It’s 24 years last week (September 9) since Richard Mills – one of New Zealand’s most seasoned helicopter pilots, crashed into dense jungle working in Borneo. It was a life-changing experience that grounded him in so many ways, leaving him incapacitated and hospitalised for months, unable to fly and work again for four and a half years.

It was a long and painful recovery but with the support of his family and mates ‘Millsy’ eventually got back behind the controls, regaining his pilot’s licence and resuming a 40-plus year commercial flying career.

Raised in Invercargill holidaying with family at Stewart Island, Riverton and Queenstown, the south was always home, so Richard found a way to combine an international flying career with Southland life.

This Local Legend story is brought to you with the kind support of Southland Helicopters Ltd

For 25 years he flew helicopters month on, month off, everywhere from the UK and Southern and South Africa, to Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Mexico and Canada.

Many of these missions were in extremely challenging terrain working in searing heat, conditions that make helicopter flying risky and at times dangerous.

From agricultural spraying in Southland and counting zebra in African game parks, to conducting seismic surveys in oil fields in Papua New Guinea and logging in Malaysia, Richard was living the dream.

Richard Mills provides the transport for local bride Jackie Davies on her wedding day. Photo: Supplied

It was hard work and while there were big family sacrifices it certainly got them ahead financially.

“I reckon I spent more time with my wife and sons than the average working man,” he says. “But I couldn’t have done it without my wife, Sue, and her parents stepping in while I was away.”

From the age of 14 Richard knew he wanted to fly, saving up for his first flying lesson mowing lawns for $2.50 and working at the Woolstore for $1 an hour.

“Mum and Dad paid $5 for my first lesson on my 15th birthday in 1974.”

This Local Legend story is brought to you with the kind support of Southland Helicopters Ltd

Still at school and 18, he passed his private pilot’s licence, clocking the 60 hours necessary.

Working on a Hunt International Petroleum oil rig in the Southern Ocean for 18 months, and at the freezing works, helped get him through - a first day pupil at Nelson Aviation College along with Southland Boys’ High mate, longtime Air NZ captain Wayne Swinburne.

“I went loose to the helicopter side,” Richard laughs.

Both sons now successful pilots – Andrew an Emirates training captain and Willie an agricultural pilot, Dad gave them some advice early on:

“Everything you do for the rest of your life will be challenging but fulfilling. You may help save lives, even bring babies into the world, and facilitate last farewells. You’ll never be bored, but never believe the myth that it will be hard work. It beats working for a living.”

Taking a break - Richard Mills in the early days at Mount Linton Station. Photo: Supplied

He’s flown both fixed wing and helicopters, starting out with deer recovery in the late 70s and for Mount Linton Station, also doing Northern Hemisphere summers in Scotland and England.

After working as an agricultural pilot for Southern Aviation in Otautau, Richard and Sue bought the helicopter in 1984 forming South Coast Helicopters.

Unfortunately, that prized Jet Ranger – an exact replica to that used by Police in cannabis operations, and their hangar, were mysteriously burnt to the ground.

Richard also flew missions to the Muttonbird Islands, where he gained a fresh insight into Rakiura Maoridom.

Working alongside aviation legends like Te Anau’s Bill Black on the early Kakapo Restoration Programme, Richard gained the utmost respect for Rakiura kaumatua Harold Ashwell.

“He introduced me to the significance of the history behind the Tītī Islands and Rakiura.”

(L-R) Michael Glynn and Richard Mills. Richard and Sue established South Coast helicopters in 1984. Photo: Supplied

Having flown the length of NZ under a watchful instructor at the age of 16 flying was very exciting stuff.

It’s a risky career and in Richard’s first crop spraying season in Britain seven people he knew were killed back here in NZ, mostly in venison recovery.

On a happier note, Richard was a popular stand-in for Santa Claus when the reindeer were out of action, flying in by chopper in the big red suit. “Probably for reasons of my ample girth,” he grins.

In their dating days it became hard leaving Sue, but he flew stock counting operations in South Africa’s Natal Game Parks, chasing baboons down ridges, and hyena and zebra.

Once their boys arrived, international flying was well established.

“It worked out really well as I was away for half of their formative years,” Richard jokes.

Richard Mills (left) stops for a fruit juice with locals in Papa New Guinea. Photo: Supplied

From 1990 until 2012, pre and post his accident, Richard flew extensively in Papua New Guinea, logging, supporting oil and gas operations and mining.

There were many cultural and language lessons along the way, as with the seismic work in Mexico.

“I got 19% in School Cert French but even then, I managed to pick up pieces of Spanish.”

However, when you’re at the controls of a Russian logging helicopter plummeting into the jungle near Borneo after an engine fails there’s not much that knowing the lingo can do to help.

He and his Kiwi colleague spent three hours in the wreckage doused in jet fuel.

Badly smashed up in a Malaysian hospital with multiple breaks to his arm, shoulder and legs, Richard was pleased to survive, and to see Sue and her dad arrive soon after.

A newspaper clipping of Richard Mill's accident near Boreno. Photo: Supplied

“Sue said, ‘Did the Greenpeace fairies catch up on you?’,” Richard grins.

He flew home post-surgery with just 4% use of his arm, a plate inserted in his femur and a catheter in, spending another 10 weeks in Southland Hospital, then confined to a wheelchair.

He rebroke the femur falling while attempting physio exercises at home, his bum jammed up against the searing hot woodburner.

“Sue reckoned the surgeons had got titanium and tin foil mixed up.”

For the first three years ‘Fox Trot Charlie’, as he was affectionately known, didn’t want to look at a helicopter, but gradually the boys coaxed him back, Richard eventually back flying in Papua New Guinea.

In 2012 ‘Millsy’ came home for good, working as general manager for mate Sir Richard (Hannibal) Hayes at Heliworks in Queenstown as general manager.

Richard and the team in Sarawak, Borneo, in front of the largest helicopter in the world - the Russian made Mil 26. Photo: Supplied

Throughout his career in NZ his most satisfying work has been his involvement in Search and Rescue in the mountains and over the treacherous waters of the southern seas.

However, he’s quick to point out there are no individual heroes in SAR. It’s a team effort with skilled rescuers on the ground.

A memorable job was the last chance rescue of a 16-year-old Bluff boy who’d been clinging to a life ring in Foveaux Strait for almost 12 hours after a fishing boat overturned. The two older men who’d been with him had drowned.

“The Police had exhausted their search after a week, and I was going to pick up two hunters so offered to search on the way. About 8 miles(12.8kms) out somebody spotted something, so I hovered down and saw the boy in the ring, barely hanging on with one arm.”

Richard tried to throw him his life jacket and radioed a nearby boat, whose crew hauled him in.

Trying to do a good deed, Richard later flew the two grieving widows over the site throwing their special wreath out his door, supposedly into the sea, only to discover upon landing it was caught on his helicopter skid.

Richard Mills (front) stands in for Santa, alongside his Heliworks colleagues. Photo: Supplied

“I had to discreetly stuff it down my overalls before I went to offload them.”

He flew back and did the honours.

Richard’s also served on the Lakes District Air Rescue Trust.

This Local Legend story is brought to you with the kind support of Southland Helicopters Ltd

But these days, happily retired, he drives the Southland Boys High hostel van, encouraging young boys keen on a flying career.

He gets a real kick out of mentoring and connecting them with established operators.

“I just know how hard it is to get your first break in this game.”