outback information

The use of helicopters to muster cattle began to increase after the Vietnam War. Helicopters had developed to the extent that they were suitable for mustering (Bells, usually), there were a number of ex-Vietnam pilots looking for flying jobs and the 1970s beef crash meant that stations were looking for new cost-saving strategies to remain viable.

It was a struggle to pay large numbers of staff due to pitiful cattle sale prices that were barely high enough to pay transport costs. Then the Brucellosis and Tuberculosis Eradication Campaign (BTEC) cranked up and cattle had to be mustered far more frequently than was normal.

During the 1980s some stations dispensed with stockmen on the ground altogether. On most stations this only lasted for a few generations of cattle though because it soon became apparent that in most cases it is essential to have someone on the ground to achieve clean musters and maintain a manageable herd.

Now many of the largest stations have a motorbike rider or two to cover the distant outskirts but most still want to have 4-6 horse riders to walk the mob, which is commonly about 1000 cows. Most stations now spend a lot of time and money on ‘educating’ weaners before they are returned to the paddock too, as this early investment pays off in saved mustering costs and less bruising on trucks later on.

These days the majority of helicopter mustering pilots have solid experience mustering on horseback so they have a thorough understanding of livestock behaviour and realistic expectations. In fact this experience is often considered absolutely essential by aviation companies recruiting mustering pilots. While there are good mustering pilots who have never been on the ground mustering, these are the exception rather than the rule. There seem to always be more newly qualified pilots than there are available jobs, so of course those with solid ground experience are likely to find a job first.

Due to fuel and insurance cost increases helicopter mustering has become much more expensive. Mustering helicopters are only used when it’s clearly efficient and economic – they have to earn their keep. Consequently they are rarely used in southern Australia, only in the roughest country. Quite a few of the very largest (northern) stations own their own helicopter and employ a full-time pilot because with such huge areas to cover, the chopper will often be used all day during the mustering season, with days off when yardwork is completed and for the occasional dry-season social event.

Most middle-sized stations employ a sole operator or pilot from an independent business on a casual basis. The pilot may be based on a nearby property or in town, and their jobs are booked well in advance. In fact most station managers write down the whole year’s mustering plan before Easter, so that trucks, helicopters, vets, feedlots etc can be booked months ahead. Rain rarely interrupts the programme from May to October.

At present the most common helicopters used in the Australian aerial mustering industry are two-seater Robinson R22s (made in the USA). They are relatively cheap to buy maintain and run. Bell and Hughes helicopters are used to a lesser extent.

Some stations that have relatively flat and open country muster stock with fixed-wing aircraft, usually single-engine Cessnas, as they are cheaper to buy and maintain. However fixed wing aircraft cannot control a mob as a helicopter, as they can't block the mob. Planes cannot travel as slowly as helicopters and are not as manoeuvrable. In addition, they need large cleared areas to land and low altitude flying is safer in a helicopter.

There are a small number of the largest stations that employ a fixed-wing pilot for the station Cessna, however there are usually not enough flying hours to justify a specialist being employed. (And most pilots are not keen on doing a bit of station gardening in their spare time.) Very often the station manager will have a pilots licence, enabling him to do dry-season bore runs and wet-season trips to town for stores etc.

Many of the smaller companies do not need to have websites as so much of their business is local and regular, however here are a couple of websites for companies that I have flown with and would recommend:

• Slingair & Heliwork, based in Kununurra (WA). The owner Kerry Slingsby owns one of the largest, most well respected and oldest aviation companies around. Kerry commenced his flying career while working as a ringer on Wrotham Park in the 1970s.
• North Australian Helicopters.
• Blade Slapper has a list of many Australian helicopter companies.