Heliport service for Kerikeri
A helicopter pilot of 12 years, Kingsley Thompson, has invested more than $1.25 million developing a base for his helicopter services firm Heliops on land next to State Highway 10 at the top of Bull%26rsquo;s Gorge.
Services offered at the heliport include:
- Scenic flights and helifishing trips.
- Aerial photography and surveys.
- Flight training.
- Agricultural spraying.
- Lifting and fire fighting.
It%26rsquo;s a great business for Kerikeri, says Mr Thompson.
It took him two years to find a site which had good roadside frontage and allowed for safe takeoffs and landings, he says.
Heliops will operate two Robinson four-seat R44 helicopters dubbed the %26lsquo;community helicopter%26rsquo; by their manufacturer because they are quieter than other helicopters at the heliport.
Helicopter movements will be restricted to six take-offs and landings each day.
For safety reasons and to minimise noise nuisance to local residents, helicopters will take off over farmland west of the heliport and climb to 1000 feet before flying over homes.
Landings will follow the same route regardless of wind conditions.
Developing the heliport hasn%26rsquo;t been without its frustrations, says Mr Thompson.
He wanted to base Heliops at Bay of Islands Airport four years ago, but Far North Holdings would not allow him to build a hangar there saying it had other plans for the site.
He estimates it has cost him about $75,000 to obtain resource consents and comply with Civil Aviation and Transit New Zealand requirements at the new site.
I want people to be aware that a lot of thought went into setting up here, he says.
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Thursday, January 31st, 2008 at 6:08 pm under