Our People

Kim Hollows, Owner/Pilot

Kim has 25 years experience in the helicopter industry with over 15000 hours of flight time – 11,000 in MD500 series helicopters. Kim has flown throughout New Zealand, but has spent the majority of his air time in the lower South Island and Fiordland.  A former Alpine Helicopter pilot, specializing in wild animal operations, he went on to form his own company in 1986 – K.E. Hollows Ltd. This company is today known as Fiordland Helicopters.

Jonathan Larrivee, Chief Pilot

Jonathan has been flying helicopters for 16 years, accumulating over 10,000 hours of flight time – 7000 of which are in MD 500 series helicopters. Over half of his experience has been in wild animal capture and recovery, the remainder supporting commercial fishing boats, mineral exploration, seismic and survey operations. He spent a number of years flying overseas, mainly in Alaska.  In his 6th year as chief pilot of Fiordland Helicopters, he thinks a better job would be hard to find!

Suzanne Smith, Accounting/Administration Manager

Sue has been efficiently managing the accounts at Fiordland Helicopters for 17 years.  She has watched the company grow considerably over that time.  Sue works from her office in the Fiordland Cinema- home of our film of Fiordland”Ata Whenua- Shadowlands” and happily lends a hand behind the counter when needed.

Alannah Schlaadt, Fiordland Cinema Manager

Alannah started at the cinema as a projectionist and has grown in her role, becoming the Manager in March 2010.  Alannah and the team at Fiordland Cinema  are proud to bring Ata Whenua alive on the big screen.

Suzanne and Alannah are the good looking ones in many of the website photos…sorry Jonathan!

Jill Mitchell-Larrivee,  Flight Co-ordinator

Jill is easily recognised in the Fiordland Helicopters team by the phone she has attached to her ear!  She co-ordinates flights by phone, email and radio from home, the cinema and the hangar.  Jill is a helicopter pilot too, but with 2 of the most experienced MD500 pilots in New Zealand at hand she is more than happy booking their jobs and leaving them to it.  ”The pair of them are so good at what they do it’s a breeze”.