Fallen pilot not forgotten as company changes hands

Peter Robb

The legacy of fallen Whanganui helicopter pilot Peter Robb will continue after a group of fellow flyers banded together to buy Hill Country Helicopters from the family.

Mr Robb died on October 18, 2014, when his helicopter hit an electrical wire while carrying out agricultural spraying above Koatanui Farm near Brunswick.

The Robb family, daughters Shannon Carr and Kasey Robb and mother Therese, posted on Facebook that it was with mixed emotions that they announced the sale of Hill Country Helicopters to Mid West Helicopters Ltd.

Mid West Helicopters features some familiar pilot names, including Dean Lithgow, Peter Larsen, Owen Harvey, Steve Ashcroft and Dave McLaughlin.

Joining them from HCH will be Nick Tallott and Scott Russell and Ian Pullen, who will fly from Taihape.

Mrs Carr will also be helping them through the transition period, then will take on a new role as safety officer in the new company.

"Operations will continue under HCH for the transition period, however, the new pilots will service all clients," Mrs Carr said.

"HCH has serviced the Whanganui region for 31 years and Taihape for 13. We feel the new team, with pilots who have extensive knowledge of the region, are the best fit to continue Peter's legacy. The new team have our family's full support and our best wishes."

Mid West Helicopters spokesman Dean Lithgow said the he had formed the company along with the four other shareholder pilots to buy HCH and they were all excited about what the future would bring.