Safety First


Our Safety Pedigree

Safety is the paramount consideration for all our operations. Since our establishment as commercial, EMS and tourist operators, GCH Aviation has had an enviable safety record. The vast experience of our pilots, regular training, familiarity of equipment, and extensive and continual exposure to the extreme terrain covered by our network, ensure that our safety record is maintained. This is complemented with in-house aircraft maintenance and quality assurance programmes.

GCH Aviation is an approved CAA check and training organisation. We are approved to carry out CAA 135.607 checks for many of the helicopter operators in the South Island.

Diamond Safety Rating

GCH Aviation is the only company to hold the prestigious Helicopter Association of New Zealand Diamond Safety Award for 30+ years continuous service without injury or accident to self, passengers or crew. 

Safety Policy

GCH Aviation is committed to resourcing, developing, implementing, and constantly improving company safety strategies and processes to support our goal of achieving and maintaining the highest level of safety performance.

As the CEO I am responsible for ensuring all company activities are appropriately resourced so they can be conducted safely. The adoption, implementation, and maintenance of a robust safety management system supports company activities and ensures all reported hazards or safety concerns are fully considered and controlled to reduce any associated risks to as low as reasonably practicable.

Through acknowledgement of safety compliance as a moral responsibility all levels of management shall be held accountable for providing a safe work environment through active leadership, comprehensive procedures, training programs, employee education and clear communication of safety-critical information.

Safety is considered a primary responsibility for all staff.  Each employee and contractor is accountable for ensuring the safety of themselves and those around them while undertaking company activities, and for reporting any identified hazards which may compromise safety.

Familiarisation and adherence to relevant company policies, procedures, regulations and work practices along with the correct use of company-provided equipment, systems and processes is considered a condition of employment for all. 

The physical and mental well-being of all employees and the health and safety of the public, along with the protection of physical assets and the environment are of the utmost importance in the conduct of company activities. Should any employee witness or is a party to an action being undertaken or about to be undertaken, which they genuinely believe poses a significant risk to human life or of injury occurring, they may regardless of rank or status call for that operation to be immediately stopped.

The company confidential reporting process supports the disclosure and appropriate management of any sensitive concerns raised by staff without fear of future discrimination. The GCH Aviation Just Culture policy further ensures no action will be taken against any staff member who discloses a safety concern through the company reporting system, unless such disclosure reveals, beyond any reasonable doubt, an illegal act, gross negligence, or a deliberate or wilful disregard of regulations, policy, procedures, or documented duties and/or responsibilities.

Management at all levels are responsible for promoting the Safety Policy and supporting continuous improvement through personnel training and appropriate management of their activities and those safety management systems and processes relevant to their areas of responsibility.

All employees and contractors are responsible for actively participating in the company safety management system to the extent required of their roles and are considered accountable for knowingly disregarding safety management system outcomes.  

The GCH Aviation ‘zero-pressure’ policy mandates that the safety of company activities will always take precedence over commercial pressure to complete tasks, this policy is fully supported by management.

I as the CEO and senior management will continually promote, and support company safety systems and processes based on the understanding that a lack of incidents alone does not indicate the presence of a healthy state of safety, it is the collective and individual ownership of safety responsibilities at all levels that supports a mature safety culture.

 

Andrew Currie

Our Certifications

  • CAA Part 119/135 - Logo
  • CAA Part 141 - Logo
  • We hold the only Diamond Safety Award in NZ
  • Qualmark Gold