TV One reports: Southland fire under control

http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/southland-fire-burns-second-day-2431669

Heliworks had two aircraft fighting this fire: A BK117and an AS350 Squirrel B3 piloted by Jason Laing.

Heliworks has received a Helicopter Association International Operators Safety Award for 2007. This award is in recognition of Heliworks outstanding safety record.

Heliworks recently joined forces with snowboarding legend (and now producer) Travis Rice to film a snowboard-adventure epic entitled “That’s it, That’s all”.

Taking two years to complete, this movie is in a class of its own. The depth of film captured by the cameras from the helicopters is frightening, thanks to the 360 – degree rotational Cineflex camera system that sits mounted to the bottom of the helicopters.

These cameras, usually reserved for big budget films such as Lord of the Rings and The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, allow this movie to go where no other snowboarding movie has gone before.

Alfie, Johnny and Rico were the Heliworks pilots responsible for the incredible positioning and views seen through the movie whilst in New Zealand’s South Island.

To find out more about the movie please visit: http://www.thatsit-thatsall.com

Australia’s top rating travel show ‘Getaway’ recently voted New Zealand as the number one holiday destination.

Queenstown was highlighted as the adventure capital and Heliworks was selected to take the Getaway Reporter on a breathtaking Helicopter trip across Milford Sound. To view the spectacular footage please following the link below.

http://getaway.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=637088

Heliworks have recently been supporting the Department of Conservation in Queenstown by carefully removing trees. These trees under power lines will now be replaced by natives.

A steady hand and precision lifting skills are required from our pilots during the removal process.

Heliworks are off to Indonesia

On 25th May 2008 Heliworks shipped one of their Squirrel helicopters ZK-HYS to Indonesia. This will embark on a mineral exploration contract for the next 12 months.

Heliworks aims to have between 2 – 4 machines working off shore within the next 12 – 16 months on different projects.

This is in addition to the 6 machines already based in Queenstown.

A police search team discovered the body of Okin, 35, near South Island’s popular Routeburn Track on Friday after a private search team, funded by her family found articles belonging to her.

8 APRIL 2008 – 22 APRIL 2008

No sign of tourist on Routeburn Track

Apr 9, 2008 11:55 AM TVNZ News

A search and rescue team has begun searching the Routeburn Track near Queenstown for a missing Israeli tourist.

Thirty-five-year-old Liat Okin was last seen on the track two weeks ago and police say they have serious concerns for her safety.

Twenty searchers are at the track on Wednesday but so far they have found no sign of the missing woman.

An earlier aerial search of the track failed to find any sign of her.

She is described as 1.46 metres tall – that’s less than five feet – of thin build and has dark shoulder-length hair usually worn in a ponytail.

She was last seen wearing a red hoodie with a zip-up front, jeans and a backpack.

Acting Senior Sergeant Steve Hutt says with a week’s delay between her last sighting and the report coming to police, they’ve been trying to build a picture of her movements and trace witnesses.

On 10th February 08 Heliworks and Southern Lakes Helicopters combined their extensive experience to perform a dual lift of an abandoned 2 tonne steam engine.

The engine had been used as a saw mill base and will now be restored to its former glory.

The lift had to be carried out with absolute precision and perfect timing. As you can see from the pictures below at times during the lift the blades of each helicopter were no more than 2 meters apart!

Heliworks are pleased to announce that our fleet of helicopters has a brand new addition, an AS350 B2 which was purchased in December 2007 registration ZK-IHW.

This is our 5th Squirrel which will assist with the increasing demand for helicopters required for tourism, filming, fire fighting, precision lifting, air rescue, air ambulance and night flying. After only a couple of weeks this impressive machine has already made it’s debut firefighting in the Skippers area.

In addition to this the R44 Robinson in the Heliworks helicopter fleet has been upgraded to a brand new machine.

Prize winner Toby Dickson & Prime Minister Helen Clark take a Heliworks helicopter flight to discuss current affairs.

After months of training on new equipment, the pilots at Heliworks are very close to being able to fly at any time, day or night.

With the introduction of Night Vision Goggles, we will be able to fly search and rescue as well as emergency medical flights as of the end of July 2007.

Just check out the difference between the two images on the right, showing The Remarkables as viewed with the naked eye and then using our high tech night viewing equipment.