About Sounds Air

 Latest News

October 2009

Due to demand we have added an extra two Wellington to Nelson return flights per week on Friday and Sunday afternoons. Each flight leaves Wellington at 3 p.m. and arrives into Nelson at 3:40 p.m. The return flight departs at 4:15 p.m and arrives into Wellington at 4:55 p.m. These extra flights commence on the 27th November 2009. Bookings can be made now via our website at www.soundsair.com or by calling us on 0800 505 005.

September 2009

We now have available a 2000 model Cessna 172 with 180hp engine.  This aircraft is fully IFR equiped and GPS certified, and is the perfect machine for instrument training and IFR endorsments.
It is also available for our strip flying and advanced flight training courses via our associate company Avskills Ltd. Photos to follow.

October 2008

Sounds Air is delighted to announce the purchase of a third Cessna Caravan. ZK-TZR was purchased in October 08 from a private New Zealand operator and has completed only 750 operating hours since new. It is flying all our routes and has been painted in the Sounds Air livery. As an added bonus along with the normal 12 standard seat arrangement it also has a 6 seat luxury leather interior that we can install in a few minutes for the charter market.

TZR pictured at over Cook Strait and with the Luxury Leather Interior

Wellington to Picton

Up to 8 return flights per day between Wellington and Picton. The flight time is just 25 minutes and is the fast, scenic way to cross Cook Strait.

Wellington to Nelson

Our passenger service from Wellington-Nelson operates early morning with returning flights from Nelson to Wellington operating Monday-Saturday morning. We also fly eight afternoon/evening flight and in addition the lunchtime service operates Monday to Friday. Check our timetable online for departure times. The flight time is 40 minutes.

Nelson Passengers Please Note - All Sounds Air Flights depart from the Main Nelson Airport Terminal.

Click Here to See Nelson Airport Map

Wellington to Blenheim

The flight time is just 25 minutes and is the ideal way for Blenheim passengers wanting to arrive in Wellington early. The morning Blenheim flight arrives into Wellington at 7:15 a.m Monday to Saturday and evening flights are now available four nights a week. Check our timetable for flight times.

Company Background

We have been operating for 23 years and have vast experience flying in and around the Marlborough Sounds, Cook Strait and Wellington. The company directors are Cliff Marchant, Steve Handyside and Andrew Crawford. Cliff lives on a remote farm property at Port Gore in the outer Marlborough Sounds. Cliff is a highly experienced pilot and has been flying for 40 years. As well as being a Director of Sounds Air, Cliff is a Boeing 747 Captain for Air New Zealand. Steve's other passion is cranes and his full time job is as a Director of New Zealand Crane Hire in Auckland. Andrew is Sounds Air's Managing Director and divides his time between Wellington, Nelson, Blenheim and Picton.

The Fleet

Sounds Air operates six aircraft

Cessna Caravan

Sounds Air operates three Cessna Caravan's. ZK-PDM, ZK-TZR and ZK-SAA. The Caravan is a late model turbo prop aircraft. It holds 13 passengers and has the capacity to hold large items of luggage, e.g., skis, water ski and surfboards. The Caravan is world renowned as a safe reliable aircraft. It offers a fast and comfortable flight, with full size airline style seating, it is high winged for maximum visibility, and all seats have great views. The Cessna Caravan is operated by instrument flight rules; this means we are able to fly in all weathers.

Cessna Stationair & Cessna Skyhawk

These are six seat (ZK-ENT) and two four seat (ZK-EKE & ZK-SAN) aircraft respectively. They are the ideal plane for flying passengers and loads into the smaller airstrips in the Marlborough Sounds and for scenic flights. All aircraft are high winged for maximum visibility and all seats are window seats.

The Pilots

Our pilots are highly experienced. All our pilots have a minimum 1000 flying hours and are comprehensively trained in operating their aircraft in all weather conditions. It is their desire to make your flight as safe and enjoyable as possible.

Airline Category

Our CAA airline category is PART 125.