Legendary chopper pilot dies, 76
Bill Black, who saved countless lives and earned admiration – at times astonishment – for his expertise as a Fiordland helicopter pilot, has died aged 76.
He was made a member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1977, and also received the Jean Batten Memorial Trophy, both citing an outstanding contribution to New Zealand aviation.
He recorded upwards of 500 search and rescue missions and more than 300 mercy missions.
In the unforgiving terrain with which he became so familiar, Black fought fires and recovered more than 100 aircraft and helicopters.
Long-time colleague and former employer Sir Tim Wallis called him, simply, a legend.
The Batten citation, from the augustly named Honourable Company of Air Pilots, noted him as a pioneer in venison recovery and mountain flying, the days of which will never been seen again.
‘‘He has been involved in saving a great many lives, by day and night, often in freezing temperatures, hazardous winds, low visibility and at high altitudes, and in many cases been first at accident sites where grief and sadness prevailed.’’
Many of these incidents involved fellow pilots and friends.
‘‘He was renowned for finding his own solace.’’
The citation called him a paragon of experience in his environment, possessing exceptional aptitude and unrivalled flying skills, constantly fostering good airmanship and being always willing to mentor other pilots.
Black’s story was told in the book I Did It My Way, which included many tales involving calculated risk taking and several near misses, but only one recorded accident. This was not his fault, either; a passenger bumped off the mags while moving in the cockpit.
One review, in Kiwi Flyer, noted that the recollections in the book were honest ‘‘and in a good few cases probably incriminating too’’.
However, Merv Halliday, who worked with Black on the book, was emphatic that Black’s ability to keep returning from dangerous jobs and rescue missions was down to more than good luck.
‘‘He was just so fastidious in his work.’’
Bill Black died peacefully in Invercargill on July 1.
A funeral service will be held on July 10 at the Fiordland Community Events Centre in Te Anau.