Glenorchy Air

Glenorchy Air is a scenic flight and air charter company based at Queenstown Airport, New Zealand. The company was founded by Janet and Robert Rutherford in 1992, with just one aeroplane, a Cessna 185.[2] With the expansion of the business, a second aircraft, a Piper PA-32-300 Cherokee Six, was purchased in 1996. The Cessna 185 was sold in 2003 when it was replaced by a new Gippsland GA8 Airvan. The company took delivery of a second Airvan in 2013[3] and added two more before the business was sold in 2019.

Glenorchy Air
IATA ICAO Callsign
– – –
Founded1992
AOC #AOC 38167
HubsQueenstown, New Zealand
Secondary hubsGlenorchy
Focus citiesMilford Sound, Mount Cook, Stewart Island
AllianceMount Cook Skiplanes and Helicopters, Southern Discoveries, Glacier Explorers
Fleet size4
DestinationsMilford Sound, Mount Cook, Mt Aspiring, Glentanner, Fox Glacier, Stewart Island
Parent companyStokes Aviation
HeadquartersQueenstown Airport, Queenstown, New Zealand.
Key peopleJames Stokes (Training Manager/Managing Director)[1]
Websitehttp://www.glenorchyair.co.nz

The business was purchased in July 2019 by its training manager, James Stokes, and remains family-owned and operated.[4] In August 2019. James and parent company Stokes Aviation began a Fleet upgrade program beginning with a refurbishment of two GA8 Airvans. Glenorchy Air announced in August that a new Cessna 206 would join its fleet, expanding its flight options to Mount Cook and other destinations.[5] The 206 replaced an aging Cessna 172 . In December 2019 Glenorchy Air announced the addition of a brand new Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX to its fleet. After a long delay due to the COVID-19 delaying the ferry flight, This aircraft arrived in Queenstown November 2020.[6] . A second Cessna 208B EX arrived in March 2022 and entered service in April. In July 2023, Glenorchy Air announced that it had acquired a Daher Kodiak 100 which is due to enter service in October.

Glenorchy Air is Qualmark Gold Certified by Tourism NZ.[7] The Company Slogan is 'Discover Milford Sound And Beyond'

Services

Glenorchy Air operates scenic flights between Queenstown and Milford Sound[8] as well as several activity options at Mount Cook Village, and glacier flights. Flights operate from Queenstown or from Glenorchy on demand. Charter flights are also available to anywhere in New Zealand.[9] Day trips from Queenstown to Stewart Island started in November 2020.[10]

Glenorchy Air Gippsland Aeronautics GA 8 Airvan on the ground at Milford Airfield

Lord of the Rings involvement

Glenorchy Air became involved in the making of The Lord of the Rings film trilogy in 1999 when it transported members of the cast, crew and equipment around the southern half of the South Island of New Zealand. This included flying producer Barrie Osbourne on reconnaissance trips to Paradise, Poolburn and Ben Ohau.[11][12]

Fuel efficiency research

In 2010 Glenorchy Air was one of eight companies that took part in research to determine optimum fuel efficiency. The research was of the New Zealand Tourism Energy Efficiency Programme, which was a partnership between the Tourism Industry Association and the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority.

Glenorchy Air installed technology which showed how much fuel its aircraft were burning on a litres-per-hour basis. It also installed GPS technology to inform pilots of their ground speed. This enabled them to determine the optimum altitude for fuel savings.[13]

Fleet

The Glenorchy Air fleet currently consists of the following aircraft:[14]

Aircraft Number
Gippsland GA8 1
Cessna 206 1
Cessna 208B 2
Daher Kodiak 100 1

Glenorchy Air has operated many types of aircraft in the past including Cessna 172, Cessna 177, Piper PA-32-300 and Cessna 185.

See also

References
  1. Fairfax NZ News (5 June 2008). "Airport readies for night flights". Southland Times. Retrieved 29 December 2012.
  2. "Our Story". Glenorchy Air. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  3. "Flight company receives 2nd GA8 Airvan". Otago Daily Times. 13 August 2013. Retrieved 6 December 2013.
  4. "Our Story".
  5. "A new addition to our fleet". 14 November 2019.
  6. "Our Fleet".
  7. kirstinstokes (9 November 2022). "We've just been awarded Qualmark Gold - Tourism New Zealand's official mark of quality". Glenorchy Air. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
  8. Dodgshun, Joe (24 January 2012). "Off to Milford Sound for a paddle". Otago Daily Times. Retrieved 29 December 2012.
  9. "Heavy snow strands tourists – Glenorchy Air to the rescue". Southland Times. 15 July 2006. Archived from the original on 9 November 2014. Retrieved 29 December 2012.
  10. "Stewart Island Fly Explore Fly".
  11. BROOKE, JAMES (22 December 2002). "A Long Journey Rewarded". New York Times. Retrieved 29 December 2012.
  12. The Frodo Franchise, Kirstin Thompson (2007), Penguin Books, pp285-286 and p288.
  13. Tourist airlines polish up on fuel efficiency, Shane Cowlishaw, Southland Times, 26 March 2010
  14. "Glenorchy Air Fleet". Retrieved 9 November 2020.
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