About Us - Why do we exist

Julianne Kramer, Operations Manager and Chief Flying Instructor

Unusually among our leading lights, Julianne Kramer was born and raised in Queenstown, her father being one of the club's founding members. Even though she flew with him and loved flying, Julianne didn't head straight into aviation but qualified first as a motor mechanic. Julianne started her training at the Wakatipu Aero Club and completed it at the Otago Aero Club in Dunedin, where she'd moved for work. For a decade she pursued her passion in a single seat experimental aircraft, the Pazmany PL4, logging approximately an hour a week during that time. Back in Queenstown in the early nineties, Julianne obtained her CPL and instructor rating and worked part-time for various flightseeing operators. She also did glider towing and parachute drops. Julianne later worked full-time for Air Fiordland, working her way up to chief pilot. In 2006 she came back to the club as ops manager and then CFI. Julianne is always looking for new challenges and recently got her PPL(H). When asked what other interests she has, Julianne says: "Flying. What else is there in life?"

Alex Turnbull, Instructor, Vice President and Treasurer

Originally from Morpeth in northern England, Alex has been living in Queenstown for over four years. His early ambition was to fly with the RAF and he started flying with the Air Training Corps. He was fortunate to win a scholarship which paid for the first 20 hours towards a PPL. However he didn't obtain his licence in Britain, instead studying at university for a degree in aeronautical engineering. The war in Iraq was a factor in changing Alex's mind about the RAF, and he decided the multi-faceted world of general aviation was more appealing. He also decided that Britain didn't offer the opportunities he was seeking, and eventually decided New Zealand was the best option. Alex obtained his PPL and CPL at the Wakatipu Aero Club in 2008, and his C category instructor rating the following year. It's frequently said that the first flying job is the hardest to obtain, and Alex believes one of the great advantages of the club is the employment opportunities it offers its CPL graduates. 

Hayden Leech, Instructor 

Hayden Leech, who was born and raised in Auckland, describes himself as a relative latecomer to aviation.  He first became interested in a flying career as a 15-year-old, when his father started training for a private pilot's licence.

Hayden began his own part-time training at Ardmore Flying School in January 2006 while he was still a high school student.  After gaining his PPL he studied full-time to become a commercial pilot.  He also holds a C-cat instructor rating and an instrument rating. So far Hayden believes he's had a "reasonably relaxed flying career" but he's expecting and looking forward to more challenges in Queenstown's environment.  That, and the fact that it's a great place to live, is why he moved here.

Like many pilots, Hayden says his first solo was one of his most memorable flights.  In his case it was because his parents were alerted to the fact that it would be happening before he himself was told.  They were there to witness and record the event, and Hayden was relieved that it went off without a hitch.

Sue Meester, Flight Co-ordinator

Sue is originally from Canterbury. For almost all of the 12 years that she's lived in Queenstown, she's worked at the airport and probably knows the local flightseeing business as well as anybody. It's not clear how she became involved; she says she "just fell into it." In October 2009 Sue came to the club to fulfil an administrative role which had been shared by some of our commercial pilots. She's gradually taking some of the accounting burden off Alex's shoulders, and is now the first point of contact for people who inquire about flying training and scenic flghts. Sue says that in her spare time she's an obsessive gardener. Incidentally her surname is Dutch, so if you want to impress her pronounce it the Dutch way -- MAYster.