Established in 1978 by local farmers led by John Atkins and pilot Gordon Herbert, the Rural Aerial Co-op is the longest-running aerial topdressing and spraying operation in New Zealand under the same ownership.
At a time when aerial agriculture was tightly restricted and new licences were nearly impossible to obtain, the Co-op was created to ensure farmers in the Lower North Island had reliable access to aerial topdressing services. By working together as a co-operative, local farmers secured the resources, aircraft, and expertise needed to support their land.
Today, the Co-op services around 180 shareholders and a similar number of non-shareholder clients from our home base south of Pahiatua, which features a sealed airstrip, hangar, truck workshop, and bulk fuel facilities.
While the technology has advanced, our original goal remains unchanged: providing a reliable, fairly priced service to the rural community. Many of our shareholders are now the third generation to use our aircraft.
What hasn’t changed and what makes us different is that when you work with us, you speak directly to the pilot who will be flying your job. This means no call centres, no go-betweens, and no confusion. Just clear communication with the person in the cockpit, ensuring your farm’s needs are understood and carried out with precision.
At a time when aerial agriculture was tightly restricted and new licences were nearly impossible to obtain, the Co-op was created to ensure farmers in the Lower North Island had reliable access to aerial topdressing services. By working together as a co-operative, local farmers secured the resources, aircraft, and expertise needed to support their land.
Today, the Co-op services around 180 shareholders and a similar number of non-shareholder clients from our home base south of Pahiatua, which features a sealed airstrip, hangar, truck workshop, and bulk fuel facilities.
While the technology has advanced, our original goal remains unchanged: providing a reliable, fairly priced service to the rural community. Many of our shareholders are now the third generation to use our aircraft.
What hasn’t changed and what makes us different is that when you work with us, you speak directly to the pilot who will be flying your job. This means no call centres, no go-betweens, and no confusion. Just clear communication with the person in the cockpit, ensuring your farm’s needs are understood and carried out with precision.
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The Co-op operates two Air Tractor AT402B being current production aircraft with a proven reliability and safety record around the world.
Our aircraft are fitted with TracMap GPS guidance and a hydraulic variable rate system, giving farmers the benefits of true precision application. Every pass is actively guided using lightbar patterns, while application rates are automatically adjusted in real time — no more uniform blanket spraying.
Features such as autoboom boundary control, pilot-customisable displays, and in-flight adjustability ensure efficient, responsive operations. All job data is streamed through Tabula Online, providing proof of application, audit trails, compliance reporting, and a long-term geospatial record for smarter farm management.
Our aircraft are fitted with TracMap GPS guidance and a hydraulic variable rate system, giving farmers the benefits of true precision application. Every pass is actively guided using lightbar patterns, while application rates are automatically adjusted in real time — no more uniform blanket spraying.
Features such as autoboom boundary control, pilot-customisable displays, and in-flight adjustability ensure efficient, responsive operations. All job data is streamed through Tabula Online, providing proof of application, audit trails, compliance reporting, and a long-term geospatial record for smarter farm management.
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Andrew CuttanceCHIEF PILOT - 021 511 654
An experienced agricultural pilot with over 20 years in the industry, most of it based in Pahiatua and flying for the RAC.
Andrew is a born and bred Pahiatua boy having grown up on the family farm outside Pahiatua, where moved on to become an automotive technician before entering the Ag aviation industry as a loader driver over 20 years ago. Andrew has been instrumental in setting up the variable rate system into the Co-ops aircraft and is the ‘problem solver’ keeping the fertiliser moving despite our area being a challenging climate for topdressing. Husband to Kate and father to Neroli and John, apart from his family commitments Andrew’s spare is taken up beekeeping and pottering around his lifestyle block. |
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Duncan ElliotOPERATIONS & SAFETY MANAGER
Well know to many in the area, Duncan works closely with Andrew and Lachie around operations and also ensures the Safety management polices and H&S is implemented.
You will also occasionally see him in the loaders filling in when needed. Pahiatua born and bred Duncan and wife Natalie own a sheep and beef operation. A passion for flying, especially Ag Aviation, Duncan flys privately and also enjoys the outdoors when time allows. |
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Lachie ElliotLOADER DRIVER
A Qualified mechanic and skilled loader driver, Lachie is also responsible for the maintenance and servicing of the loader fleet.
A local lad growing up on the family sheep and beef farm. When not working he’ll be found riding his motorbikes, both off and on the road, or enjoying the outdoors, camping, hunting and fishing. Lachie also has a love for Ag Aviation and is aiming to start his Pilots license soon. The next generation Ag Pilot in the making. |