Helicopter-Assisted Pine Removal

Overview:

This was a 2-day project where three large pines with limited access were pre-stropped then dismantled by several climbers with the help of a helicopter.

Background:

These radiata pine  trees, located on private property, had been bothering the homeowner for many years. Outgrowing their position and the loss of a few branches over the years meant they needed to go.

Challenges:

The main challenge on this job was the size of the trees and lack of access from the ground to their location on the coast. Leaving the tree sections on site was not an option, nor was removing them by barge. Helicopters are an expensive option so minimising costs was a secondary challenge. Finally, the helicopter aspect of the job required a large landing, refuelling and processing site. It is also necessary to obtain permission from landowners in order to transport loads above their properties.

Solutions:

We contacted Helisika Helicopters to handle the aeronautical aspect of job.

Because the trees were located on the coast this presented us with the opportunity to fly the pieces across the water rather than over populated areas. This meant fewer landowners needed to be consulted saving time and money.

We negotiated the use of a landing site through an existing contact of ours directly across the water from the trees minimising.

Flight time was our biggest cost so all trees were pre-stropped the day before ready for cutting. Each lift was carefully pre-calculated to maximise the efficiency of the operation. The landing zone was limited so we had to ensure sufficient processing capacity to clear each pick with the 2 minute flight window. We also needed three climbers/cutters on the tree side to allow enough time for them to get in position between flights.

Results:

This job ran seamlessly with flight time reduced to just a few hours. No accidents or breakages and a great customer experience.

Learning:

The potential flightpath and amount of space available for the landing zone are important considerations that significantly affect overall cost. These jobs attract a lot of public attention and scrutiny.

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