February 2011
Fly-in, Fly-out (FIFO) operations are common practice in the Australian mining industry, where air travel is the most practical and cost-effective option for mining companies to transport personnel vast distances to and from work. Calum McMaster, a Kiwi pilot who currently works as an electrical maintenance planner in Australian mines, reports on the FIFO lifestyle.
During a recent trip to Italy, Wellington-based Erik Roelofs spent some time with Italy’s State Forestry Corps, which operates an effective fleet of helicopters in a wide range of roles.
Graeme Mills organised a recent reunion in Gisborne to celebrate the life and achievements of Lawson Field—the Kiwi agricultural aviation pioneer who founded Fieldair.
In another of his fascinating “aircraft recovery” reports, UK-based Mark Sheppard tells the birth, death and resurrection story of Hurricane AM274, which crash-landed on the Rybachiy Peninsula in June 1943.
Peter Cooper reports on the crushing review of future of the UK’s defence forces; a review that should please the world’s despots and terrorists, but which—especially in the current global political climate—will dumbfound anyone with a passing knowledge of history.
Trevor Lord and his wife Jill recently sponsored a flypast by a restored Harvard over the decommissioned one-time RNZAF base at Wigram to honour and inspire local ATC cadets based there.
In 1959, Hugh Francis began a distinguished aviation career alongside 25 other cadets in the RNZAF, 20 of whom eventually graduated. Hugh reports on the 50th anniversary of No. 30 Aircrew Course, held recently at Palmerston North.