How James' story became a mission - and how that mission is being built to last.
"James was a young man that made the most out of life and lived it to its fullest - talented, well-mannered, and humble."
The James PG Foundation was created in the memory of James Paterson-Gardner, an eighteen-year-old who died tragically in a Robinson R44 helicopter crash in February 2015. The Transport Accident Investigation Commission investigated the accident but was unable to determine a primary cause - noting that a cockpit video recording device may have provided answers.
James' mother, Louisa "Choppy" Patterson - an aviation veteran of over 45 years and chief executive of Over The Top Helicopters in Queenstown - refused to let that finding stand without a response. She developed Eye in the Sky NZ: a CAA and FAA certified cockpit video, audio, and flight data recorder, proudly made in New Zealand. Every device sold sends proceeds directly to this Foundation.
The Foundation encourages and provides opportunities for the youth of New Zealand aged 17-25. One of its core objectives is creating pathways that would not normally exist - placing enterprising young people from or near the aviation industry into opportunities for further education, career development, and a contribution to aviation safety.
The James PG Foundation intends to open many doors for those who show the potential to tackle life with the same attitude and enthusiasm as James.
