Garden City Helicopters Safety Award Recognition

The following statement (below) was issued by Irene King, Chief Executive of the Aviation Industry Association on the 21st December 2012.

It is with great pride we announce the most recent recipients of our safety recognition awards – Garden City Helicopters based, of course, in Christchurch. What an amazing company – and the experience of its personnel is a testament to what superb people, backed by a great safety culture, can achieve. The award made to the company is for 25 years fatality-free flying.

Garden City is the provider of accident and rescue EMS services in the north and central South Island, (Christchurch, Greymouth, and Nelson bases) and operates in some of the most demanding conditions. Our AIRCARE Safety Recognition Awards are made only after exhaustive research into the company and its personnel – these investigations tell us a lot about the company, its people and their ethics, and, most importantly, the safety culture of the business.

In making the award to the company we also recognise the following company pilots Platinum – Neil Scott, Chris Wilding, Russell Cross, Tim Douglas Clifford. Gold – Mark Read, Quentin Hulse, Stuart Farquhar. Silver – Angus Taylor. In speaking to Simon Duncan, General Manager, it was also really interesting to learn of the company’s expansion overseas into Vanuatu and Fiji. What we do know from international travel and tourism connections is that the number one priority of travellers, particularly those using General Aviation services, is the safety record of the company. These safety recognition awards are all part of building the brand New Zealand ‘safety profile’ for our industry. They are assured through an intensive peer review process as well as inquiries with the company’s insurers. This award was made in accord with our category of ‘fatality free’ flying. From next year awards will be tightened – not that this would affect Garden City Helicopters whose safety record is outstanding in all respects.

Irene King – Chief Executive Aviation Industry Association