Eleanor Cronin

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Eleanor has been involved in the aviation sector for over thirty (30) years, the last twenty of which have been as Kestrel’s Business Manager.  She has helped to develop and grow the business from its initial operations as a helicopter training organisation to the leading aerial firefighting organisation it is today.

As a keen student of the Japanese language, Eleanor embarked on a linguistics career that provided opportunities for Australian companies to develop strong commercial ties with Japanese companies. 

It was through this career path that she joined Kestrel Aviation, promoting the helicopter training services to overseas companies and pilots.  Her keen business acumen saw the foreign trained pilot aspects of the business become a major contributor to aviation connections between Australia and several South-East Asian countries, with over five hundred (500) Japanese based pilots passing through the training school, as well as students from India, South Korea, the Middle East, and Sri Lanka.

Under her business leadership, she has overseen the planning and development of Kestrel’s Mangalore facility and fleet expansion. With a keen understanding of financial instruments, she was pivotal to the expansion of the current fleet of Bell 212 and 412 aircraft under effective funding arrangements. 

As Business Manager, she has provided oversight to the administrative and operational functions of Kestrel, including the development and maintenance of Kestrel’s Management Systems. Eleanor has a keen interest in all aspects of aviation and has flown solo in both aeroplanes and helicopters, but her focus is on Kestrel’s activities from the ground.

She holds the following qualifications – Bachelor of Arts; Diploma of Quality Auditing; and Certificates in Aviation Safety Management Systems, Bookkeeping, Quality Management, and Investment Management.