Keeping you safe during Covid-19

Important Notice

We want you to know that our doors are open, and we are ready to share stunning Fiordland with you.

At Southern Lakes Helicopters, we take the risk of COVID 19 seriously and we take all practicable steps to ensure everybody’s safety. All staff are fully vaccinated, and presentation of My Vaccine Pass for all eligible passengers is required. This enables us to operate across all Traffic light levels with minimal restrictions. This decision has not been made lightly, however the health & safety of our staff and clients is of paramount. If you have a face covering or vaccination exemption, please contact our office to discuss.

Please know that we have guidelines in place to ensure a healthy experience. Of course, a number of challenges, and we’ll remain flexible in order to maintain safe and compliant operations as the situation progresses.

Our procedures and our expectations:

• To ensure everybody’s safety, we ask that if you or anyone in your group feel unwell -particularly with symptoms of a cold, flu or Covid-19, to please stay at home.
• Masks are required to be worn while at our premises and within the helicopter.

Please note: Masks or PPE can become a serious safety concern if they get blown out of someone’s hands or off their heads. Please ensure masks are worn over the mouth and nose and are not sitting on tops of your head or stuffed into loose pockets.

• Scan yourself in using the QR tracer code displayed around the building. There is an alternative clipboard inside the office if you don’t have access to your phone.
• Present your My Vaccine Pass.
• Please use the hand sanitizer located around the premises.
• Cargo handling -as per normal, the pilot or ground crew will load the cargo into the helicopter.
• Toilet and hand washing facilities remain open.

Expectations during flight

• For the safety of our pilot and passengers, all passengers are required to wear a face mask for the duration of the flight in either direction. We have spares available if people have forgotten to bring their own. If you have a face covering exemption, please contact our office to discuss.

Additional information

• Prior to flight, passengers will receive the normal helicopter safety briefing which will include additional Covid-19 protocols.
• Please note that pilots have a national exemption to remove their mask where it may compromise safety in flight. Our pilots will choose when it is appropriate to wear a face mask or not. This will be up to the pilot’s discretion at the time. Passengers will be notified of this during their pre-flight safety briefing.

For the latest updates, information and advice on COVID-19 please visit www.health.govt.nz
If you have any symptoms, please call Healthline on 0800 358 5453 and follow their instructions prior to visiting us.

If you have any further questions, please contact us either by phone +64 3 249 7167 or email info@slheli.co.nz