PETER PIGGOTT

Trained at Westminister Technical Institute for Engineers in England, Peter has been flying for more than 50 years, 40 of them in helicopters. At the age of 18 he was already flying Tiger Moths, Harvards, Spitsfires and Rapide aeroplanes for the Southern Rodesian Airforce. Thereafter he operated as a commercial pilot for eight years, carrying out assignments in South Africa, the Caribbean, Central and North America and on offshore rigs in Nigeria.

In 1961 he rejoined the Rhodesian Air force, where he flew helicopters. He subsequently emigrated to South Africa and Started Heliquip with a single Hughes 300 helicopter in 1967. At the time there were only two helicopter companies in the country. Heliquip started providing its services to game ranches and construction companies.

As CEO Commercial Aviation Association of Southern Africa and executive committee member to the Helicopter association of South Africa, Piggott says helicopters are a growing business in Southern Africa.
After more than fifty years in the aviation industry, Piggott's business philosophy is simple. "Our clients spend a lot of money on their aircraft so they expect first-class service."

He insists there is never too little time to do a job properly. In a business where mistakes can costs lives, honesty with clients is essential. "If the client's aircraft has to stay on the ground, we say so."

Cost is less important to the airborne executive than safety and quality of service. At Heliquip the approach is that we would rather not do the job than have to compromise high standards. Honesty with customers is the order of the day. "We don't look for flash-in-the-pan business. So people always come back."