Our Pilots
Dean Lithgow
Wanganui - Ph 021 900 845
Chief Helicopter Pilot / Director
Dean is a farmer who started flying in the late 80’s with Wanganui Aerowork, more recently Ravensdown Aerowork until Mid West Helicopters purchased the helicopters.
Owen Harvey
Taihape - Ph 021 900 454
Operations Manager/Director
Owen grew up on farm and started flying in 2004 for Wanganui Aerowork. After flying in Canada in 2007, he returned back to Ravensdown Aerowork in 2009 until the changeover to Mid West Helicopters NZ.
Steve Ashcroft
Taumarunui - Ph 021 800 783
Pilot
Steve is from a farming background and has worked on high country stations in the North and South Island. Steve gained his Commercial Helicopter license in 2011, then started with Ravensdown Aerowork until the changeover to Mid West Helicopters.
Peter Larsen
South Taranaki - Ph 021 912 745
Pilot/Director
Peter is a Farmer that acquired his helicopter license in 1993. He started operating his own R22 in 2007, doing agricultural work for himself. Peter joined Ravensdown Aerowork in 2010 until the changeover to Mid West Helicopters.
Leon Parkes
Taihape - Ph 021 900 787
Pilot
Leon obtained his Commercial Licence in 2010. Mid West Helicopters helped with Leon's training and were pleased to be able to base him along side his mentor, Owen Harvey, in 2020 to help with the busy work loads in the Taihape region.
Mark Gilmer
Taranaki - Ph 027 241 2015
Pilot
Mark was born in Taranaki and has a rural and engineering background. He gained his commercial license in 2008 and flew in Fiji and Papua New Guinea. Now based back in Stratford, he is looking forward to working around the Taranaki province with new and existing clients
Paul Dalzell (Diesel)
Wanganui - Ph 027 431 0603
NZHTA Instructor
Paul (Diesel) Dalzell was born and raised in Palmerston North, started his flight training in 2007 at Ardmore after 7.5 years in the Air Force as an aircraft technician. On completion of his Commercial Pilots Licence in February 2008 Diesel travelled to various countries (US, Australia and Papua New Guinea) following flying jobs. He then came back to New Zealand, got his Instructor rating, and worked as an Instructor in Ardmore. After working in Rotorua for Volcanic Air he returned to the Air Force as an Aircraft Technician before deciding it was time to get back in the flying seat which led him to New Zealand Helicopter Training Academy.
Liam Hogan
Wanganui - Ph 027 342 7890
Pilot
Liam was born in Taranaki and is a farming background. He completed his Commercials Pilot's Licence in 2012 and gained his Ag Rating in 2015. Liam has previously work at Ravensdown Aerowork and Precision Helicopters and has now re-join the Mid West Team. He brings considerable Ag experience both on the ground and in the air.
Our Office Staff
Shannon Carr
CEO
Shannon has been involved in the helicopter industry her whole life. Shannon was the CEO of her family owned Hill Country Helicopters before Mid West Helicopters was formed. Shannon served many years as the Safety Manager of Mid West Helcopters before stepping up to the CEO role.
Chris Smith
SMS Manager
Chris Smith managers our Safety Management System. This is a very important role to Mid West Helicopters and it was important that we dedicate someone with Chris's experience to this role in a full time capacity. The culture at Mid West Helicopters is important and Chris does a great job at ensuring we always strive to improve. Our SMS was highly commended by CAA as one of the best in the country, and Chris has a huge part to play in this.
Jacinda Broadhead
Office Administration Manager
Jacinda manages our office and adminstration. She facilitates everything from paying the bills, paying our staff and sending out invoices. She has an eye for detail and not much gets past her. She has extensive experience in aviation with her father, Charlie Anderson, one of the original Agricultural and Rescue Pilots in the greater Wanganui area. Jacinda often has a nice stash of biscuits or mints on her desk much to the pilots delight
Our Ground Crew
As you are all aware a helicopter cannot operate without ground crew personnel and we at Mid West have some of the best. These guys are as important as the pilot, as their responsibilities are sometimes just as demanding. All are fully qualified with Growsafe, DG endorsements, First Aid and many more qualifications to ensure when we enter our clients' work place they are fully covered.
Our ground crew members have bought into our safety management systems and are excellent in honesty and reporting. We have robust training throughout the year coupled with workshops and presentations to add value to ours and your business’s. We are thrilled to announce that one of our long-standing ground crew Leon Parkes is about to embark on his agricultural training partly funded by ourselves. This is something that is important to us to ensure the future of the industry is met along with our own business, and to commit to this within the first two months of operations hopefully shows Mid West’s commitment to you, our clients and the rural industry.
