Peter 'Monster' Wilkins made his first forays into aviation back in 1964 when he flew Alouette helicopters in the South African air force. Since 2009 he has been senior chief pilot for Starlite Aviation, based at Durban. “I received a call to offer me a job as chief pilot and took it up as it offered good prospects, which can be slim pickings for old chopper pilots like me!” he remarks. He has obtained DFE I status, enabling him to check-ride any pilot for a South African license or rating. Looking after his 'pilot pool' takes up a significant part of his time, and he is accountable for qualifications, discipline, drawing up ops manuals, checklists and quick reference handbooks. “I go 'in the field' not only to be seen but also to set and maintain standards.”

Wilkins says the job has remained stable during his tenure and has not undergone drastic change, but it is important for the chief pilot to keep up with the times. The most demanding compliance is directed by auditors: “Offshore oil company auditors and the United Nations have very demanding standards and, with each audit, one improves the product, the safety and the professionalism of all concerned.”

He adds: “Change can come thick and fast but when these challenges are met, the result is great satisfaction from a job well done. Starlite prides itself on being able to answer the call rapidly and we always manage to come out of that on top, thanks to a great ops team.”

One recent example tested Monster and his team to the limit: “The UN asked us for three helicopters instead of one at late notice, for the elections in Madagascar. I was approached at 0940 one morning and asked if I could be at the airport within an hour, for a three-week trip. The trip also included fetching a Bell 412 in Nairobi and ferrying it to Madagascar.

“I only left that evening, but the task was accomplished – and the other two aircraft had to ferry from Namibia to Madagascar. We thrive on such rapid deployments.”

Starlite has encountered fire fighting in Spain, a typhoon in Myanmar, an earthquake in Pakistan and a Tsunami in Indonesia. “Each time we deployed with crew and multiple Pumas to the disasters without delaying Red Cross operations,” adds Wilkins.

He says that 'smarter' modern aircraft have made his job easier, because they deal with excessive pilot behaviour such as over-torquing and over-revving. “The modern technology won't stop the naughty or careless pilot, but it will warn of exceedances in time for rectifying action to prevent failures,” he explains.

“NVIS is also an awesome tool which has made night flying so much more pleasurable and safe. Although it came from a military/police application, it has such huge potential for things like HEMS, that I see it as a real leading light for the future of helicopter operations.”

His career has taken in everything from squadron training, to hoisting, to flying on marijuana raids and the Rhodesian bush war, but Wilkins has now 'settled down' into the chief pilot role at Starlite, with a recent highlight being the ferry of a BK-117 from Germany to Mali. It is clear that he, like many chief pilots, thrives on the responsibility he has for his junior pilots and their progress, but when the first opportunity presents itself, he is straight in the cockpit.