Agricultural Operations

Agricultural Operations

Helicopters Otago Ltd offers the complete agricultural operation, dedicated to quality, value and precision. We are accredited members of the New Zealand Agricultural Aviation Operators Association, who actively promote and encourage higher standards in the industry.

Our pilots and ground crew are all specialists and are extensively trained in the application of all types of chemicals and fertiliser products and our helicopters are fitted with purpose built spray and bucket equipment.

Accuracy is our goal and for this reason we have developed a new precision guidance system in conjunction with Tracmap. This system is capable of importing and exporting DXF, Shape, NZMG, WSG84 and NZTM2000 files. This system has been developed specifically for baiting operations and has features that were only dreamed about in a GPS System. It allows for easy uploading and downloading of files (no downtime) and can easily import void zones, create boundary buffers, end of line buffers and point zones.

 

It is the best technology available on the market today for this type of work. It uses the latest U-Blox receivers which are extremely accurate and means we no longer need to use differential type receivers which were complicated and not as reliable.

 

Aerial Spraying

We currently have nine helicopters with certified spraying equipment. From crops to forestry, brush weeds to thistles, Helicopters Otago’s spraying systems are calibrated, manufactured and approved to the current Civil Aviation Authority standards. Each helicopter is supported by a well trained ground crew, four-wheel drive vehicle and 1200 litre fuel tanker.

 

Aerial Bucket Work

Helicopters Otago buckets are all manufactured to our special design, which has been perfected after many thousands of hours of commercial bucket work, on all types of materials and weather conditions.

 

The buckets have calibrated flow rates for the accurate spreading of fertilizer, sowing of seed or spreading of toxic baits for the eradication of noxious pests.

 

For all bucket operations, we supply a complete range of equipment from, fully trained ground personnel, purpose built four-wheel drive, pivot-steer loader through to our own fuel tankers. We can also supply a 9 ton Hino truck complete with a 3 ton crane attached.

 

Helicopters Otago was part of a very successful team of operators, who flew to the Campbell Islands to spread toxic bait in a poisoning programme for the total eradication of rats on the island. This was one of the largest jobs of its kind in the world and without our specialised bucket equipment and personnel the contract would not have been the 100% success that it was.

 

Since the Campbell Island project we have been involved with many other eradication programs. We undertook a major project on the Aleutian Chain, Alaska. For this operation we supplied the buckets, pilots, and GPS units. This is currently the largest eradication project undertaken in the United States with a 100% success rate.

 

We have also supplied baiting buckets and GPS units to Hawaii, Mexico, Italy and the Seychelle Islands.

 

Fire Lighting

We have two purpose built fire lighters which are used
for controlled burn-offs and back burning.

Ground Support

All our aircrafts are supported by a wide range of vehicles and equipment specifically tailored to meet our customers requirements.

 

Support Vehicles include:

  • Six Hilux utes (air to ground coms and can monitor a wide range of radio frequencies).
  • Four 1400lt fuel trailers
  • One 12 ton flat-deck truck with three ton crane
  • 6000lt fuel storage tank - portable
  • 50,000lt under ground fuel storage at hangar site
  • 2.5 ton pivot steer loader
  • 1 Tandem & 1 single trailer
  • 1 Heavy duty tandem trailer (2.5 ton braked)

The above vehicle fleet and fuel reserves allow us to be quickly mobilised and provide professional on site support to all our helicopter operations.

Loading System

We have a 12 ton Hino truck complete with a 3 ton crane for lifting and loading fertilizer bags into our purpose built 2.5. ton pivot steer loader. This system allows for fast and efficient loading of the fertilser buckets which results in maximum productivity.