Latest news with #Butcher
Otago Daily Times
2 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
Warbirds scholarship to make return
The Warbirds Over Wanaka Community Trust has announced the scholarship programme is to make a return for 2025, and Warbird aircraft engineers are eligible to apply alongside pilots. Warbirds Over Wanaka general manager Ed Taylor said the scholarship programme had been put on hold since 2020 as Covid forced the cancellation of the 2020 and 2022 shows, but after a successful 2024 show, the scholarship programme was in a position to return. One of the pilots who had benefited from the scholarship programme was Adam Butcher, who took part in the programme in 2017. Mr Butcher had been flying since 1996, when he was 14 years old. It took him a while to save for his private pilot's licence, which he got in 2004. Flying vintage aeroplanes was a dream of his, and after obtaining his licence, Mr Butcher flew 50 hours in a Tiger Moth biplane built in the 1940s. After obtaining his commercial pilot's licence he flew from Queenstown, taking tourists on aerobatic, thrill-seeking rides in a Pitts Special biplane. After moving to Australia in 2010, Mr Butcher continued to fly vintage aeroplanes; he flew Chinese and Soviet warbirds commercially from Adelaide until 2012. On returning to New Zealand, Mr Butcher became the chief pilot for the Croydon Aviation Company, which operated vintage de Havilland aircraft from the 1930s and 1940s. For seven and a-half years, while working remotely as the chief pilot for the Mandeville-based company, he flew sightseeing flights from Manapouri Airport. In 2017 he was selected as the recipient of the Warbirds scholarship programme, which allowed him to get time flying historical aircraft. The scholarship allowed him to obtain a type rating on a North American Harvard, a trainer aircraft from World War 2. "The Harvard's always been the step up to go from all of the lighter aircraft, the Nanchangs and the Yaks and the, I suppose, Tiger Moths even as well" Over two weeks Mr Butcher was instructed on how to fly the aircraft by John Lamont and Grant Bissett, who both flew the Harvard and other aircraft at the Warbirds Over Wanaka airshows. "I'd say mentoring through the Warbird progression from them was as valuable as the scholarship amount itself." The scholarship allowed him to fly seven hours in the aircraft, which was quite different from the types he had flown in the past. "I really appreciated the coaching, mentoring, training [and] instructing that came with John Lamont as well — he's such a fixture with Warbirds Over Wanaka for his experience and knowledge." After his experience on the Harvard, Mr Butcher hoped to eventually fly the Curtiss P-40 Kittyhawk, a fighter that was flown by the Royal New Zealand Air Force in World War 2. "I think we all have a shared passion of wanting to experience a bit of everything of that period, but yeah, the P-40 has always been a favourite for me. " As a form of paying it forward, Mr Butcher purchased an aircraft of his own, a Pitts Special biplane, which he used to get his lower level display authorisation, and to lend to others to give them experience with flying classic aircraft. "So I was very grateful for having the opportunity to fly somebody else's Harvard, and I wanted to make sure that I gave that opportunity to others to fly the Pitts." Mr Butcher has also stepped up to better help run the airshow as an assistant display director. Part of the role involves guiding the aircraft that would display, as well as providing briefings before the show starts to ensure it runs smoothly. "Whether it's in the aeroplane or out, everybody holds a really important role to make sure the whole show is good for people coming to watch and ultimately educate them on what it is to fly Warbird aircraft and make sure the passion for that stays strong." Last year, he sold his aircraft to construct a new hangar to house more aircraft. "It's a step out of the cockpit for a moment, but it's a longer-term view of how best we support vintage aviation and make sure that there are homes for these aircraft when they're on the field," he said. For the pilots and mechanics who would apply for this year's scholarship, it was really important to show they were genuine in their passion, he said, something he felt would come through in an application.
Otago Daily Times
4 days ago
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Long game for Butcher on return
Climbing your personal Everest is some sort of achievement. Getting to the summit for a second time? Now that is going to be an incredible challenge. Otago paddling king Finn Butcher is playing the long game as he begins the first year in his next Olympic Games cycle. Butcher, crowned the supreme winner at the Otago Sports Awards on Friday night, has completed a challenging first two rounds of the canoe slalom world cup season. He was fifth in the kayak slalom final and missed qualifying for the kayak cross quarterfinals at the opening round in La Seu d'Urgell, in Spain. The Olympic kayak cross champion had a fault in the heat and was 34th in the slalom at the second round in Pau, France, earlier this week. A new world cup format for the traditional slalom discipline has made the action on the water more intense than ever. There is now just one heat from which the top 12 paddlers progress straight to the final. Previously, the first 30 made it to the semifinals, a follow-up heat gave 10 more paddlers a place in the semifinals, and the top 10 from the semifinals progressed to the final. "It's a bit more cutthroat than it used to be, if you can get any more cutthroat," Butcher told the Otago Daily Times from France. He had two touches in the slalom heat in Pau to drop down the rankings. There was a spot of bad luck in the kayak cross as he led his heat most of the way but was harshly faulted on the final gate. Earlier, in Spain, a touch on gate seven in the slalom final pushed him from the bronze medal position to fifth. "That was a really good hit-out," Butcher said. " I've always liked the course in Seu. The vibe feels a little bit like Central Otago — just sort of a medieval version. It's tucked away in the hills and the scenery is cool. "I'm happy to be back into the European race season after a pretty good summer of preparation at home." Butcher, whose partner Courtney Williams is also racing on the world cup circuit, spent some time in Sydney before heading to Europe. The world championships are in Sydney in October and are his biggest focus for the year. "It was good to do some training there because the world champs are the target. "I guess it's a mini-peak for these world cups just to test out the training and try a few different things in big races. "I would love to perform well but all eyes are really on Sydney for me. "It's almost like a home world champs — as close as we can get — and I would love to perform well and take home some hardware." The next round of the canoe slalom world cup is in Prague on June 26-29. Round four is in Ljubljana-Tacen, Slovenia, on August 28-31, followed by the world cup finals in Augsburg, Germany, on September 4-7.
Otago Daily Times
13-06-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Butcher named Otago's supreme winner
Otago kayaker Finn Butcher shone with provincial pride from abroad last night. The Olympic gold medallist was named the supreme winner at the Otago Sports Awards at the Edgar Centre. He was also named sportsman of the year. The Central Otago athlete is in Europe competing on the world cup circuit and could not attend. But the humble 30-year-old from Alexandra gave a short speech on video. "One of my big things, especially last year, but also throughout my whole career, is to represent my region and my community with pride," he said. "And, you know, it was a big part of competing in Paris for me. And hopefully, I did that well. "I had a mouthguard in the kayak cross that had the Otago colours on it and looked at that every time before I ripped in down that ramp. "And, yeah, I think one big moment for me was where I got sent the front page of the Otago Daily Times just before the Olympics started, and I was on the front page of the sport." Butcher joined the ranks of southern sporting greats when he won Olympic gold in men's kayak cross in August last year. But he won over even more fans with his warmth and grounded approach. The queen of the slopes was the night's other big winner. Wānaka snowboarder Zoi Sadowski-Synnott was named sportswoman of the year. She is a four-time winner of the supreme award and had another wonderful year. She claimed two gold and one silver on the world cup circuit and claimed the overall title. Sadowski-Synnott was overseas training but accepted the award in a video speech. "When I look back on this past year, I am filled with an immense amount of gratitude coming back from my ankle injury," she said. "It was a year filled with challenges and growth, and I wouldn't be here without the incredible support system that I have around me." There was some surprise when the Otago men's 4x100m relay team was named team of the year. They snatched their fourth consecutive national title and also beat the Australian teams at the Australian national track and field championships. They broke a 19-year-old Otago record in that race. The Otago Sparks might have been considered the favourites for the award in some circles. They defended the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield in dramatic fashion. White Ferns spinner Eden Carson shook off a chest infection and thumped an unbeaten 59 from 43 balls to help her side overhaul Auckland's formidable tally of 291 for five in perhaps one of the greatest games at the University Oval. Dunedin Paralympian Anna Grimaldi, named para athlete of the year, had another exceptional season. She brought home gold in the 200m and nabbed bronze in 100m T47 events at the Paris Paralympics. Grimaldi also collected bronze in the 100m and silver in the long jump at the world championships in 2024. Her coach, Michael Jacobs, was named coach of the year for his role in her success. Wānaka freeskier Finley Melville Ives collected the junior sportsman award. The teenager had a breakthrough year, winning the 2025 freeski halfpipe world championship. Queenstown's Ruby Star Andrews was named junior sportswoman. She also made big strides, finishing in the top 10 on the world stage on three occasions. Cricket umpire Chris Gaffaney was named official of the year. He made history as the first New Zealand man to officiate a T20 World Cup final. Dunedin surfer Alexis Owen was named emerging talent. The 16-year-old became the youngest athlete to claim the New Zealand open men's surfing title earlier this year. The innovation in sport award went to the team behind the New Zealand Grand Prix held at Highlands Motorsport Park. The services to sport award went to Jim Hoffman, who has been described as the backbone of Otago badminton. Hoffman has contributed to the sport as a player, coach, team manager and administrator. It is estimated he has introduced more the 10,000 people to the sport during his more than 50 years of involvement in badminton.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
UK court rules insurers must pay more than $1bn for planes seized in Russia
The High Court in London has ruled that insurers must compensate aircraft leasing companies for losses exceeding $1bn related to jets stranded in Russia following the country's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. This follows a lawsuit, led by leasing companies including Ireland's AerCap and Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE), against insurers such as AIG, Lloyd's of London, Chubb and Swiss Re. Justice Christopher Butcher concluded that 147 aircraft and engines, valued at up to $4.7bn, were 'lost' on 10 March 2022, when Russian legislation banned the export of aircraft and equipment. Butcher attributed the loss to 'an act or order of the Russian government'. This allowed lessors to recover under their war risks insurance policies, rather than broader all risks policies. AerCap, an aircraft lessor, secured $1.035bn for 116 aircraft and 15 engines. This was stated by AerCap's law firm Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer. DAE, which sought to recover losses for 22 aircraft, managed to retrieve three but lost the rest, according to the Guardian. Other claimants included Dubai's Falcon and Genesis, Merx Aviation and KDAC Aviation Finance, which settled all its claims during the trial, Butcher said. The judge ruled that EU and US sanctions did not prevent insurers from indemnifying the lessors. The case, described by Butcher as 'an unusually demanding piece of litigation', followed Western sanctions that forced leasing companies to terminate contracts with Russian airlines by 28 March 2022. Russia subsequently re-registered many planes without owners' consent, prompting legal action in London and Dublin. "UK court rules insurers must pay more than $1bn for planes seized in Russia " was originally created and published by Life Insurance International, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
RTÉ News
11-06-2025
- Business
- RTÉ News
AerCap can recover over $1 billion, UK court rules in case over jets 'lost' in Russia
The world's largest aircraft lessor AerCap can recover over $1 billion in relation to jets stuck in Russia since the invasion of Ukraine, London's High Court ruled today, though that is less than the roughly $2 billion it sought. The court ruled broadly in favour of leasing companies in a multi-billion-dollar legal dispute with insurers, following a mammoth trial of one of the biggest insurance disputes ever heard in London which concluded in February. The lawsuit had focused on almost 150 jets and some engines, previously with a total value of up to $4.7 billion, though settlements - including on the first day of the trial in October - have whittled the numbers down. Judge Christopher Butcher said in a summary of his ruling that the aircraft were lost and "that loss occurred on 10 March 2022, when a piece of Russian legislation banned the export of aircraft and aircraft equipment from Russia". That meant the lessors could recover from their "war risks insurers", rather than under a broader all risks clause, as the cause of the loss was "an act or order of the Russian government", Butcher said. The judge also ruled that insurers were not prevented by EU or US sanctions from indemnifying the claimants for the loss of aircraft which had been leased to Russian airlines. AerCap's law firm Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer said the judgment secured $1.035 billion for AerCap, "in addition to substantial recoveries achieved in prior settlements". The $1.035 billion sum is, however, less than AerCap's claimed losses of over $2 billion had it been able to recover under its all risks policy. Butcher said in his ruling that Dublin-based AerCap had received just over $1.3 billion from six settlements between August and December 2023 with lessees and a Russian insurance company. AerCap, Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE), Merx Aviation, KDAC Aviation Finance, Falcon and Genesis had led the claims against a string of insurers, including AIG, Lloyd's, Chubb and Swiss Re. KDAC settled all its claims during the trial, Butcher said in his ruling, while AerCap, DAE and other lessors have periodically disclosed partial settlements.
