Neroli Henwood reports and photographs activities at the 47th Walsh Memorial Scout Flying School
LATEST TOPICS
Tourism potential still there
If you are down in the South Island, travel up the side of the astonishingly blue Lake Pukaki and head to Aoraki Mount Cook Airport. Here you can experience a touch of adventure with Aoraki/Mount Cook Ski Planes, whose aircraft can take you on flights up on to the Tasman Glacier or around Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park or Westland National Park.
Flights can also take you across the main divide of the Southern Alps to view the sweeping coastline and stunning alpine vistas of the Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers.
The ski planes are based at the Aoraki Mount Cook Airport and comprise 10-seat PC6 Pilatus Porters and six-seat Cessna 185s, while helicopters are also available. The two ski equipped Porters are ZK-MCN and MCT with MCK now on wheels. Of the Cessna 185s, MCR and CBS are on skis and MCR on wheels.
The airport is right in the heart of Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park, a World Heritage Area, a short distance from Mount Cook Village and The Hermitage Hotel. The company is approved to land on the Tasman Glacier, New Zealand’s longest.
Operating out of two hangars, all engineering work is also carried out on site by the company’s full-time engineer, Stephan Kemp, with Wayne McMillan chief pilot and operations manager.
Wayne has been flying fixed wing aircraft for more than 40 years and over 8700 flying hours. He started his aviation career in the early 1970s in the agriculture industry as a loader/trainee ag pilot before starting with Mount Cook Ski Planes in December 1979. Wayne has flown a range of aircraft — various Cessnas, Pilatus Porters and the Grumman AA5.
The other pilot today is Mike Williams, who has more than 4800 flying hours. He started out in commercial aviation in 1993 taking passengers on scenic flights around Mount Cook/Westland National Parks. Since September 1994 Mike has been flying Cessnas and Pilatus Porters for Mount Cook Ski Planes, prior to which he flew skydivers in the Mt Hutt area.
Other staff members include Sam Paton flying the Cessna and helping with all other aspects of the ground operations, and Jemma Thomas managing the office and everything else required on the ground.
Mount Cook Aoraki Ski Planes is a much smaller operation today than back in the mid-1980s when Wayne says sometimes 500 passengers would pass through the terminal in a day. Those times have well gone, and without a permanent air service into the region Wayne sees things not getting much better.
“There is a need for more tourism in the Mt Cook region. This is essential for the viability of the region and its tourism operators,” he says.
News
New helicopter makes first flight
Eurocopter has conducted the first flight of its first series production EC175, a medium sized twin-engine helicopter, and confirmed its performance. The maiden flight (seen above) occurred in early December at Eurocopter’s Marignane, France, headquarters facility.
Eurocopter has announced performance figures of recommended cruise speed 150kt, 10kt faster than the previous figure without affecting payload range, and maximum cruise speed exceeding 165kt, all at low vibration levels.
Display team named for 2013
In late December the RNZAF announced its Red Checkers formation aerobatic display team for 2013. Made up of senior instructors from the Central Flying School and Pilot Training Squadron and coupled with a strong support crew, the team is led by OC Central Flying School, Sqn Ldr Oliver Bint.
The team’s history can be traced back to the late 1940s in Wigram, and it has been flying under the Red Checkers name since 1967. In addition to their full time positions during the week, flying most weekends from January until May and performing at upwards of 25 airshows and events around the country, makes for a busy time for the team members.
Subscriber Login
If you have forgotton your password please click here.
Stay Connected
