Sikorsky salutes Northland Rescue Helicopter team at Rotortech Conference

Blair Drinkwater, of Sikorsky Australia, presents chief pilot Pete Turnbull with the acknowledgement award for 20 years of safe service. Photo / Supplied

Thousands of hours in the air and many kilometres flown incident free by the Sikorsky helicopters as part of the Northland Rescue Helicopter fleet has been recognised by the aircraft makers.

Chief pilot Peter Turnbull was on the Sunshine Coast at the Rotortech Conference last week to accept the acknowledgement award for 20 years of safe operation on behalf of the Whangārei-based rescue helicopter team.

The conference is a helicopter showcase for the Australian and New Zealand helicopter industries and is held every two years.

"We're pretty chuffed," Turnbull said.

The trust operates three Sikorsky helicopters. From January to the end of April the helicopters have flown 306 times on various rescue missions. That compares with 273 flights for the same period last year.

On Monday the crew was called to a remote forestry block off Murray Rd, Pakotai, to airlift a critically injured worker to Auckland Hospital.

Turnbull, who has flown up to 8000 hours in the Sikorsky aircraft, had nothing but praise for their performance.

"It has been a privilege and a pleasure to operate such a capable helicopter. I find it a very easy machine to fly - stable and smooth.

"You actually feel how it is performing before the instruments tell you. It's a beautiful aircraft."

Turnbull was quick to also point out the incident-free years were also the result of excellent mechanics who maintained the aircraft.

"I trust those people implicitly. There is no margin for error when it comes to keeping helicopters in the air and our maintenance teams are the best. I trust them with my life."

Blair Drinkwater, key account manager for Sikorsky Australia, said it was a significant award which was rarely handed out.

Drinkwater had visited the Northland Rescue Helicopter base and was impressed with the operation.

"What this crew are able to do with a relatively small team is remarkable. They are innovative and show some great ingenuity which is outstanding.

"This award acknowledges their safe service to the Northland community over two decades."