Chopper Pilot Mourned

New Jersey-based pilot Aucklander Jeremy Clarke, 32, died after the tour helicopter he was flying crashed in a mid-air collision over the Hudson River. Clarke was a certified commercial helicopter pilot an flight instructor, and had worked for two companies, including Los Angeles Helicopters, before he was hired by Liberty Helicopters in February 2008. He had more than 2,700 hours of experience flying helicopters, including about 900 hours with Liberty, the National Transportation Safety Board said. Clarke grew up on Auckland’s North Shore, attending Rosmini College, but had lived in the US for several years. He had begun a flying career in 2004. Liberty Helicopters said Clarke was a “skilled, professional instrument-rated commercial pilot with more than 3100 total hours flying helicopters”. A colleague of Clarke’s told The New York Post the New Zealander was the nicest guy he had met. “Every time I heard his voice come on the radio, I would just feel good, no matter what happened earlier that day. He had that kind of effect on people.”