The best job in the world.......

Meet Rob. He has the best job in the world. Well, at least I think he does.

He’s the pilot of the Lama helicopter we use for long lining operations resupplying the drill rigs operating way out in the jungle. The Lama, or Aerospatiale SA 315B to be correct, was originally designed for hot and high conditions which makes it ideal for Indonesia. It can lift heavy loads for a small helicopter which makes it a great chopper to use in tight spaces such as a drill rig pad.

Weighing about 1000kg, it can lift about the same amount again as an underslung load – not bad considering much larger helicopters can only lift 1/3 their own weight. The Lama holds the world record for the highest altitude flight for a helicopter at 40,000ft. That’s higher than most commercial airliner’s cruising altitude. As a result, it also holds the world record for the longest autorotation when the engine flamed out due to the altitude.

Rob describes the Lama as having a “Space Shuttle engine on a Land Rover body” – it’s really just a powerful turbine engine with a frame and blades. There’s nothing complex about the Lama.

Rob’s a Kiwi, but we don’t hold that against him – they did with the World Cup after all. Most weeks we’ll see him here lifting fuel, water, food and drill rods out to the rigs while bringing back drill core samples for the geologists to examine in the hope of finding more gold. It’s definate by-the-seat-of-your-pants flying. Rob spends half his time hanging out of the cockpit looking down at the long line hook while trying to lower the 30m line to the waiting load. Without the help of a crewman ‘talking’ him in, this can be difficult stuff. On his break back in NZ, Rob spends his time flying choppers around the central North Island area near Taupo, mainly bringing in sling loads of deer which have been shot in the hills.

Ask Rob if he has the best job in the world and I think you’ll find he’ll agree it’s not too bad. Just another example of a great job in the mining industry.

Blog Update 1 June 2012: we asked Rob to expand on his career and how he got into this line of work (no pun intended). In Rob's words:

"I had always been interested in helicopters from as long ago as I could remember (probably about 5 years old). Having a welding and mechanical background, I joined a rather large helicopter company when I was about 19.

I was employed as what is known in the industry (in New Zealand anyway) as a Loader/Driver - driving trucks, fixing gear, and loading chemical or fertilizer in agricultural helicopters.

The hours are very long and the pay was then and generally now is lousy! But you get experience around helicopters and get to occasionally ride in them. It is normally enough to firmly set the hook! Once in the loop, you get to hear about other jobs in the industry and sometimes the carrot is dangled - get a licence and there might be a job, etc.

I eventually started doing my commercial license at the end of 1996, this involved sitting several exams and completing 150 hours of flight training. I had the piece of paper in my hand in at the beginning of 1999.

My first job was doing wild animal recovery in the back-country of NZ; this involved shooting deer from the helicopter and recovering the animals to be processed and the meat exported overseas. It used to be a very big industry but is quite limited now due to low prices. The flying is very challenging and I still enjoy doing a bit of it on my time off at home.

From there in about 2005, I did what is known as an agricultural or AG rating. This involved an additional 70hrs of specialised instruction and allowed me to spray and fertilize farms, it also is very challenging flying!
I still also enjoy doing this type of flying when I am home, often to help out busy mates.

In 2008 the mining industry was booming in Canada, so I went over for a look. I converted my license and ended up working up north in the Yukon and Northwest Territories, NWT. This involved support of remote mining operations and included the use of the helicopter to move drill rigs with a longline. In Canada the lines we used were generally 100' but here in Indonesia we use 200' lines as the trees are much taller.

I have been in Indonesia for about 9 months now and work throughout. I really enjoy the Lama and the type of work we do with it.

I have been flying now for quite a few years and still never get sick of it. I'm still always learning and always trying to challenge myself to do things better. I know I would make far more money by going back on the tools, but nothing beats flying!"

About the Blogger:  Jason Nitz is a guest Blogger for The Resource Channel, working for a major Australian gold producer in Indonesia.