Dunedin ingenuity has helped American pilots beat the world helicopter speed record by almost six days.
Dunedin-based TracPlus Global provided the ground-breaking GPS tracking service which helped the two pilots land safely in New York early yesterday.
"This is an amazing achievement, and shows what can be achieved with the right aircraft, the right flight crew and the right technology," TracPlus Global chief executive Chris Hinch said in a statement.
Scott Kasprowicz and Steve Sheik left New York more than a week ago in their unmodified Agusta Westland Grand helicopter.
Their route saw them fly more than 23,000 nautical miles (42,596km) around the world, with 78 fuel stops in 18 countries.
At 2.14am (NZ time) yesterday, the pair landed at La Guardia airport.
They had set an unofficial world record of 11 days, seven hours and three minutes, the company statement said.
That beat the previous record, set in 1996, by more than five days and 23 hours.
The company tracked the twin-engine executive helicopter around the world in real time.
Highly accurate position reports were transmitted from the helicopter every minute and delivered to the command centre in Atlanta, Georgia.
The pilots also used a new global messaging system provided by the company.
Mr Hinch said the achievement had exceeded expectations.
"We are immensely proud to have played an important role in this effort, and to have helped Scott and Steve make aviation history."
