KEY POINTS:
The family of rescue pilot David Fielding today spoke about their devastation over his death in last weekend's midair collision over the Kapiti Coast.
The helicopter in which Mr Fielding, 30, was testing student James David Taylor, 19, and a Cessna piloted by Bevan Andrew Hookway, 17, collided over Paraparaumu killing all three.
The helicopter fell through the roof of Paraparaumu's Placemakers store, just missing staff and customers.
The plane's fuselage landed about 250m away in Dennis Taylor Court, with its engine crashing through a house roof.
Mr Fielding and Mr Hookway were being farewelled in separate funerals at Paraparumu today.
Mr Taylor's body has been returned to his family in Nelson where plans are being made for his funeral.
In a statement released today, Mr Fielding's brother Michael said the family had spent this week privately mourning a much-loved son, partner, father and brother.
The day of his death was exactly four weeks before his planned wedding, and family and friends had this week had the "heart-wrenching task" of bringing forward their travel plans to be in Paraparaumu for his funeral instead.
"Dave had always wanted to be an aviator and dreamed from childhood that he would be a rescue helicopter pilot," Mr Fielding said.
"The tragic death in the line of duty of Dave's childhood hero, Wellington rescue pilot Peter Button, meant that throughout his career Dave had to acknowledge the dangerous nature of his work.
"He worked constantly for a decade to achieve his dream, relying on his extraordinary gift for flying, his professionalism and his determination."
The family were proud of his accomplishments, and that he should have had such a distinguished career as a chief flying instructor, flight examiner, operations manager and rescue pilot, in such a short life, Mr Fielding said.
They were grateful for the many messages of sympathy and support from the aviation, rescue and local communities.
They had "opened our eyes" to the high regard with which all who met Dave held him, he said.
Just days before his death Dave Fielding updated the Philips Trust Palmerston North base's operations manual so that it could continue its rescue and air ambulance services in the event that something should prevent him from working, his brother said.
"To lose him so soon after this is a cruel irony; that the Trust should lose a much loved colleague and friend so suddenly is a tragedy."
Mr Fielding said his family's thoughts were also with the Taylor and Hookway families who had also lost their sons at a tragically young age.
He thanked the police and Civil Aviation Authority for their professionalism and sensitivity.
"We wish for a speedy but thorough investigation, not so that any blame can be apportioned, but in the hope that a similar tragedy can be avoided in the future."
Mr Fielding's funeral will be held at the Kapiti Aero Club hangar at Paraparaumu airport at 3.30pm with a fly-past by a solo helicopter.
The family will hold a private cremation on Saturday.
- NZPA
