The variety of work and the challenges presented during rescues is what attracted me to the job. We can be out attending a farm accident one minute, doing an inter-hospital transfer to Waikato Hospital the next, then winching injured hunters from the bush and off to a motor vehicle accident at night. The missions are always different as are the challenges involved in each job. Ultimately it's extremely rewarding to know that at the end of the day you have made a positive impact on someone's life.
How did you end up in NZ working in Rotorua?
I'm originally a second generation American, but don't hold that against me! I am from a lovely place called Flint, Michigan. It has the dubious honour of consistently ranking as one of the 'most dangerous cities' in the United States of America.
I tiki toured around New Zealand in 2000. I instantly fell in love with the beautiful scenery, the high calibre and friendly nature of New Zealanders and of course the much lower crime rate! I decided to immigrate to Aotearoa.
Initially, I landed in Queenstown and learned to fly in Wanaka during weekends, thanks to a brilliant exchange rate at the time about 40 cents to the dollar. From there I flew helicopters around Golden Bay and then went over to the Gulf of Mexico for 18 months flying out to the oil rigs. I returned to NZ flying around Auckland and then did a seven month stint in Alaska. I happened to come back to NZ at just the right time as Rotorua was looking for a rescue pilot and fortunately I made a good impression during the interview and check flight. So here I am!
Do you need special training to be a rescue pilot?
There is a lot of additional training required besides the skills acquired with the normal commercial licence. We have to learn procedures and techniques involved with winching, rescues over water and how to fly with night vision goggles, for example. There is also a fair bit of knowledge and learning involved with helicopter and medical configurations for each job specific task we are sent on. It's certainly not a job in which you are fully prepared for fresh out of the gate.
What has been the most challenging rescue you have undertaken to date?
I think the most challenging rescue was winching a teenage girl with severe pelvic injuries out from Omanawa Falls. It was a difficult area to access and there were many obstructions nearby, such as trees, power wires and the falls themselves. We were also running out of daylight hours. It was certainly not a day to be off your game.
What has been the most rewarding rescue to date?
Some rescues are more challenging than others but I'm not certain if any are more rewarding than others ... I think anytime we have a favourable outcome for the patient we are quite pleased that we have done our jobs well. That's reward enough for me.
Do people you have rescued ever keep in contact with you?
I don't hear back from many of the people that we have rescued over time - but I don't really expect to either. It's always nice to get a thanks but that isn't why we do the job - and if we are coming to rescue you, you generally aren't in the best state to do a lot of talking.
I'm happy enough to know that in some way I helped and I'm sure they won't forget us anytime soon, regardless if they've said thanks or called in after their recovery.
How long have you been flying as a rescue pilot? Is it a job with a definite time/life expectancy?
I've been flying as a rescue pilot for nearly two years. It's a job I quite enjoy so have no plans of looking for other work anytime soon.
Did you have any other career aspirations other than being a pilot?
I wanted to fly helicopters for as long as I can remember, but unfortunately the means and opportunity weren't available to me until a bit later in life. I did explore some other career avenues, but I'll tell you about that in the next question.
Tell us three things about yourself that many people wouldn't know?
I have a degree in Mortuary Science and used to work in a morgue, I have a great love of opera, especially Faust and Der Ring des Nibelungen and I am an avid collector of Green Lantern comic books!
