Safety Honours For Queenstown Helicopter Company

1 September 2009

Queenstown helicopter company awarded safety honours

Queenstown’s locally owned and operated Over The Top Helicopter Company has been recognised for its gold standard safety records.

Over the Top picked up four awards at the recent Aviation Industry Association Conference which also signalled the official launch of the New Zealand Helicopter Association (NZHA).

The conference recognised those companies that provided superior safety performance within the industry with a Gold Award for consistent safety records.  The Gold Award recognises 15 years of continuous service without accident to self, passengers or crew and is awarded to companies as well as individual pilots.

Chief Executive of the Aviation Industry Association Irene King said few helicopter companies reached this level of safety performance - 15 years of continuous service without serious harm to pilot or passengers as defined in the Civil Aviation legislation.

“Over the Top Helicopters has demonstrated an outstanding level of safety performance which the commercial aviation industry in New Zealand is recognizing through the award of a Gold standard.   Gold is the highest level of achievement however we understand that Over the Top helicopters continuous safety performance record is 20 years plus – we simply don’t yet have a category of recognition for that level of performance,” she said.

Over the Top CEO, Louisa Patterson, who has operated Over the Top for 23 years without accident, was delighted to pick up the awards saying her commitment to safety and excellence have been top of the company’s priority list ever since the company lifted off in 1986.

As well as the company award, long standing Over The Top staff also received safety accolades. Chief Pilot Louisa Patterson was presented a Gold Award, while senior pilots, Stephen Beck and Stuart Robertson, received Silver Awards.

“Over the Top has always operated with the very best machines, the best pilots and the best protocols. We are absolutely delighted to again receive safety award honours.”

The latest round of awards reflect Over The Top’s commitment to safety and reinforces the company’s award history. Over The Top has received safety award honours from the Helicopter Association International (HAI) annually since 1999.

The only other company to receive a Gold Award in the current round was North Island operator, Beck Helicopters.

Over The Top was established in 1986 to provide unique visitor experiences. The company specialise in exclusive and customised helicopter tours providing friendly, personalised service.  Modern turbine helicopters and experienced pilots guarantee a safe and memorable journey into New Zealand's mountain wilderness.  Over the Top is New Zealand Tourism Qualmark Assured.

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