Post by flyjoe180 on Jan 2, 2008 7:19:27 GMT 12
Kiwi pilot given international award for airmanship
NZPA | Tuesday, 01 January 2008
A New Zealand helicopter pilot who single-handedly put out a wildfire while flying with night-vision goggles in winds gusting to 40 knots has been awarded the Federation Aeronautique International (FAI) Outstanding Airman Award.
Pilot Richard "Hannibal" Hayes, of Te Anau, received the honor from FAI Chairman Pierre Portman for some "pretty tricky" flying near Queenstown, in 2005, an aviation news website, avweb.com reported.
More than 100 residents were evacuated as a fire advanced toward their homes and Hayes was the only pilot available with a night-vision rating.
The international award is given only occasionally and was last presented to a pilot in 2003, the Otago Daily Times reported.
Mr Hayes began his aviation career in Wanaka, working for Sir Tim Wallis's deer recovery operation and now runs a tourism company, Southern Lakes Helicopters.
The FAI citation was principally for his 10-hour fire fighting effort at Wilsons Bay, on Closeburn Station near Queenstown on November 3, 2005 . Mr Hayes used a monsoon bucket in windy conditions between 55 and 75 knots to douse the vegetation fire and protect houses from damage.
www.stuff.co.nz/4341652a11.html
NZPA | Tuesday, 01 January 2008
A New Zealand helicopter pilot who single-handedly put out a wildfire while flying with night-vision goggles in winds gusting to 40 knots has been awarded the Federation Aeronautique International (FAI) Outstanding Airman Award.
Pilot Richard "Hannibal" Hayes, of Te Anau, received the honor from FAI Chairman Pierre Portman for some "pretty tricky" flying near Queenstown, in 2005, an aviation news website, avweb.com reported.
More than 100 residents were evacuated as a fire advanced toward their homes and Hayes was the only pilot available with a night-vision rating.
The international award is given only occasionally and was last presented to a pilot in 2003, the Otago Daily Times reported.
Mr Hayes began his aviation career in Wanaka, working for Sir Tim Wallis's deer recovery operation and now runs a tourism company, Southern Lakes Helicopters.
The FAI citation was principally for his 10-hour fire fighting effort at Wilsons Bay, on Closeburn Station near Queenstown on November 3, 2005 . Mr Hayes used a monsoon bucket in windy conditions between 55 and 75 knots to douse the vegetation fire and protect houses from damage.
www.stuff.co.nz/4341652a11.html
