Bob Peed and Anthony Martinez started C
&
amp; M Helicopters four years ago.
Peed got into the business initially because he loves to fly
helicopters.
Bob Peed and Anthony Martinez started C & M Helicopters four years ago.
Peed got into the business initially because he loves to fly helicopters.
“After college, I got into farming a little. We had almond orchards, so farming and flying seemed to go together.”
Anthony, a former chef at the Tres Pinos Inn, says he fell into his new career and hasn’t looked back.
“Two skills I’ve brought to the new business are mixing and measuring,” he said with a laugh.
Located at the Hollister Airport, C & M Helicopters is well known for providing quality aerial application to local farmers. Peed and Martinez had worked in the industry with the previous owner.
Aerial application uses a helicopter or airplane to spray fields with organic or conventional weed, insect and disease controls, as well as seeding services. Helicopters can get into much smaller areas.
“When the farmers can’t get in by land, they call us,” Peed said. “Helicopters are used for fields under 50 acres.”
Peed is the pilot and Martinez is the ground support. The orders come in from the chemical companies working with the farmers, usually the night before. The request will include what chemicals are needed for the job. The next day Martinez heads out to the job with his truck, which is supplied with water and the chemicals or seeds needed. Peed flies in and lands behind the truck. The chemicals are mixed to order and loaded onto the helicopter through a secure connection. The industry is high tech: They use a global positioning system for navigation and computer sensors to regulate flow by opening the valve accordingly. Often, they have two trucks in service and Peed leapfrogs from one job to the next during the day.
“This is a very specialized industry,” Peed said. “We are regulated by the federal, state and county governments and licensed by the state. We attend training every year.”
Their personnel have to be highly trained and qualified.
“This is a dangerous business; it’s hard to find good people. Flying a helicopter is 10 times harder than flying a plane. Add on the delivery system and you have to learn to fly it all over again,” Peed said.
The aerial application industry is close knit. The local companies know each other well and have specific territories they operate in.
“Around 9-11 we had a few visits from the FBI. They were wondering how easy it would be to deliver biochemical agents using aerial application. They were quite relieved to know we were such a specialized industry where we know each other, not an easy group to infiltrate,” Peed said.
What future plans do Peed and Martinez have for C & M Helicopters Inc.?
“We plan to be around for the next 20 years taking care of the farmers’ needs in the area,” Peed said.
C & M Helicopters Inc. is located at the Hollister Airport, 230 Skylane Drive. For more information, call 637-3280.
