Richard Hayes (pilot)

Sir Richard John Hayes KNZM is a New Zealand helicopter pilot. With over 30,000 flying hours, he is among New Zealand's most experienced pilots. He is the CEO of Southern Lakes Helicopters, a helicopter transport provider based in Fiordland.[1]

Although primarily a helicopter tour guide, Hayes is known for his search-and-rescue feats. He has participated in numerous emergency flights, including searching for survivors during the sinking of Kotuku in the Foveaux Strait and assisting with the 2013 search of a crashed plane on the slopes of Mount Elizabeth in Antarctica.[2] In 2007 he received the Federation Aeronautique Internationale Diploma for Outstanding Airmanship. In 2008, he famously saved his company's flagship helicopter, averting a disastrous crash by landing it "like a fixed-wing aircraft" at 80 knots of ground speed.[3]

In 2001, he was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit.[2] In the 2014 Queen's Birthday Honours, he was promoted to Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to Search and Rescue and the community.[4]

References

  1. ↑ "Rescue pilot 'Hannibal' Hayes among new knights and dames". Television New Zealand. 2 June 2014.
  2. 1 2 "Queen's Birthday Honours: Sir Richard Hayes". New Zealand Herald. 2 June 2014.
  3. ↑ "Pilot's 'exceptional flying' saves $540,000 helicopter". New Zealand Herald. 18 February 2008.
  4. ↑ "Queen's Birthday honours list 2014". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 2 June 2014. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
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