Salt Air's Northland - Best Seen from Above

Salt Air's origins are found in Aquatic & Vintage Airways which was established by Grant Harnish in December 1992. 

In 1997 the trading name of Aquatic & Vintage Airways was changed to Salt Air, the official company named being changed on the 16th of April 1999. Meanwhile, in 1997 the company was continuing to operate Grumman Widgeon ZK-AVM on scenic flights from the waterfront at Paihia as well as operating land-based scenic flights from the nearby airstrip at Haruru Falls using De Havilland Canada Beaver ZK-CGX and Cessna 172 ZK-EWF. As part of the flights from Haruru Falls the company had developed the Cape Reinga ½ Day Tour which, after the flight to Waitiki Landing, features a visit to the Cape Reinga Lighthouse, and visits to Tapotupotu Bay for refreshments and the Te Paki quicksand stream and its giant sand dunes. Passengers were then flown home again.

Grumman Widgeon ZK-AVM in Salt Air colours at Ardmore on 11 October 1999.

In 1999 and 2000 Salt Air retired their 'vintage' aircraft. The Beaver ZK-CGX was the first to be retired in early 1999. It was sold to Viking Air of British Columbia, Canada and was placed on the Canadian register as C-FPSM on the 26th of July 2000. In 2006 it was converted to a turbine and it continues to fly in American registration as N3247B.

Salt Air's De Havilland Canada Beaver ZK-CGX at Kerikeri. Photo : G Harnish

Inherited from Aquatic & Vintage Airways and rebranded as Salt Air Cessna 172 ZK-EWF at Auckland 4 October 1998

With the retirement of the Beaver and the inability of the Cessna 172 to cope with the numbers flying on the Cape Reinga flights a 7-seat Cessna 207, ZK-FOO, joined Salt Air's fleet in November 2009. This was one of two Cessna 207s operated by Salt Air. ZK-SAL joined the fleet in November 2004. The company also operated a 5-seat Cessna 206, ZK-JCB between 2003 and 2006.

Salt Air's Cessna 172 ZK-FGV and the two Cessna 207s ZK-FOO and ZK-SAL at Waitiki Landing airstrip. Photo : G Harnish

 

The following year, in early 2000, the Grumman Widgeon ZK-AVM was retired and placed in storage for many years. It is now the subject of a long term restoration project at Ardmore. 

The Paihia waterfront was to remain a feature of Salt Air operations with the introduction of helicopter operations from 2001 with the arrival of Bell 206B JetRanger ZK-HBC in April 2001 and the first Robinson R44 ZK-HVL in 2003. 

Salt Air's first helicopter, Bell Jetranger ZK-HBC at Paihia

The helicopters were used to introduce a variety of scenic flights including the Coastal Discovery Flight and the Hole in the Rock Flight which now has the option of a landing. The helicopters also operate charter flights throughout the Far North area in support of the many new resorts and hideaway homes. The helicopters have also been used on other work including fire fighting.

Salt Air's Robinson R44 ZK-HGM at Paihia on 11 November 2008

Tragedy struck Salt Air on the 15th of December 2004. One of the company's Cessna 172s, ZK-JES, was on a flight between Kerikeri and Waitiki Landing near Cape Reinga. Weather conditions deteriorated extremely rapidly with low cloud, mist and poor visibility. The pilot quickly became unable to continue flying visually due to the sudden change and unable to make the nearby long Coopers Beach was forced to ditch close in shore at Cable Bay. People on shore commented on how rapidly the change happened and despite rescuers being on site within minutes one passenger was drowned remaining trapped in the aircraft. The pilot and his other passenger were able to get out of the aircraft with injuries. 

A massive change for Salt Air came in April 2007 when an 11-seat Cessna 208B Grand Caravan, ZK-MJL, was added to the fleet and it was this aircraft which introduced scheduled flights to Salt Air’s operations.

Starting on the 17th of May 2008 Salt Air introduced its Salt Air Xpress service between Whangarei and North Shore Airfield at Dairy Flat north of Auckland. The niche Salt Air had found was its ability to be able to use the new Northern Bus Way into Auckland meaning passengers could fly into North Shore and then avoid the tedious crawling traffic and travel into Auckland during the morning rush hour and on the way out in the evening. The aim was to enable passengers to be able to travel from fly from Whangarei to North Shore airport and then offer a dedicated shuttle bus to Auckland Central’s Britomart – all this being done within an hour. At the time of the air service’s launch Salt Air co-owner Grant Harnish told the Northern Advocate, the service has been designed for people who need to spend about half a day in Auckland or Whangarei, but want a stress-free trip away from heavy traffic. "We think Northland day commuters might welcome the chance to get away from what is involved in flying into Auckland airport - which means they over-shoot the centre of Auckland and then have to compete with heavy traffic to get where they want to go," he said. He said access to the new bus way was not "a given". "It's definitely not open to everyone. People wanting to use it have to go through a consent process which has taken time but I can say there is no better feeling - having trialled the trip the other day - than to be cruising down that bus way at 80km/h past grid-locked traffic."

Initially three flights were offered departing from Whangarei on weekdays at 7.30am, 1.30pm and 4.30pm; and from North Shore Airfield at 8.20am, 2.20pm and 5.20pm. In addition a weekend service was available from Auckland to Kerikeri late Friday returning early Monday enabling the Caravan to return to its home base.

Salt Air's initial timetable, effective May 2008

Salt Air's Cessna 208B Grand Caravan ZK-MJL between flights at Whangarei shortly after the scheduled service began on 27 May 2008

Just a month later, from mid-June 2008, the service was expanded to include Kerikeri with flights operating Kerikeri-Whangarei-North Shore. In announcing the expansion CEO Grant Harnish said, “Feedback from passengers has been fantastic and that is what has encouraged us to extend the service to Kerikeri”  In addition to attracting existing airline passengers, Salt Air has uncovered a whole new market. They are the North Shore or CBD based business travellers that were used to having to drive over two hours to conduct their business only to have to repeat the trip home at the end of the day. “With increasing fuel prices for vehicles, our scheduled flights have become exceptionally competitive as far as prices are concerned” says Harnish. Add to that the 25 minute flight time to and 10 minute check in to Whangarei; boarding Salt Air makes a lot of sense. Salt Air’s online no checked bags fare of $119.00 each way to Whangarei and $149 to Kerikeri is lower than many of those offered by Air New Zealand. With time and fuel two significant expenses for any business traveller the Salt Air services make good business sense. The extension of services to Kerikeri can only make trips north of Whangarei even more economical. 

Two weekday flights were offered each weekday between Kerikeri and North Shore with three between Whangarei and North Shore.

The extended schedule to Kerikeri from mid-June 2008

Aviation News in October 2008 gave a good insight into Salt Air's air service and the connection to the Cape Reinga tours... Had Salt Air CEO Grant Harnish had a crystal ball last summer he might well have given the scheduled service a miss. "At times we wondered if we were doing the right thing, starting an air service in the midst of the worst weather for years, dodgy economic conditions and rising fuel prices. But it has turned out very promising. It's been a surprise, actually, in terms of the wide range of passengers we're attracting." Until this year 96 percent of its passengers were overseas tourists, but the Caravan has transformed its passenger profile. Salt Air has become in part a commuter airline. Grant sees an opportunity for small airlines as New Zealand begins to follow an international trend in how people travel in and out of cities. New Zealand until now has been a car-based society, he says. "We've never been strong on using public transport; we never had to, because our cities are small." But as anyone knows who has been able to admire the Auckland city skyline for extended periods from amidst traffic packed on the harbour bridge, times are changing. Why sit punching a steering wheel when a laptop turns your commuter service seat to a workplace extension? Another sign of changing times are the queues before security bottlenecks at international airports, which are starting to give a certain charm to suburban airfields. But while the pastoral delights of the North Shore Aerodrome can get you from plane to car in 30 seconds, you are still left facing the horrors of the northern motorway. Hence the key to Salt Air's scheduled Kerikeri-Auckland service, Grant says, is not its Caravan but the new bus lane on the northern motorway. "We're not offering a flight to the North Shore, but a service that gets you from the Bay of Islands to downtown Auckland in 90 minutes, or from Whangarei in an hour." The service is a package deal which adds to the flight a courtesy bus taking passengers from North Shore Aerodrome to Britomart in 25 minutes regardless of traffic. In combination with Salt Air's other scheduled services using the existing 207s and new Airvan, it also enables tourists in Auckland to make a one-day excursion to Cape Reinga. As our society changes how it gets around, Grant says small operators have an advantage over the big airlines by having the flexibility to dovetail commuter with tourist traffic, and scheduled with charter flights, to provide a personal service that caters to individual needs rather than mass economics. 

Cessna 208B Caravan ZK-MJL arrives at Whangarei from Kerikeri for a brief stop before continuing on to North Shore on 19 May 2009. 

Enroute between Whangarei and North Shore 19 May 2009

In October 2008 the company purchased a Gippsland GA8 Airvan, ZK-MAB. In announcing the purchase Grant Harnish said "After an extensive search, we decided that the 8 seater GA8 Airvan with its large windows, significant leg room and extreme versatility was an ideal complement to our fleet of fixed wing aircraft and helicopters." On arrival in New Zealand the aircraft will be fitted with Garmin Avionics, a cargo pod and a full leather interior and 8 place passenger intercom for scenic flight commentary. The Airvan was primarily to be used on the ½ Day Cape Reinga Fly Drive Tours but it was recorded on the scheduled service to North Shore on the 15th of November 2008 and afterwards was used more frequently on the scheduled service. 

Gippsland Airvan ZK-MAB arrives at North Shore on 23 October 2012

In mid January 2009 the scheduled service was reduced to two flights each weekday, with a return morning and late afternoon/evening service and the addition of a return Sunday evening service. This schedule was maintained, with slight timing changes, especially between the summer and winter seasons, continued for the years ahead. At times the company also offered a number of cheap fares, particularly aimed at the regular traveler. 

As far back as its Aquatic & Vintage Airways Salt Air had operated a number of Cessna 172s. As the focus moved towards helicopters to operate scenic flights around the Bay of Islands and with the move of the land based operation from Haruru Falls to Kerikeri the last Cessna 172 and also the last Cessna 207 were withdrawn from Salt Air operations in 2009. This left only the Cessna Caravan and the Gippsland Airvan to maintain the air service and the Cape Reinga ½ Day Tours.

Salt Air's summer schedule

Salt Air's winter schedule

Gippsland Airvan ZK-MAB being loaded at Kerikeri for my flight to Whangarei and North Shore on 5 July 2011

It was a slick operation at North Shore as the shuttle is being made ready to go down the busway to Auckland. Meanwhile the Airvan's engine was kept running while ground staff load passengers and luggage for the flight back north. The Airvan was away before the shuttle departed.

Aerospatiale Squirrel ZK-IMB was destroyed at Matai Bay on the 30th of November 2011. The helicopter was involved in a fire fighting operation at night when a report came in of people trapped on the beach. A nearby fishing boat's attempt to assist was thwarted and the helicopter was diverted to assist. Visibility was poor due to it being night and the smoke from the fire and the helicopter went missing. The following day its wreckage was located by a searching fishing trawler about 350 meters off the shore of Matai Bay. Sadly the pilot and a Department of Conservation employee were killed. 

Aerospatiale Squirrel at Ardmore on 4 May 2011. Photo : W Grant

A couple of Salt Air departures from North Shore... Cessna 208B Grand Caravan ZK-MJL on 25 November 2009...

...and Gippsland Airvan ZK-MAB on 2 February 2011

In October 2012 Salt Air announced the sale of the service to North Shore-based Flight Hauraki. Chief executive Grant Harnish told the Northern Advocate that he now wants to streamline the operation and concentrate on the tourism-based services. The scheduled services only generate only about 20 per cent of our operational income but take 80 per cent of our time to run. It's been a very successful concept and certainly put us on the map but it's the right time for someone else to pick it up and run with it. We are a very small company and we don't have the ability to run a base in Auckland which is really needed to take the market to the next stage.

Salt Air's Northland Xpress service finished on the 31st of October 2012. The Cessna 208B Grand Caravan was sold to Sounds Air and it continues to fly with them as ZK-SAY. The Airvan was retained and continues to fly the Cape Reinga ½ Day Tours to Waitiki Landing. 

In January 2013 Salt Air opened a helipad on top of the renowned “Hole in the Rock”, known in Māori as Motukokako. A popular Bay of Islands destination for cruises the new option allowed passengers the unique and privileged opportunity to set foot on the very top of this island to take in the stunning views and learn the significance of the island to the local Māori as well as enjoying the spectacular beauty of the the Bay of Islands.

The helicopters also fly to Waitiki Landing as an option for the Cape Reinga ½ Day Tours, as well as offering transfers and charters for visitors to the Bay of Islands and offering heavy lifting and have fire fighting capabilities.

Salt Air's Bell 206L-3 LongRanger ZK-IJH at Waitiki on 15 November 2022. From here it is about 20km to the Cape.

Also on the Waitiki strip on 15 November 2022 was Salt Air's Gippsland Airvan ZK-MAB.

For over 30 years now Salt Air and its predecessor Aquatic & Vintage Airways have advocated that Northland is best seen from above. While the aircraft they have used have changed from the Grumman Widgeon to a Gippsland Airvan and a fleet of modern helicopters the product hasn't changed for Northland is still best seen from above. 

Aircraft operated (current fleet in bold)

Aerospatiale AS 350B Squirrel

ZK-IMB (c/n 2396) - Dec 2010 to Nov 2011

Bell 206B JetRanger 

ZK-HBC (c/n 2112) - Apr 2001 to Dec 2006

ZK-HFE (c/n 3978) - Jan 2007 to Sep 2011

ZK-ISW (c/n 2321) - Jan 2012 to Jul 2012

Bell 206L LongRanger

ZK-IIV (c/n 52216) - Nov 2017 to Jan 2022

ZK-IJH (c/n 51335) - Sep 2012 to current

ZK-ILM (c/n 51278) - Aug 2014 to current

Cessna 172 Skyhawk II 

ZK-DXY (c/n 17265781) - Apr 2002 to Sep 2002

ZK-EJY (c/n 17269393) - Mar 1999 to Mar 2000

ZK-EWF, (c/n 17275010) - Jun 1995 to Feb 1999

ZK-FGV (c/n 17265485) - Aug 2005 to Feb 2009

ZK-JES (c/n 17270292) - Nov 2002 to Dec 2004

ZK-JMB (c/n 17270039) - Apr 1999 to Dec 2003

ZK-KTB (c/n 17274847) - Feb 2000 to May 2000

ZK-WHY (c/n 17270200) - Feb 2001 to May 2001

Cessna U206C Super Skywagon

ZK-JCB (c/n U206-0922) - Jan 2003 to Mar 2006

Cessna 207 Skywagon

ZK-FOO (c/n 20700075) - Nov 1999 to Feb 2008

ZK-SAL (c/n 20700171) - Nov 2004 to Sep 2009

Cessna 208B Grand Caravan

ZK-MJL (c/n 208B0861) - Mar 2007 to May 2013

De Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver

ZK-CGX (c/n 1548) Jun 1995 to Feb 1999

Gippsland GA8 Airvan

ZK-MAB (c/n GA8-08-139) - Nov 2008 to current

Salt Air's Gippsland Airvan ZK-MAB gets airborne from Kerikeri for Waitiki Landing on 19 March 2024

Grumman G.44A Widgeon

ZK-AVM (c/n 1466) - Jul 1996 to Feb 2000

Hughes 369HS

ZK-HGS (c/n 320375S) - Feb 2001 to Dec 2001

Robinson R44 

ZK-HGM (c/n 10401) Dec 2007 to current

ZK-HVL (c/n 0391) - Dec 2003 to Jun 2004

ZK-HVQ (c/n 0235) - Jan 2005 to Sep 2005

ZK-IWT (c/n 13416) - Sep 2020-current

Robinson R44 ZK-IWT at Paihia on 29 February 2024