About Me

I am Elton Haakma

Born in 1974 into a dairy farming family, I grew up in the Thames Valley. My father gained his fixed-wing private pilot licence in the 1980s and bought his first gyrocopter in 2003, which sparked my own interest in flying gyros.

My aviation journey began in the late 1990s, gaining commercial pilot licences and instructor ratings in both helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft. This was followed by multi-engine IFR ratings in the Piper Seneca and the Sikorsky S-76A helicopter.

Over the years, this training led to a wide range of roles, including work in the helicopter agricultural sector, scenic flights in the M*A*S*H Bell 47 around Tauranga, and positions in air traffic control towers across the North Island. Other experience includes operating the S-76A rescue helicopter in Northland and flying the JetRanger to White Island and throughout the Bay of Plenty.

Instructional and leadership roles have included flight instructor, ground school manager, and base manager across helicopter, gyrocopter, and fixed-wing flight schools.

Flight experience includes over 3,000 hours across aeroplanes, helicopters, and gyrocopters, with more than 2,000 hours in gyros alone, along with over 20 aircraft type ratings.

An appointment as an Authorised Testing Officer (ATO) with the Recreational Aircraft Association of New Zealand (RAANZ) reflects an additional level of responsibility, including the ability to conduct advanced training such as instructor ratings.