My job: Passion a must for sky safety job

Shane Beams loves engineering and flying, and can do both in his engineering role at Heliflite Pacific. Photo / Supplied

Name: Shane Beams
Age: 38
Role: Deputy engineering manager for Heliflite Pacific
Hours: 40-hour week with occasional weekends
Average salary: Newly licensed engineer about $58,000, up to more than $75,000 with additional qualifications, experience and management roles
Qualifications: Level 5 Certificate in Advanced Aircraft Maintenance Engineering (two years) through Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology (NMIT) and commercial helicopter licence from Nelson Aviation College.

Describe what you do.

As licensed helicopter maintenance engineers we're involved in day-to-day scheduled maintenance and in overhauls, which involves stripping down and overhauling or replacing major components to new standards. We also finish assembling new helicopters.

Heliflite also does maintenance work outside New Zealand. I've just come back from China, where we assembled a [Robinson] R44 and did other maintenance jobs.

The work is mainly hangar-based but I also test fly the helicopters because I'm also a commercial helicopter pilot. Some engineers love the machines but don't like flying much. I love engineering and flying and I'm extremely lucky to do both here.

Your background?

I'm originally from South Africa and met my Kiwi wife in London. Before we came to New Zealand we went on a backpackers' trip, during which my wife and I bribed our way on to a Cambodian Air Force helicopter.

When we landed I just knew I had to learn to fly helicopters. We moved to Nelson and I learned to fly with the Motueka Aero Club. However, jobs are limited for new helicopter pilots because employers want lots of flying experience, so I decided to also train as an aviation maintenance engineer. I've found I really enjoy both roles.

I initially worked solely on helicopter maintenance at Hawker Pacific, where I did my apprenticeship, and then at Hamilton Rotorcraft. For the last four years I've worked at Heliflite Pacific where I work as an engineer but also do check flights after maintenance and post-assembly check flights on new helicopters. It is the perfect combination.

What training or experience is needed?

There are a number of ways to become a licensed aircraft engineer. I did NMIT's aviation maintenance engineering course, which was about 60 per cent theory and included maths, physics and aviation study.

Training included learning how to stay in the air, how engines work, how flight control is set up and the forces involved in the helicopter in flight. We worked on both fixed-wing and helicopters. We finished with a six-week placement. Mine was at Hawker Pacific, where I then did a two-year apprenticeship working on helicopters.

Over that time I also worked through the exams required to gain my basic aircraft maintenance licence, so I could start certifying aircraft releases unsupervised.

What clients does Heliflite Pacific have?

We are a service centre and dealership for Agusta and Robinson helicopters. We work on privately owned helicopters and commercial helicopters used for tourist flights, heli-fishing, commercial aerial spray operators and training.

We also service a superyacht's helicopter, which has involved travel to the Seychelle Islands and Alaska.

Skills and qualities?

A high degree of mechanical aptitude, eye for detail and good work ethic are essential. You need to be able to work unsupervised but also know when to ask for help. It is dangerous to think you're an expert in this industry. You can never go into auto-pilot because you're continually problem-solving.

You need to like to keep learning. Our company encourages staff to do licensing exams by paying a bonus for each exam passed and paying the exam fee if passed successfully.

Best part of the job?

I really enjoy flying helicopters I've worked on; that is the best perk of the job. It is also rewarding to push the machine out after a big service, start it up and hear it run nicely.

Working on the Taranaki Rescue Helicopter Trust 119 Agusta helicopter is also great. It is in huge demand so when it comes in for a service we have to turn it around as fast and safely as we can.

It is satisfying seeing it in the air and knowing you've done a bit towards helping them save lives.

Biggest challenge?

Overseas maintenance work is probably one of the biggest challenges, but it is also the most interesting.

Advice to others interested in aviation engineering?

When I'm employing someone, I look for passion about aviation. You may show that by completing a course but there are other ways. One of our apprentices didn't do a course but is a gliding club instructor.

You really need that passion; if you're after money, you'll earn more working on car motors.

But it is a satisfying job and, internationally, there is big money and exciting aviation engineering opportunities.

What keeps you at it?

It continues to challenge me. I'm going to LA for six weeks to train up on a new Robinson being released next year. I'm also probably going to Italy to train up on a new Agusta helicopter we've sold to Taranaki Rescue Helicopter Trust. So there's lots happening to keep me learning.