MOUNTAIN AIR SUPPORTS KIWI RECOVERY PROGRAMME

 Our Cessna 172 is a very versatile aircraft and fills a number of roles.  As well as carrying passengers on scenic flights, it is used to track our iconic kiwi from the air.  The photo shows one of our pilots, Cameron Nix fitting the radio tracking aerials to special brackets on the aircrafts wings before setting out on a flight with Department of Conservation staff.

The kiwi are fitted with very small radio transmitters on their legs.  The Department of  Conservation Ranger on board the aircraft uses a computer attached to the aerials to track the kiwi.  Once they have found them from the air the Rangers then track them on the ground, catch them and carry out health checks.   At present there are 34 kiwi in the Tongariro Forest Conservation Area being tracked using radio transmitters.

This is very important conservation work and Mountain Air is proud to be able to contribute to it.

 BONJOUR MON AMIS - MOUNTAIN AIR TRAVELS TO TAHITI FOR NEW ZEALAND TRAVEL PROMOTION

A group of operators led by Francis Mortimer from New Zealand Pacific Destinations, travelled to Tahiti in early September for a travel promotion at Club Dec, the militiary services club, and Air New Zealand.  Air New Zealand was promoting great value air fares to NZ. We had a great deal of interest in activities and accommodation in NZ from Tahitians and servicemen and their families. Many booked flights over the three days of the promotion.  We thoroughly enjoyed the hospitality of the people of Papeete, great food and beautiful warm weather - however when it rains in Tahiti, it really does rain! 

Below, is a photo of me at our stand at Club Dec. The Lord of the Rings movie was still a major talking point and visitors to NZ are very keen to book scenic flights aroung Tongariro National Park where the movie was filmed.  Travelling with us on the promotion were the Bayview Chateau Tongariro (Mt Ruapehu) and Wairakei Resort (Taupo), Skotel (Mt Ruapehu), United Campervans, Destination Cormandel and Destinationa Nelson, Adventure South (Christchurch), Waimungu Thermal Valley and Time Unlimited (Auckland).  A great team - we will be back in Tahiti again next year.

 SPRING TIME IN TONGARIRO NATIONAL PARK - TE KAHUI TUPUA "The Sacred Peaks"

This last week of September has seen some incredibly changeable weather around the Park.  Ten minutes before this photo was taken at 4.30 pm, we had experienced incredibly heavy rainstorms with thunder and lightining.  It was amazing that ten minutes later this is the fantastic view we had and we were up flying shortly after.  A  fresh, stunning landscape even showing some freshly fallen snow.  Below is the young and beautiful Mt Ngauruhoe with sacred Mt Tongariro to its left. 

 The majestic Mt Ruapehu with a shroud of mist still hanging over its shoulder.  The beautiful historic Bayview Chateau Tongariro Hotel sites in the foreground.

TURANGI LEISURE LODGE VISITORS ENJOY GREAT SPRING FLIGHT

Kevin and Caroline Payne from Britain, presently living in Adelaide, Australia, enjoyed a great flight around the Tongariro National Park in mid-October.  They were staying at the Turangi Leisure Lodge in Turangi  where they met James, one of our pilots.  The day they flew followed a period of fresh snow falls so the mountains looked fantastic.  The last word is Kevin's, " The flight is well worth doing - something not to be missed.  The views are exceptional and the staff friendly and professional.  Thanks." 

Thank-you for flying with us.  We hope you had a really great holiday in New Zealand.

 Kevin and Caroline Payne beside our beautiful, newly painted Cessna 206.

 A PROUD MUM WITH OUR NEW PILOT JAMES

James Owen started with us late in July and has already proved his worth by doing some great marketing work with our friends at Turangi Leisure Lodge and Kaimanawa Timeshare in Turangi.   James is a highly professional pilot who has quickly adjusted to life flying for a scenic flight company.  He had his mother Susan up from Wellington for the last weekend in October.  She is obviously proud of his achievements but was also keen to make a contribution to the environment around the Mountain Air buildings by planting tussocks and pruning our shrubs - a real family effort. 

 VINTAGE AIRCRAFT VISITS MOUNTAIN AIR

 The last weekend in October also saw a visit from my favourite aircraft, a 1950's vintage De Havilland Beaver.  These a magnificent aircraft developed for the harsh flying conditins in Canada.  They are rugged and are powered by a very reliable and powerful Pratt and Whitney 9 cylinder radial engine.  I was lucky enough to go for a fly in this once which is painted to replicate the Beaver used by Sir Edmund Hillary in his exploration of Antartica in the late 1950's and early 1960's.  I fly one of these on sky diving operations for a number of years.