Rescue helicopter reels in first female operator
The Nelson Marlborough Rescue Helicopter has reeled in its first female winch operator.
Zoe Farmer was hired by GCH Aviation in March as a winch operator – a highly specialised role that involves working the helicopter’s hoist mechanism to pull patients into the chopper.
Farmer would be the first woman to hold the role in the top of the south. She is the first female crew member for the helicopter and has been training under the tutelage of Nelson chief crewman Craig ‘‘Ernie’’ Bryant.
Farmer, 25, said she had been drawn to emergency services from a young age, and had known she wanted to work on a search and rescue helicopter since high school.
Farmer studied paramedicine at AUT, and worked for NHS ambulance in Bournemouth, England, for three-and-a-half years. After being unable to secure an aviation role in Britain, Farmer decided to return home.
She applied for positions across the country. GCH Aviation offered Farmer the role of winch operator in Nelson, which was ‘‘a dream job come true’’.
Farmer said she was loving the training so far, despite it being different from her experience of working in an ambulance.
The aircraft meant there was limited space, and it could be difficult to communicate with patients through headsets. The role of winch operator meant acting as a ‘‘middleman’’ and involved assisting medics, the pilot, and operating a winch in a range of challenging conditions.
‘‘I’m really enjoying expanding not only my medical skill set, but my aviation skill set.’’
Since starting in Nelson, Farmer had attended half-a-dozen callouts that involved winch jobs.
She had recently completed the day-land winch operation flight check, and had night winch, water and boat winch training to complete.
Bryant said Farmer’s training was going well. It involved a steep learning curve, and could be difficult for people who had never worked in a helicopter before.
In addition to juggling multiple responsibilities, winch operators had to stand on the landing skid of the helicopter while operating the winch.
Bryant said winch operating had been a heavily maledominated role for some time. He had trained six operators at the Nelson base so far, many who would later work at different bases around country. All of them were men.
However, more women were starting to enter the industry.
Farmer said, for any women looking to enter the field, a paramedic qualification was a must. ‘‘If you have a goal, aim for it, break it down into achievable steps,’’ she said.