Richard Hayes (pilot)

Sir Richard John Hayes KNZM (born 1951 or 1952)[1] 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.[2]

Hayes in 2007

Hayes grew up in the South Otago town of Milton, but has spent much of his adult life in Te Anau, at the edge of Fiordland National Park. His brother, Juno Hayes, has been prominent in local politics, and was mayor of Clutha District Council for 12 years, receiving an ONZM in the 2014 Queen's Birthday Honours — the same list in which Richard was knighted. Richard's nickname, "Hannibal", comes from the name of a character in 1970s television series Alias Smith and Jones.

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.[3] 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.[4]

In the 2001 New Year Honours, Hayes was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to search and rescue operations.[3][5] 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.[6]

In 2019 Hayes led a rescue effort to find the survivors of a helicopter that crashed into the ocean near the Auckland Islands.[7] The three passengers all survived the crash, and were found one day later with only minor injuries.[8][9]

References
  1. McDonald, Christina (4 June 2014). "Knighthood out of the blue". Otago Daily Times. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
  2. "Rescue pilot 'Hannibal' Hayes among new knights and dames". Television New Zealand. 2 June 2014.
  3. "Queen's Birthday Honours: Sir Richard Hayes". New Zealand Herald. 2 June 2014.
  4. "Pilot's 'exceptional flying' saves $540,000 helicopter". New Zealand Herald. 18 February 2008.
  5. "New Year honours list 2001". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 30 December 2000. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  6. "Queen's Birthday honours list 2014". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 2 June 2014. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
  7. "Auckland Islands helicopter trio found alive after wreckage found in Southern Ocean". Stuff. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
  8. "Auckland Islands helicopter crash: Survivors reveal sheer panic, then night on island". 26 April 2019. ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
  9. "Auckland Islands helicopter pilot recalls violent crash". Stuff. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
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