in Darwin and is driving all over the
Kimberley, door-knocking hangers in
every airfield he comes to, looking to
get a foot in the door.
“It’s hard,” he admits, “but everyone
says, ‘head west’, so that’s what I’m
doing.” Jamie understands he may
have to sweep out hangers for the first
year, and work for a minimal wage,
difficult to accept when he’s already in
debt to over $100,000 for his training.
His best chance to pick up work will
be ferrying around indigenous people
from their remote communities into
town and back. It’s where many young
pilots get their hours. For me, it’s
fortunate I run into Jamie: he gives
me a ride from Fitzroy Crossing back
to Derby. His career ferrying people
around is already off to a good start.Mustering ideals
Back at Fitzroy Crossing, Mitchell
runs me through the Robinson 22.
“I started on the [Bell] 47s, but I’ve
found the 22s to be great mustering
helicopters. They’re small and light,
and they have a great power to weight
ratio and good fuel consumption
and manoeuvrability. They were
originally built as a cheap commuter
for two people. Frank [the designer]
hates them being used for mustering.
That’s not what he designed them
for at all.” Despite what some
say, Mitchell maintains that theRobinson 22 has an excellent safety
record. “I think there have been only
two instances of mechanical failure
in their history. Most crashes are due
to pilot error.”
The Robinson 22 is no speedster.
We cruise from Derby to Fitzroy
Crossing at about 70 knots and 1000
feet. Below us the pindan and the
spinifex spreads out to the horizon.
Every so often we fly over a cattle
holding yard, trough or bore. Being
so light, the helicopter is buffeted
around, and the mere shifting of
body weight causes the Robbie to roll
and pitch a surprising amount.
Another arm of Fitzroy
Helicopters is All North
Helicopters, which operates out
of Derby airfield. Their work is
often at the opposite end of the
spectrum to heli-mustering. Late
in the wet season All North flies
scientists from the Australian
Wildlife Conservancy–a not-
for-profit wildlife protection and
land managment organisation–all
over the Kimberley, dropping
incendiaries in strategic locations
to promote best-practice burning.
It’s a completely new and innovative
approach to land management,
which reduces the impact of late
season intensive wildfires, and
enables the habitat for endangered
species such as the Gouldian
Finch to thrive. On other days
the helicopters might take mining
prospectors around, looking for new
plots, or archeologists seeking out
new Aboriginal rock art. There’s
no discrimination amongst the vast
spectrum of stakeholders up here.
It’s not just helicopters and the
flying doctor that provide a lifeline
to the people of the Kimberley; 350
kilometres up the Gibb River Road
is Mount Elizabeth Station, run by
Peter and Pat Lacy. There’s one road
in and out of the station, and the wet
season often sees it closed. Pat Lacy
tells me their airstrip provides an
essential link to civilisation.
“It’s always a happy day in the
wet season when the mail plane
comes. It brings other supplies, not
just mail. Often I’ll jump on board
and it’ll take me back into town, so
I can do some shopping.” “Town” is
Derby, nearly 300 kilometres away.
It’s truly a different world.“Town” is Derby, nearly 300 kilometres away.
It’s truly a different world.AUSTRALIAN FLYING January - February 201528 Kimberley Special australianflying.com.au
FROM TOP TO BOTTOM: Remote Derby
in WA’s north-west is home to All North
Helicopters.
Mustering pilots Charlie, Jess and
Dan (aka The Pirate). The life is not as
Spartan as myths would dictate.
Large twins like this Cessna 441
at Fitzroy Crossing link the remote
Kimberley with the rest of Australia.