Pilot retires with fond memories of air travel to Stewart Is
Jun 21, 2021 19:10:06 GMT 12
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jun 21, 2021 19:10:06 GMT 12
Pilot retires with fond memories of air travel to Stewart Island
Jamie Searle
17:40, Jun 21 2021
Invercargill pilot Raymond Hector has gone into retirement with more than 35 years of flying commercial planes. KAVINDA HERATH/STUFF
Playing a part in the Department of Conservation’s ongoing Kākāpō Recovery will always be fondly remembered by retired pilot Raymond Hector.
Hector stepped down as Stewart Island Flights chief executive and chief pilot last week after co-owning the business and its parent company South East Air for a combined 28 years.
The Recovery was set up in 1990 to protect kākāpō through the work of rangers, scientists and volunteers on Codfish Island.
Flying DOC staff from Invercargill to and from Codfish Island/Whenua Hou for the Recovery and transporting the kākāpō to Invercargill had been immensely rewarding work, Hector, 61, said.
“Those birds were on the brink of extinction. When we first started in 1993 there were only about 45 kākāpō in the world, now there’s over 200.
”[Being involved with] the success of the Kākāpō Recovery is one of the highlights of my career.”
Raymond Hector is in retirement after selling his shareholding in South East Air Ltd which is the parent company of Stewart Island Flights. He was also Stewart Island Flights chief pilot. KAVINDA HERATH/STUFF
Before he and Bill Moffat formed South East Air in 1993, Hector had flown Friendships for New Zealand Post, ferried planes from Germany and United States to New Zealand, flew planes for Air NZ and Mt Cook Airline.
It was after Hector had three aviation redundancies from different companies, that he and Moffat launched into business together.
“We bought Southern Air in 2000 and rebranded it as Stewart Island Flights,” Hector said.
During the many years of flying freight and passengers between Invercargill and Stewart Island, Hector met many hunters.
“We’ve flown a lot [of hunters] and built up a rapport with them ... they trust you [for advice].”
He flew Helen Clark from Invercargill to Stewart Island and return a few times during the period she was NZ’s prime minister (1999-2008).
Hector has a soft spot for Doughboy Bay, on the west side of Stewart Island.
”It encompasses everything that’s great about Stewart Island – isolation, beauty, the sea and golden beaches.
“It’s a place of great memories for me and my family.”
Leon Bax has bought Hector’s shareholding in South East Air/Stewart Island Flights and has now taken over as chief executive and chief pilot.
Hector, who has flown commercial planes for more than 35 years, will still be available to the companies as a pilot instructor and examiner.
www.stuff.co.nz/travel/destinations/nz/125507650/pilot-retires-with-fond-memories-of-air-travel-to-stewart-island
Jamie Searle
17:40, Jun 21 2021
Invercargill pilot Raymond Hector has gone into retirement with more than 35 years of flying commercial planes. KAVINDA HERATH/STUFF
Playing a part in the Department of Conservation’s ongoing Kākāpō Recovery will always be fondly remembered by retired pilot Raymond Hector.
Hector stepped down as Stewart Island Flights chief executive and chief pilot last week after co-owning the business and its parent company South East Air for a combined 28 years.
The Recovery was set up in 1990 to protect kākāpō through the work of rangers, scientists and volunteers on Codfish Island.
Flying DOC staff from Invercargill to and from Codfish Island/Whenua Hou for the Recovery and transporting the kākāpō to Invercargill had been immensely rewarding work, Hector, 61, said.
“Those birds were on the brink of extinction. When we first started in 1993 there were only about 45 kākāpō in the world, now there’s over 200.
”[Being involved with] the success of the Kākāpō Recovery is one of the highlights of my career.”
Raymond Hector is in retirement after selling his shareholding in South East Air Ltd which is the parent company of Stewart Island Flights. He was also Stewart Island Flights chief pilot. KAVINDA HERATH/STUFF
Before he and Bill Moffat formed South East Air in 1993, Hector had flown Friendships for New Zealand Post, ferried planes from Germany and United States to New Zealand, flew planes for Air NZ and Mt Cook Airline.
It was after Hector had three aviation redundancies from different companies, that he and Moffat launched into business together.
“We bought Southern Air in 2000 and rebranded it as Stewart Island Flights,” Hector said.
During the many years of flying freight and passengers between Invercargill and Stewart Island, Hector met many hunters.
“We’ve flown a lot [of hunters] and built up a rapport with them ... they trust you [for advice].”
He flew Helen Clark from Invercargill to Stewart Island and return a few times during the period she was NZ’s prime minister (1999-2008).
Hector has a soft spot for Doughboy Bay, on the west side of Stewart Island.
”It encompasses everything that’s great about Stewart Island – isolation, beauty, the sea and golden beaches.
“It’s a place of great memories for me and my family.”
Leon Bax has bought Hector’s shareholding in South East Air/Stewart Island Flights and has now taken over as chief executive and chief pilot.
Hector, who has flown commercial planes for more than 35 years, will still be available to the companies as a pilot instructor and examiner.
www.stuff.co.nz/travel/destinations/nz/125507650/pilot-retires-with-fond-memories-of-air-travel-to-stewart-island
