Over The Top’s flying experience in the South Island dates back to 1976. This span of over forty years has given our crew an intimate knowledge of the special places and unique people within the region as well as an ingrained respect for the local weather and mountainous terrain.
Over The Top's Pilots and Crew are not only experts in their field, they are trained as Ambassadors of New Zealand to ensure you receive an excursion with the best of hospitality and local commentary.
Safety Officer and Deputy Chief Pilot
Senior Helicopter Pilot & Examiner
Senior Helicopter Pilot
Helicopter Pilot
Helicopter Pilot
Greeting Officer
CFO & Safety Manager
Marketing & Operations Manager
Safety & Administration
Assistant Operations Controller
Your ability to put the nervous flyers amongst us at ease, coupled with your knowledge of the area and the interesting sites you introduced us to is a testament to your ability as a pilot and a tourism provider in Queenstown.
Sir John Key
former New Zealand Prime Minister
This was the most amazing thing we have ever done! Walked in off the street and they went out of their way to arrange a flight for us. Remarkable place, remarkable people and the most incredible spacious top of the range helicopters. Highlight of our...
NZ Pen
Helicopter ride to the edge of infinity
We had a fantastic trip with Dan over the Alps, into Milford sound, landed on a glacier, and then home to Queenstown. I have wanted to do this trip for at least 25 years, but it has just never happened, till now. so exciting, and well worth the...
Alison H
Another great experience off the Bucket List
Louisa Patterson
Chief Pilot, Standards Pilot and CEO
"Choppy"
A pioneer of the air tourism industry,
Louisa has been flying for over 40 years in New Zealand and around the world.
During this time she has held roles throughout the industry from agricultural flying through to flying for the airlines.
Louisa formed Over The Top in 1986, utilising helicopters to showcase New Zealand’s natural beauty to her guests.
To visit areas seldom frequented by man. The mandate "Your itinerary is limited only by your imagination"
She has over 12,000 hours flying experience and holds the Helicopter Association International (HAI) Pilot Safety Award and a New Zealand Helicopter Association (NZHA) Diamond Safety Award for more than 30 years and over 10,000 hours of continued safe flying.
Louisa holds the roles of Chief Pilot, Standards Pilot and CEO of the company.
Her current passion is developing an Aviation Safety Device - The Eye In The Sky - a Cockpit Video Recorder, designed to enhance aviation safety.
Brad Collier
Safety Officer and Deputy Chief Pilot
Brad started out flying aeroplanes in 2003 and converted to helicopters in 2005.
He has flown extensively around the tropical western pacific and throughout New Zealand and has been flying for Over The Top since 2011.
This experience ensures that you will receive the utmost in safety coupled with extensive knowledge of our area.
Brad has accumulated over 4800 hours on helicopters, holds a B Category instructor rating and a New Zealand Helicopter Association (NZHA) Silver Safety Award for over 10 years continued safe flying.
Brad holds the roles of Safety Officer and Deputy Chief Pilot for Over The Top.
James Forward
Senior Helicopter Pilot & Examiner
James started his aviation career in 2002 flying fixed wing before moving on to helicopters shortly after.
He has flown in South East Asia, Canada, Australia and New Zealand in various roles. James has also worked as an Air Traffic Controller.
James has been flying for Over The Top since 2013 and has over 4200 hours on helicopters.
His knowledge of the area and attention to safety will ensure your experience is unsurpassed.
James is a B category instructor and our company in house Flight Examiner.
James has been awarded a Gold Safety Award from the New Zealand Helicopter Association (NZHA) for over 15 years continued safe flying.
Dan Harrison
Senior Helicopter Pilot
Dan started flying helicopters in 2006.
Since then he has worked in Canada and throughout the South Island of New Zealand on varied roles.
Dan has been flying for Over The Top since 2012 and has over 3700 hours experience in helicopters. Dan is a B Category instructor.
Dan enjoys the outdoors and as such will not only provide you with a safe and knowledgeable experience but will also have fun stories to tell of hunting and jet boating.
Dan has been awarded a Silver Safety Award from the New Zealand Helicopter Association (NZHA) for over 10 years continued safe flying.
Ryan Hay
Helicopter Pilot
Ryan started flying helicopters in 2013
Since then he has flown helicopters not only in our South Island but overseas in Fiji and Vanuatu.
A Canterbury (region north of Christchurch) boy, Ryan has a great knowledge of New Zealand and isa true Over The Top ambassador - your perfect host.
Ryan started with Over The Top in 2018 and has over 2100 hours experience in helicopters. Ryan holds a B Cat Instructor rating.
Ryan has been awarded a Bronze Safety Award from the New Zealand Helicopter Association (NZHA) for over 5 years continued safe flying.
Brad Comrie
Helicopter Pilot
Brad started his flying career in 2003.
Brad has flown in New Zealand, Australia and also around the world.
Brad is Over The Top's marine pilot, based on a private Super Yacht and flying the boats helicopter into many exotic countries.
Should you be lucky enough to fly with our nautical Brad in the times he flies in Queenstown you will be treated to some fabulous adventure stories.
Brad has been working for Over The Top since 2011 and has accumulated over 4000 hours in helicopters.
Brad is the recipient of a New Zealand Helicopter Association (NZHA) Silver Safety Award for over 10 years continued safe flying.
Honeyboy
Greeting Officer
Unlike everybody else on the team, our office dogs Coco and Honeyboy have little experience in aviation, nor do they have any achievements or accolades to suggest they do.
Coco recently left us for doggie heaven but not before passing over the Greeting Officer duties to her understudy Honey Boy.
Honey loves to fly to our High Country Station and when not in the air works tirelessly at entertaining our guests.
Ask him to "fetch" but be prepared - he will not give up.
Wayne Matheson
CFO & Safety Manager
Wayne is our CFO and Safety Manager.
He is also a licensed helicopter and aeroplane pilot with awards for sport aviation and has a passion for exotic motorcars.
Wayne started with Over The Top in 2005 and in April 2020 will receive his "gold watch" for services to Over The Top.
He is dedicated to ensuring Over The Top runs on all 12 cylinders.
Please don't hesitate to contact Wayne if you have any questions on accounting or Safety matters.
Pedro Martinez
Marketing & Operations Manager
Our resident Englishman Pedro started with Over The Top in 2013.
Working his way up from hangar rat and client delivery service through to his current role as Operations and Marketing Manager.
He knows the ins and outs of every aspect within our company.
With his desire to be the best of the best and his inability to stay still he has now set his sights on becoming a commercial helicopter pilot.
In his position of marketing and with his thorough knowledge of operations he has the perfect ability to plan and design the unique and personalised packages we are famous for.
Katie Hogg
Administration & Operations
Mission Controller
Katie has been with Over The Top since July 2017.
She is the first smiling face you'll see when you walk through our front door and is responsible for our daily operations. With her background in hospitality and her lifelong knowledge of Queenstown she can assist with anything from special requests to recommendations of 'must do's in our local area.
While she is busy flying the front desk there is nothing more that she loves than to see ecstatic faces and to hear how much fun our clients have had when they return from their exciting adventures through Fiordland.
Katie is also our social media guru and will gladly accept any photos you may wish to share.
Jaime-Lee Fleming
Safety & Administration
Jaime has extensive experience in the aviation world with a strong interest in Safety Management Systems.
She was instrumental in assisting Over The Top to become CAA Safety Management Part 100 accredited in October 2019.
Jaime (as we all do) delights in enhancing Safety so please do not hesitate to contact her with any observations or suggestions.
Jaime also assists our CFO in making sure your invoices are received and paid in time.
Rachel Penfold
Assistant Operations Controller
Rachel started with us in 2019 and after 8 years serving as a Constable with the New Zealand police force she found she was looking for a career change.
Coming in as our assistant to operations she now has all the excitement she desires.
Her love of the outdoors and mountain biking has brought her to Queenstown and she is now pursuing her dream of paragliding through our beautiful southern mountains.
Olly Wills
Ground Crew & Administration
Hangar Rat
Olly is a Queenstown local, attending Arrowtown primary school with Louisa's son James.
Olly has been with Over The Top since March 2018.
His crew duties include transporting our guests to / from our departure lounge.
Olly is also responsible for keeping the helicopters and the hangar immaculate.
With a passion for fine motor cars and track racing it was an obvious evolvement when he recently started his helicopter pilots licence.
Theo Darling
Ground Crew & Operations
Hangar Mouse
Theo started with Over The Top in 2019.
You are likely to meet him either picking you up in our courtesy vehicle or (behind the controls??) sitting in the co-pilot seat of one of our dual pilot helicopters.
He has a Diploma of Aviation and a Commercial Helicopter Pilots License.
While he grew up on the east coast his heart lies here in central and on the west coast.
With a love for hunting and photography he finds himself truly at home here in Queenstown.
Theo is also responsible for the day to day helicopter ground operations and hangar duties.
