Pilots

Experience:

2 years with the Capricorn Helicopter Rescue Service based in Rockhampton. 10 years with the Army flying Black Hawk Helicopters. Highlights included an operational deployment to Timor, lead-up training and operations during the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney and instructing at Oakey.

Highlights:

I have been lucky enough, after leaving the Army, to work with two fantastic and professional Rescue Helicopter services. The area I have operated in during my tasking, over the last 3 years, covers half of Queensland from Mackay to Lismore. It is a good feeling to be able to support such a wide community.

Most memorable mission:

A 5-year-old boy and his 7-year-old sister were involved in a car accident on the Bruce Highway. We transported both children; the girl only suffered minor injuries, but the little boy had sustained critical head injuries. Efficient assessment and handling of the patient by the crew meant we were able to have the boy treated by doctors very quickly. The reduction in the time from the accident to care in the hospital was a major factor in the boy's survival.

Hobbies and interests:

My two young children, running and soccer

Experience:

Before joining AGL Action Rescue I spent 8 years working for the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service (operated by Garden City Helicopters) in Christchurch, New Zealand. Prior to that I worked for Helicopters Australia in Perth, and Helipro in Wellington, New Zealand doing a variety of commercial work including, fire fighting, Media, MPT (marine pilot transfer), stream sampling, powerline surveys and also instructing.

Highlights:

Working for some great companies, seeing some awesome country and meeting some great people doing what I love, flying!!

Most memorable mission: Not one in particular stands out but some of the more challenging were during my time in Christchurch when we were regularly called into the Southern Alps and conduct rescues at high altitude and more often than not in very challenging weather.  

Hobbies and interests:

Family, Kayaking, water sports, Snow Skiing, Golf and Aviation.

Experience:

Having started out flying Tiger Moths and other fixed wing aircraft on the Gold Coast, I diversified into the world of helicopters whilst flying fixed wing in the Kimberley Region of WA in the early 1990's.  The diversity of flying helicopters has allowed me as a pilot to experience many different modes of operation - I have worked in charter, tourism, mining, conservation and land management, emergency services, Customs-Coast Watch and marine pilot transfer across an equally diverse range of locations throughout Australia.

Highlights:

Being blessed with a varied, successful and continuous career in aviation.  I have seen and experienced some of the most awesome places in Australia, I have been humbled by the generosity and resilience of the human spirit when things aren't so good and I have worked with some truly incredible people, both within the aviation industry and those on the periphery.

Most memorable mission:

Any mission that has a positive outcome is a memorable mission, it feels good to know you have contributed meaningfully to someone's well being, and been able to offer hope and assistance when their situation has been dire. One of our missions was to rescue a lady who had fallen from the top of Kondalilla Falls and was precariously perched on a ledge half way down. It was a difficult job that required all of our crew resources operating at the highest level of expertise.  When the team comes together in situations like this, it is very satisfying.  Trust plays a key role.  

Hobbies and interests:

My family, my dog and anything active and outdoors.

Experience:

Australian Commercial Pilot Licence Helicopter, Australian Command Instrument Rating Helicopter, European Airline Transport Pilot Licence Helicopter, European Airline Transport Licence Fixed Wing, Canadian Commercial Pilot Licence Helicopter, New Zealand Commercial Pilot Licence Helicopter.

Highlights:

For me the highlight of my flying career has been working on the Interconnector Transmission Powerline Construction in Scotland. This powerline was constructed completely by helicopters and is now used to supply electricity to the underwater cable connecting the United Kingdom Grid to Northern Ireland. I flew United Kingdom- and Norwegian-registered helicopters lifting thousands of tonnes of concrete, steel and equipment into the 222 towers constructed between Glasgow and Balantrae on the Scottish Ayrshire Coast.

Most memorable mission:

The British Company I worked for purchased a Beech 200 Kingair plane from an American Company and I was asked to fly the aircraft from the USA back to the UK. I picked the aircraft up from Concorde Airport near Charlotte, North Carolina. The planned route took me via Teterboro Airport, New York; GooseBay Airport, Newfoundland, Canada; Narsarsuaq, Greenland and Reykjavik, Iceland onto the destination; Bristol International Airport, England. The flying time was 18 hours and the experience was something I will never forget.   

Hobbies and interests:

Spending time with my wife and 4 children, watching the kids' sports, travelling, business, rugby union and running.

Experience: 

13 years with the Army flying Kiowa and Black Hawk Helicopters. Highlights included operational deployments to Timor, as well as support to the Olympic Games and the Rugby World Cup in Sydney.

Highlights: 

AGL Action Rescue is the first company I have worked for after leaving the Army.  I feel very privileged to be able to support the community of South East QLD and to work for such a long standing helicopter rescue service.

Most memorable mission: 

Whilst conducting a night shift in Bundaberg an elderly man required immediate transport to Royal Brisbane Hospital.  The weather forecast said we would be flying in rain and cloud for the entire journey which proved to be true.  Prior to us landing the paramedic requested a team on the helipad be made available to take the patient straight into surgery.  It was only after we returned to Bundaberg we were informed if the man had not undergone immediate surgery he would have been in serious danger within a couple of minutes.  Weeks later that man came out to the base with his wife and he could not say enough kind words for the service we had provided to him.  It was a very humbling experience.  

Hobbies and interests:

Running, Triathlons, Music 

Experience:

5yrs British Army Air Corps in N Ireland, Germany & Canada.

2yrs in Laos & Cambodia flying a Eurocopter AS350.

1 yr in Fiji flying on low level Aero Mag Survey AS350.

1 yr in PNG on low level Aero Mag Survey AS350.

1yr in Auckland flying for TVNZ News AS350.

2yrs Northland Emergency Services Trust (NZ) on the Skorsky S76.

6 yrs Westpac Rescue (Auckland) on the BK117.

Highlights:

Any mission is a highlight for me, however probably the one that stands out for me was in Auckland 2004 when we lifted off with a compliment of 6. Crew, midwife, pregnant lady & father to be and landed at the hospital pad with 7!

Hobbies & Interests

Mooloolaba Surf Club as a Volunteer Radio Operator & Water safety for the Nippers. Keeping fit, Building & Renovating.

Love supporting my twins in all their school & sporting activities.

Baiting my Aussie work mates when ever they play NZ at any sport.

Experience

14 years as a RAAF pilot and fixed-wing instructor, 5 years as a restaurant and nightclub owner/manager and 9 years as the Senior Base Pilot for AGL Action Rescue Bundaberg.

Highlights:

A genuine feeling that from time to time, the actions of our crew result in a significant benefit to the outcome for our patient. In some cases this is lifesaving!

Most memorable mission:

Derailment of the tilt train just north of Bundaberg in November 2004, and the capture of Robert Paul Long, the arsonist responsible for the Childers Backpacker Hostel fire in June 2000 after a two-day chase through bush.

Hobbies and interests:

Golf, music, NRL, movies and landscape gardening.

Rescue Experience and General Experience.  

12 Months flying for Capricorn Rescue in Rockhampton and 12 months flying for Childflight in Sydney.   19 years flying experience with most of my flying career flying Oil Rig Support in Bass Strait, West Africa(Nigeria), North West Self of Australia and the Kimberly's.  I have also done a number of years flying Marine Pilot Transfer in Western Australia and Queensland. I have also did two amazing and exhilarating  tours to Antarctica flying Ship and Scientific support.  

Highlights  

I think the highlights of my flying career would have to be the flying in Antarctica.  The scenery was amazing and just the flying in a pristine and remote location with no support was an exhilarating experience.  It was also an eye opener to fly in West Africa.    I really enjoy flying EMS as you don't know what's happening or where you are going to go when the tasking phone rings and the adrenaline kicks in and your training and professionalism takes over and you go and do your job.

Most Memorable Mission  

It was flying a recovery mission for a body at Cunningham's Gap South West of Brisbane.  The Wind was gusting strongly and we were required to hover in extremely close to the cliff face amongst trees and lower our crewman down over 200 feet to the top of another cliff.  It was a case of great crewman and crew coordination.  A number of weeks later I received a Thank You call from the victim's Mother to Thank us for bringing her son home.  A very emotional experience.  

Hobbies and Interests  

My wife and 5yr old Daughter, Friday night NRL and walking our dogs on the beach.