When considering a working trip to New Zealand where do you start? The task of qualifying on the AW139; the fantastic staff that make up the New Plymouth team or the spectacular scenery surrounding Mt. Taranaki? All the above.
Recently we had the pleasure of having one of our pilots here from HNZ Australia - Roger Shugrue. "Perhaps the weather is the place to start as it played a significant role in my introduction to New Plymouth…. it rained continuously for the first 15 day!!", indicates Roger. "I was becoming fairly certain that this Pozzy (Pome / Ozzy) was the centre of a running joke as I was told daily that there was in fact a large mountain buried in the cloud. It was not until day 16 that I finally saw the snow covered peak of the mountain and realized I was not the butt of some light hearted Kiwi Ozzy ribbing." Roger was here to qualify on the Aw139. "As to the task of qualifying on the 139 that in itself became an interesting challenge as the bureaucracy of licensing kicked in followed by a technical problem that grounded the 139 just in time for my flight test with the CAA. I was left with the option of completing a full recognition flight test on the Bell 412….an aircraft I had not flown for 14 years!! Fortunately all turned out well despite another dose of New Zealand weather."
Roger was in and out of the New Plymouth installation, we were hoping he would stay here in New Plymouth! Roger further goes on to talk about the personalities that make up the team in New Plymouth . "Firstly, let me thank all of the staff in New Plymouth for their hospitality and for making me feel really welcome. It was a real pleasure meeting you all and I sincerely hope I get other opportunities to come back to New Plymouth to work with you all again. It would however, be remiss of me not to mention a few individuals for their particular help. Trudy for her assistance in all things daily, Harry for his ever present credit card, Brendan for guiding me safely through my check ride and a special thank you to Russell who has suffered the endless headache of sorting out my licensing difficulties ….a big thank you to you all!" "My best wishes to every one in New Plymouth."
Thanks for the kind words Roger Dodger!! You will be sorely missed.
Recently we had the pleasure of having one of our pilots here from HNZ Australia - Roger Shugrue. "Perhaps the weather is the place to start as it played a significant role in my introduction to New Plymouth…. it rained continuously for the first 15 day!!", indicates Roger. "I was becoming fairly certain that this Pozzy (Pome / Ozzy) was the centre of a running joke as I was told daily that there was in fact a large mountain buried in the cloud. It was not until day 16 that I finally saw the snow covered peak of the mountain and realized I was not the butt of some light hearted Kiwi Ozzy ribbing." Roger was here to qualify on the Aw139. "As to the task of qualifying on the 139 that in itself became an interesting challenge as the bureaucracy of licensing kicked in followed by a technical problem that grounded the 139 just in time for my flight test with the CAA. I was left with the option of completing a full recognition flight test on the Bell 412….an aircraft I had not flown for 14 years!! Fortunately all turned out well despite another dose of New Zealand weather."
Roger was in and out of the New Plymouth installation, we were hoping he would stay here in New Plymouth! Roger further goes on to talk about the personalities that make up the team in New Plymouth . "Firstly, let me thank all of the staff in New Plymouth for their hospitality and for making me feel really welcome. It was a real pleasure meeting you all and I sincerely hope I get other opportunities to come back to New Plymouth to work with you all again. It would however, be remiss of me not to mention a few individuals for their particular help. Trudy for her assistance in all things daily, Harry for his ever present credit card, Brendan for guiding me safely through my check ride and a special thank you to Russell who has suffered the endless headache of sorting out my licensing difficulties ….a big thank you to you all!" "My best wishes to every one in New Plymouth."
Thanks for the kind words Roger Dodger!! You will be sorely missed.
