Bill Black, one of the legends of Southland aviation heritage, died on Wednesday, 1 July 2020 aged 76. 

During his 41 years as a pilot he flew Cessna fixed wing and floatplanes, Tiger Moth, Dominie and other aircraft, before he switched to helicopters in 1967 when he signed up with Sir Tim Wallis as a pilot for Luggate Game Packers. It is his helicopter flying that he is most famous for.

Bill was one of the pioneers of deer recovery in Fiordland. He recovered thousands of feral deer from the Fiordland bush and later, as the owner of his own helicopter company, also serviced the fishing industry, worked with muttonbird hunters, fought fires, salvaged other aircraft and was involved in more than 500 search and rescue missions. 

His accolades include receiving the MBE in 1977 for his tremendous contributions to mountain rescue and outstanding service to the industry and community. In 1980 he was the first New Zealander to receive the Robert E Trimble Memorial Award from the Helicopter Association of America honouring pilots distinguished in mountain flying, and in 2014 he was granted a prestigious international aviation award, the Jean Batten Memorial Trophy, for his outstanding contribution to New Zealand aviation.

Born William Arthur Black on 18 August 1943 in Owaka, the second of four children of William and Margaret (Peg) Black, Bill showed interest in aeroplanes and flying from a very young age.

In the book Bill Black, I did it my way Bill’s mother, Peg tells the story of how “at the age of two and still in nappies Bill (…) used two wooden clothes pegs clipped together to form what looked like in his mind as a Tiger Moth. He would amuse himself for hours mimicking the topdressing Tiger Moths. (…) As he got older he started making bigger planes out of wood.”

Bill as a teenager with an aeroplane model of his own making.

After leaving school Bill worked in sawmills and meatworks and helped on the family's commercial poultry farm to gather enough funds to follow his dream of being a pilot.

He trained at McNab near Gore before getting a job with Ritchie Airservices in Te Anau where he flew fixed-wing aircraft before getting his helicopter licence, clocking up nearly 30,000 flying hours in total. He continued to develop his flying skills and was always happy to mentor young pilots.

Bill had been married twice. He had a daughter, Marlene with his first wife, Lynette, however the marriage didn’t last. In 1989 Bill married Shirley and they remained together to the end of his days.

To Shirley, Bill was “a lovely husband, a very kind and caring man and her best friend”. 

“He was a big softie, but could sometimes be quite gruff, particularly when he wasn’t happy with someone at work,” she said.

The couple had a farm breeding Romney sheep and later bred deer for a few years. Flying was Bill’s first priority, but he would always help Shirley when he wasn’t flying.

He retired from flying helicopters after his heart surgery in 2001 when his commercial pilot’s licence was revoked on medical grounds, but continued to enjoy his two-seater gyrocopter for many years after.  

From that time on, Bill’s health started to deteriorate. He had strokes and developed vascular dementia. He spent the last three years of his life at the Rowena Jackson Rest Home in Invercargill.

Bill and Shirley Black.

Merv Halliday, of Te Anau, shared Bill’s passion for flying. They became involved in aviation around the same time, which led to a lifetime friendship. It was Merv who helped his friend record, collect and compile the stories for his biography Bill Black, I did it my way, published in 2013.

Although many of Bill’s friends and fellow pilots died in helicopter crashes, Merv was convinced that Bill’s ability to keep returning from dangerous jobs and rescue missions was down to more than good luck.

“He was very fastidious with his aviation and everybody admired him for his outstanding flying skills,” Mr Halliday said.

Bill passed away peacefully on Wednesday, 1 July 2020, surrounded by close family. His funeral will be held on Friday, 10 July at the Fiordland Community Events Centre.

The man who had been known to admit he had “looked God in the eye many times”, is now on his way to meet his creator in person.

Bill Black is survived by his wife Shirley, daughter Marlene, step daughters Michelle and Janine and grandchildren Mya and Ben.