Our Bases
With five bases spread across Canterbury, Otago, and Southland, we’re proud to be part of the communities we serve. Our local teams know the land, the weather, and the people - giving you dependable service backed by local experience.
meet Our Team
Des Neill
Based in Taieri, Des is a born-and-raised Otago bloke with a genuine ‘handshake is his word’ business ethic.
Working on the family farm from a young age, Des has stayed in this line of work over the years, spending time farming when he’s not topdressing. Des decided to encapsulate his passion for flying, founding Otago Airspread in 2000.
When he’s not in the air, Des prioritises his precious spare time with his wife (and business co-founder) Elaine and their two children, Ashleigh and Ryan.
Des is able to meet with clients all across the lower South Island. Simply drop him a line and learn how he can make it to your place today.
Phone: 027 227 2441
Email: topspread@xtra.co.nz
ryan neill
With farming and flying in his blood, Ryan graduated from Lincoln University in 2019 with a Bachelor of Agriculture and gained his commercial pilot’s license in 2020. Ryan joined the Otago Airspread team in 2021 and has been privileged to be surrounded by such a wealth of experience and support.
Ryan and his wife Tash ventured to Australia in 2023, where Ryan spent 18 months topdressing in the NSW outback, learning and cementing his skill set. The pair moved to Gore at the end of 2024 to take over the newly acquired Gore base.
His other interests include playing and watching rugby, farming, and spending time with his young family.
Phone: 027 589 0553
Email: otago.airspread@gmail.com
james allan
Our man in Balclutha, James has been farming and working in the agricultural sector all his life.
A South Otago local, James learned to fly in 2004, before picking up topdressing a few years later in 2007.
Now with over 9,000 hours logged in the air, James has been flying for us since 2009.
He is married to wife Laura, with three children.
Phone: 027 292 8259
jeff bishop
Jeff Bishop is our Roxburgh-based pilot.
Beginning topdressing back in 1992, Jeff is vastly experienced with all aspects of the job and was welcomed aboard as part of the Otago Airspread team in 2003.
Jeff lives in Roxburgh with his wife, Nicola.
Phone: 027 446 6233
Jonathan Shortus
Originally from Waimate, Jonathan has been an agricultural pilot since 1998, with 27 years of flying experience across both New Zealand and Australia. Dedicated to the rural sector, he has built his career on precision, safety, and a strong commitment to supporting farming communities. A family man, Jonathan is married to Lorraine and together they have two daughters currently at Lincoln University, both aspiring to work in the agricultural sector.
Phone: 027 457 0771
Loader Drivers
Our experienced team of loader drivers - Mark, Rupert, Morgan, Warren, and Colin - are the driving force behind every successful job. Working closely with our pilots and farmers, they keep operations running safely and efficiently from load-up to lift-off. Their skill, teamwork, and local know-how ensure every job is completed smoothly and on time.
Support Crew
Every flight depends on a great team on the ground. Greg and Bill ensure fuel and loaders are in the right places when required, keeping operations running smoothly and safely. In the office, Liz manages administration and client coordination, making sure everything stays on track.
Bill O’Connor
Phone: 027 294 9863
Greg Bayliss
Phone: 027 657 0000