The Ravensdown Aerowork team, of which former Ashburton man, Ben Robinson, is a pilot, have been working around the clock to fight the Port Hills fires Photos Wayne WilliamsAn Ashburton mother has spoken of the fear watching her son flying headfirst into billowing smoke to fight the devastating fires on Christchurch’s Port Hills.

Sue Robinson’s son, Ben, a former Ashburton College student, has been operating one of only a few fixed wing planes distributing retardant.

Now living in Loburn, he usually does top dressing distribution for Ravensdown Aerowork.

He was also friends with Steve Askin, the pilot tragically killed in a helicopter crash while he was fighting the fires, on Tuesday.

Robinson’s mother told the Ashburton Guardian she had struggled to make contact with him as he had been working long hours and
well into the evening.

“They flew until they couldn’t see anymore,” she said.

“They’ve been doing a pretty amazing job and the fixed wing planes aren’t getting much coverage.

“I’ve been watching them disappearing into the smoke; they’re very, very dedicated.”

She said Ben, 40, was working with a colleague who has come down from Masterton to help.

He was also on hand to fly in relief supplies after the Kaikoura earthquakes.

Robinson said Ben had to be at the airfield at 6.30am on Wednesday, got in the air by 8.30am and got home late into the evening.

She hoped he would be able to take a break to attend her birthday at the weekend.

By Megan Gnad © The Ashburton Guardian - 17 February 2017