OKIWI AIRFIELD GREAT BARRIER ISLAND

CLARIS AIRPORT GREAT BARRIER ISLAND

NEW ZEALAND DEFENCE FORCE COMMENDATION

Fly My Sky nominated for Ministry of Defence Excellence Award

PRESS RELEASE: 2^nd August 2010

 Fly My Sky has been nominated by the Royal New Zealand Air Force Parachute Training and Support Unit at Whenuapai, Auckland, for a Minister of Defence Awards of Excellence to Industry 2010. 

 Fly My Sky has been contracted to the RNZAF Parachute Training and Support Unit (PTSU) for over four years as the prime source of airlift for parachute training and support activities at times when military aircraft are not available. To earn this nomination Fly My Sky “has provided a service to the highest level and always looked to provide extra capability to facilitate the training of NZ Defence Force personnel” said Squadron Leader Darryn Pritchard, Officer Commanding PTSU. “Fly My Sky should be very proud of the way they have conducted business with the NZDF and based on this and their continual desire to provide that little extra (generally at no cost to the NZDF) I am very pleased to submit this nomination”. 

Owners, Robyn and Keith McKenzie, say “All nine Fly My Sky staff are very honoured to receive this nomination, everyone here is fully involved with managing operations with the RNZAF”.  

Keith McKenzie said his pilots thoroughly enjoy working with Defence personnel during training and some of the parachute display exercises with the RNZAF, “All of us have been involved in improvements.  We’ve had some good suggestions to work with and been redesigning to get approved modifications to improve our equipment for parachute training operations with our Britten Norman Islander aircraft. This aircraft type is very capable, it operates well with a heavy load and is especially good taking off on a short runway”.   

An RNZAF audit team conducted a contract audit recently at Fly My Sky, which was followed by an assessment team from the Ministry of Defence. An Award Dinner in Wellington in October will reward the nominee companies and announce the award winners.  The dinner will be hosted by the Minister of Defence, Ends

Fly My Sky earns environmental award

21 June 2010

 Fly My Sky has gained a Qualmark Enviro Silver Award, recognising its high standards in environmental practices. To earn New Zealand tourism’s official environmental award, Fly My Sky had to show effectiveness in energy efficiency, waste management and water conservation, with community activities and conservation initiatives also considered under Qualmark’s environmental criteria. Owners, Robyn and Keith McKenzie, say two years of focused effort have gone into achieving a Qualmark Environment Award. They said they were thrilled that they qualified for a Silver Award.  “We have been a Qualmark Endorsed Visitor Activity for many years,” says General Manager Robyn McKenzie “Our biggest environmental  project has been to do with fuel management at best levels to reduce consumption and emissions and tracking our improvement progress over two years” .

All businesses carrying the Qualmark logo must meet standards for environmental practices, says Qualmark chief executive, Geoff Penrose, with the awards recognising top performers in this area.  “Environmental practices are evaluated as part of our quality assessment process and Enviro Awards are granted to businesses showing a high degree of commitment to caring for the environment and their community,” says Mr Penrose. Over 470 businesses have achieved Enviro Award status - recognising their commitment to Qualmark’s responsible tourism criteria and environmental practices.Qualmark® is New Zealand’s trusted guide to quality travel experiences - helping travellers identify over 2,300 great places to stay, things to do and ways to get around.Accommodation, activities and transport businesses carrying the Qualmark® logo have been independently assessed to meet tough quality standards and environmental criteria - earning New Zealand tourism’s official quality markQualmark is jointly owned by Tourism New Zealand and the New Zealand Automobile Association. The programme is run as an industry service, on a not-for-profit basis. Ends 

For further information please contact:Robyn McKenzie07 895 8820helicopter@flymysky.co.nz   www.flymysky.co.nz 

Simon Claridge, Communications Manager, Qualmark New Zealand Ltd.Ph +64 9 377 7153, Mob +64 27 687 8993.simonc@qualmark.co.nzwww.qualmark.co.nz 

About Qualmark Enviro AwardsSince August 2008, the environmental performance of all tourism businesses with a Qualmark has been assessed under Responsible Tourism Operations criteria as part of on-site quality assessments.  Businesses performing well in reducing environmental impact in five key action areas (energy efficiency, waste management, water conservation, community activities and conservation initiatives) are eligible to apply for an Enviro-Gold, Enviro-Silver or Enviro-Bronze Award.   The initiative, referred to as Qualmark Green, was unveiled to the tourism industry by the Minister of Tourism on 27 May 2008. The introduction of the Responsible Tourism criteria marked a ‘world first’, with New Zealand being the first country to have a fully integrated quality and environmental performance tourism assurance system.  

View the latest Great Barrier Island Events Calendar

January 2010

Keith McKenzie QSM Helicopter Pilot & CEO Fly My Sky:

Helicopter Proposal

He popped the question and she started screaming with delight and disbelief - at enormous length and loudness! She obviously couldn't believe her good fortune. We were all in the know about him asking her to marry, apart from her of course! He had gone to extraordinary lengths to arrange the perfect time and place. He knew she had strong ties with Mt Ruapehu throughout her childhood, although both were New Zealanders, neither now lived in the area. His choice for her was a helicopter landing on top of Mt Ruapehu. They would both jump out to admire the view, then he would pop the question, she would say ‘yes', jump back in the helicopter and fly down to Ohakune to celebrate where her parents were holidaying. A huge obstacle arose for him when he found the helicopter was not allowed to land in the National Park. He decided the next best thing was to ‘hover' over a particular area while he popped the question midair. On the Big Day the Ruapehu weather was stunning, Keith was careful to make sure they were plugged in to the helicopter intercom system and that both knew how to activate the system when they spoke. Apart from suffering transient ear damage, Keith was delighted to be part of this most intimate and special life moment, although he did say his ears wouldn't be able to cope with many of them a week! If you want to celebrate a special moment, fly around the farm, or make a job easy, phone Keith McKenzie 07 895 8820 helicopter@flymysky.co.nz.

For schedule plane flights from Auckland Airport to GREAT BARRIER ISLAND 0800 222 123

Watch over the Great Barrier Pateke when you visit Great Barrier Island.

December 2009

Welcome, you've landed on New Zealand's most versatile airline. We fly to paradise and return seven days a week, which means we can fly you to Great Barrier Island and almost anywhere in rural New Zealand. There's no need to fasten your seat belt right now, just go ahead and take a look. Before you do, we all send you the very best wishes for 2010.

BOOK NOW! www.flymysky.co.nz Ask us about PRIORITY FREIGHT & BAGS. You will find us at Auckland Airport, Air NZ Domestic Terminal Multipass ticket holders get a free food box, as well as 15 kg of luggage.

Auckland Airport to Great Barrier Island from $89 It’s a 30 minute flight from Auckland Airport across the Hauraki Gulf, you can spot whales, other islands and big homes! Bird watching is amazing on the island, plus there is the largest colony of the endangered Brown Teal (Pateke).

A 'Do It Yourself Day Out' on Great Barrier Island A car, map & return airfares. Enjoy bush walks, bike tracks, miles of surf and white sandy beaches, hot pools, rocky canyon walk, great sites and narrow winding back country roads, the Nikau Palm groves are stunning. $232 per person, minimum of two. Great Barrier Island Kids meet Sirocco

November 2009

During conservation week three lucky kids, one from each school on Great Barrier Island, got to travel to Auckland to meet Sirocco the kakapo and stay overnight at the Zoo. Flights sponsored by Fly My Sky.

Check out our semiglass cockpit in ZKSFK with the latest EFIS displaying up to the minute wind and flight information along the route. Ask your pilot about this.

4 twin engine, 10 seat Britten Norman Islander aircraft go to remote airfields. This aircraft type is purpose built for grass island airfields. We depart several times daily to Great Barrier Island.

Great Barrier Island is a unique overseas destination. You can relax a lot, walk a lot, ride and surf a lot and eat and cook much more, without long haul flight exhaustion, passport or other issues. Your holiday starts at Auckland Airport with our exceptional on board ‘expertise’ and a scenic flight over the Hauraki Gulf islands.

Fly My Sky ……. Flight Directors …….

Rose Thomassen: Director of all calls, arrangements and departures at our Auckland Airport Office. She has just returned from the Masters World Games in Sydney. Ring 0800 222 123, she is First Class.

Pilot Patrice Almond: Manager Flight Operations is our Chief Pilot and champagne expert should you need one in flight.

Pilot Marc Saad is our No.1 Sky Diving pilot as well as a Cha Cha, Rock in Roll, Samba, Jive, etc. He can direct on board flight entertainment when it breaks out.

Pilot Matt Erceg is our Deputy Maintenance Controller. His skills are aircraft engineering, dirt bikes and trail rides. He's usually pristine but if you see mud you will know why.

Pilot Ryan is our No 2 Sky Dive pilot, his stamina and muscle bulk is right up now, ready to bike and run in a race over Mt Ruapehu and the Coast to Coast. All on board fitness requests to him, please.

Training Pilot Nige Davey is our on board fishing and diving expert since he lives on Great Barrier Island full time. His vast flying expertise is an added value to everyone.

CEO & Pilot Keith McKenzie QSM is our 'destinations' expert, having flown into most rural NZ places. Ask him about getting anywhere.

Robyn McKenzie is our Admin, Safety and QA person, the one with the clip board.

July 2009 

Great Barrier Island Events Calendar, July to November 2009

68Great Barrier Island Events.pdf

2nd Dec 2008

Fly My Sky gains tourism’s official mark of quality and a ‘world first’ fitting of ‘state of the art’ avionics in aircraft type.

Fly My Sky has been recognized as one of New Zealand’s leading visitor activity service providers by being licensed to use the Qualmark – New Zealand tourism’s official quality mark.

To gain their Qualmark Fly My Sky underwent an onsite assessment using criteria made up of over 400 quality checks. The assessment criteria, which have been developed with the tourism industry and based on research into what traveler want, looks at areas such as safety, facilities, customer service, business operations and more.

Owners, Keith and Robyn McKenzie, say their Qualmark helps them build the credibility of the business with domestic and international visitors alike. “The Qualmark puts the brand of New Zealand, the silver fern, behind our business and signifies to travelers that we are professional and trustworthy and that they can count on us to deliver an experience that will meet or exceed their expectations.”

Robyn McKenzie said “We were Qualmark accredited for more than 12 years before we changed our trading name from Mountain Air to Fly My Sky. Qualmark required us to be re-assessed under our new name Fly My Sky. Each assessment makes us step up and re-look at our business and processes. The assessors look beneath the surface for deeply ingrained customer focused practices in all areas, including this year our attitudes and actions towards caring for New Zealand’s environment.”

Fly My Sky has also today gained a ‘first in New Zealand’ – indeed a “World First” by fitting the latest in electronic “glass panel” avionic equipment available on the market into a Britten Norman Islander. This is a ‘world first’ fitting in a 10 seat aircraft and follows rigorous regulatory ground and air testing. This aircraft has just completed a full internal and external refurbishment and will be returned to service in the next few days.

Fly My Sky operates 10 seat twin engine Britten Norman Islander fixed wing aircraft from their Auckland Airport base, mainly conducting scheduled flights several times daily to Great Barrier Island and they operate a Hughes 500D helicopter from Taumarunui. CEO Keith McKenzie QSM said “This type of aircraft operate brilliantly on to remote airstrips like Great Barrier Island or near country lodges and outdoor activities, they’re able to land and take off in short distances.”

Over 2100 tourism businesses in New Zealand have been through the assessment process and are licensed to use the Qualmark mark of quality. Qualmark is a way the Tourism Industry directs travelers to quality assured products and services.

For Further information please contact:

Robyn McKenzie
General Manager
07 895 8820
0274 424 115
robyn@flymysky.co.nz