Newspaper Article 2010 – Flying high with industry Director’s Award

Flying high with industry Director’s Award

HB company Skyline is rewarded for attitudes to safety and the actions of its top leadership

by Roger Moroney

Hawke’s Bay’s Skyline Aviation has become the toast of the flying industry after picking up the country’s highest accolade at the Aviation Industry Association Awards staged in Palmerston North.

Civil Aviation Authority director Steve Douglas said the ‘Director’s Award’ was presented annually to an individual or organisation which demonstrated a significant and strong safety ethos – rewarding such attitudes to safety, and actions and leadership which led to a higher level of safety.

Mr Douglas praised the Skyline fleet of three fixed wing and three helicopter aircraft as having a spotless standards level, and noted the company was the first helicopter emergency medical services operator to have their aircraft officially certified to operate using night vision imaging systems.

The company had also purchased a twin engine helicopter to enhance the safety of their 24-hour air rescue/ambulance services.

“We are always looking for ways to do things better to create the best service we can.”
Mike Toogood, Skyline’s managing director

Skyline’s managing director Mike Toogood said he and his staff were thrilled and proud to receive the award as it reflected the standard of service and professionalism they were committed to.

“Getting the top accolade in the business is fantastic,” Mr Toogood said, adding it underlined that the Hawke’s Bay and Gisborne region possessed the best resourced air ambulance service in the country.

Founded in 1988 as a one-helicopter commercial service, it now transports about 2,000 patients a year after Mr Toogood established a dedicated rescue helicopter service in 1992.

It now boasts seven full-time fixed-wing pilots and two part-time, as well as two full-time helicopter pilots and two relief pilots.

The Director’s Award is not one companies enter – it is determined by intensive regular audits the CAA carries out on all aviation companies throughout the country – from the largest, like Air New Zealand, to small single aircraft commercial operations.

It is the first major award Skyline had picked up and Mr Toogood said it was nice to pick up the very best as the very first.

He said there were still plans to grow the business further.

“And we are always looking for ways to do things better to create the best service we can.”

Photo caption – FLYING HIGH: The nationally acclaimed Skyline Aviation crew, led by Mike Toogood (holding the award) with Brent Williams, left, (helicopters) and Peter Kidd (fixed wing aircraft).
PICTURE/ GLENN TAYLOR