2016
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From: Murdoch, Perth
gulliBell, this is gold coming from you. (Location: Wanaka, NZ) Did you ever fly below Wx minima? Did you ever overload your aircraft? Did you report that? If so, then how did that work out for you?
Let's not start bashing each other and instead all of us get behind a move to increase the safety culture our industry deserves - one flight at a time.
Let's not start bashing each other and instead all of us get behind a move to increase the safety culture our industry deserves - one flight at a time.
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Home
I see the problem in your maintenance department. Mine basically confiscates the tech log until the problem is rectified.
Pilots can't use a machine without checking serviceability with MX.
Not finding the tech log in the aircraft should trigger a thought process within the pilot though...
Pilots can't use a machine without checking serviceability with MX.
Not finding the tech log in the aircraft should trigger a thought process within the pilot though...
Avoid imitations
Joined: Nov 2000
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From: Wandering the FIR and cyberspace often at highly unsociable times
I was on holiday for a month or so in NZ in 1995. Some of the stupid helicopter antics I saw going on out there made my hair stand on end. With myself having been in the helicopter business for almost twenty years already back then, my kids wanted to fly on a sightseeing trip but I would not under any circumstances let them fly with the operators we saw in "cowboy action".
I later read in that year 10% of all the NZ civilian registered helicopters were lost to "accidents". I was in no way surprised.
I later read in that year 10% of all the NZ civilian registered helicopters were lost to "accidents". I was in no way surprised.
Joined: Feb 2005
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From: On the green bit near the blue wobbly stuff
It speaks volumes about the prevalent safety culture when one pilot says to the other on this forum:
"Did you ever fly below Wx minima? Did you ever overload your aircraft? ", and clearly expects the answer - "Yes"!!
I would hope most people would answer "No"!!
"Did you ever fly below Wx minima? Did you ever overload your aircraft? ", and clearly expects the answer - "Yes"!!
I would hope most people would answer "No"!!
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And here comes the Kiwi bashing.
A lot of Pilots have crashed (fatally) while flying under wx mins. Among other accidents and incidents worldwide.
And not just kiwis. But not all kiwis (like all pilots around this world) fly like cowboys.
Those that live in glass houses should not throw stones.
Safe and enjoyable flying everyone.
(ducking for incoming rants)
A lot of Pilots have crashed (fatally) while flying under wx mins. Among other accidents and incidents worldwide.
And not just kiwis. But not all kiwis (like all pilots around this world) fly like cowboys.
Those that live in glass houses should not throw stones.
Safe and enjoyable flying everyone.
(ducking for incoming rants)
Last edited by Hughesy; 24th September 2016 at 01:51.
Avoid imitations
Joined: Nov 2000
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From: Wandering the FIR and cyberspace often at highly unsociable times
Hughesy, the article came from your own National helicopter association.
However, I agree with SASless, no one country has a monopoly on rule breaking and lack of common sense when it comes to helicopters.
However, I agree with SASless, no one country has a monopoly on rule breaking and lack of common sense when it comes to helicopters.
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Surrounding the localizer
Not a flingwing bandit myself, but have plenty of friends in the industry, many of whom will freely admit that the limits do indeed get pushed. The people I know certainly aren't cowboys, but there is definitely a culture of trying to get the job done..sometimes at the expense of a margin here and there. Its a throw back to the early days of bush flying in NZ and the Ag scene...then there were the halcyon days of deer recovery...
Joined: Jun 2014
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From: Netherlands
the truthfull answer should probably be:
Yes
Been there
Done that
Learned my lesson
Luckily still wearing the T-shirt
Never want to be there again.
The tread is not about Bashing.
Not everybody should be tarred with the same brush.
The issue is that a NZ heli Association is signalling an above average corner cutting.
Difficult to discuss averages!
SLB
Yes
Been there
Done that
Learned my lesson
Luckily still wearing the T-shirt
Never want to be there again.
The tread is not about Bashing.
Not everybody should be tarred with the same brush.
The issue is that a NZ heli Association is signalling an above average corner cutting.
Difficult to discuss averages!
SLB
Avoid imitations
Joined: Nov 2000
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
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From: Wandering the FIR and cyberspace often at highly unsociable times
Unfortunately you are in the position of reaping what others before you have sown.
I note you would have been just 17 when I visited your beautiful country and saw first hand what concerned me. It wasn't "corners being cut" just plain stupidity and in one case, two pilots were showing off and unnecessarily putting tourist passenger lives at risk, presumably for the sake of providing "extra thrills".
It wasn't just the rotary wing world, either. The owner of the accommodation we used on South Island kept encouraging me to take my young kids on a jet boat ride on the partly frozen river. I replied that I considered it far too risky, having watched what was going on, especially as the water was freezing and my kids weren't even in their teens at that time. I wouldn't take my kids on the boat because they were driving right at rocks on the bank and veering away at the last second. Extra thrills?
I received some scorn over that, two days running but he had nothing to say on the third day when the local jet boat people killed a young woman visiting NZ on her honeymoon. The boat hit a rocky outcrop and she got thrown out. They couldn't get this poor woman out of the undertow and she drowned in front of her new husband. They eventually had to use an earth mover to dig out a ramp and a cutting into the river bank to get her body out.
http://www.taic.org.nz/LinkClick.asp...language=en-US
BTW, given chance, I would have stayed in NZ because I loved the place!
Joined: Jun 2016
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From: Brantisvogan
From the gist of the posts, it sounds like what is being discussed is culture, rather than a sweeping generalisation of those that frequent the land of sheep lovers (no not Wales). 
Culture exists everywhere, not just the island of mostly decent Sauvignon Blanc.
Culture exists everywhere, not just the island of mostly decent Sauvignon Blanc.
Joined: Apr 2000
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From: EGDC
So why do we have SOP? Is it just to ruin peoples' fun flying or might it be to help prevent dimwits making the same mistakes over and over because they 'know better'?