Beck Helicopters Limited

Beck Helicopters is a helicopter operator based at Eltham in Taranaki, New Zealand. Allan Beck is the founding director and the company was formed in 1972, originally to service the need for spraying, before widening into other operations. Its website says it serves all of New Zealand and can reach any location within four hours. It currently operates three UH-1 Iroquois and three Bell 206 Jet Rangers.

Helicopters

• UH-1 Iroquois (ZK-HHA, ZK-HHB and ZK-HHF): ex-military aircraft in the restricted category, used mainly for heavy lifting, with a lifting capacity of 1,818 kg
• Bell 206 Jet Ranger (ZK-HDU, ZK-HKR and ZK-HOC): up to four passengers, lifting capacity 544 kg

Services

• Spraying: scrub and brush weed, facial eczema, pasture, forestry and crop fungicide, using low drift nozzles and Approved Handler certified staff
• Fertiliser and seeding, charged per hectare, with adjustable buckets and truck and trailer units, plus granulated lime from its depot
• Firefighting as an approved Fire and Emergency NZ operator, with 1,500 litre collapsible buckets and a foam system
• Frost protection for orchards and vineyards, pest control, heavy lifting, powerline construction and maintenance, and heli saw work
• Scenic flights on request

Its Tabula system provides farm mapping, pilot guidance and proof of placement.

Maintenance and overhaul

Beck Helicopters has provided maintenance in house and for others since 1982 and is an NZ CAA Part 145 certified organisation. It services Bell UH-1, 204, 205, 206, 206L and 212 series, and carries out line and heavy maintenance of Honeywell T53 engines and servicing of Rolls-Royce M250 engines. The workshop also has a sheet metal repair station, a Panda heated paint booth and a component overhaul capability.

Company facts

• Founded in 1972
• CAA certified under Parts 119, 135, 137 and 145
• Allan Beck was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2020 and is a former chairman of the NZAAA