MIKE and Jan Becker of Becker Helicopters are flying high after winning the award for innovation at the 21st annual Premier of Queensland’s Export Awards.
The awards, which were held in Brisbane on 21 Ocotber 2010, recognise the contribution that exporters make to the state’s economy.
Becker Helicopters won the Dermot McManus Award as well as being finalists in the Regional Exporter Category.
Mr Becker said he was honoured to have won.
“I’m a bit shocked actually. We didn’t go there expecting to win at all,” he said. “It’s an honour to receive the award and it’s recognition that we are doing something right.
“Obviously we’ve stepped out of the box within our industry.”
Among Becker Helicopters’ innovations is the introduction of a military-style syllabus within a civilian environment.
“The military can come to us and we’ll train pilots up and send them back into the military of their country of origin,” Mr Becker said.
Becker Helicopters trains a mix of overseas and civil (Australian) pilots.
“Military-wise we train about 40 to 50 pilots a year, from basic training to instrument training and night goggle training,” Mr Becker said.
“For our civil pilots we teach the basic CASA licence and have approximately 60 pilots a year.”
Mr Becker said the highlight for the business in 2010 was its achievements with night vision goggles.
“We’ve only been doing it for a year now. It took three years to get off the ground. It’s a bit of a political hot potato,” he said.
Mr Becker’s goal for 2011 is to keep building on the business’s achievements.
“Keep building on what we’ve done,” he said.
“Develop our export model more and expand our military and paramilitary course.
“We have an awesome team. Our team is our key to success.”
The Queensland Exporter of the Year Award went to Swift Australia, Australia’s largest meat packer and exporter.
Story by Miranda Cashin from Sunshine Coast Daily on 23 October 2010
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