Nicole Battjes is the driving force behind Rainbow Helicopters. Her contagious enthusiasm and professionalism inspires her staff and defines the generous spirit and high-quality, personalized service that Rainbow Helicopters is known for. Nicole is recognized within the Hawaiian aviation community for her skills both as a businesswoman and as an expert pilot commercially licensed to fly helicopters and airplanes.

Nicole founded Rainbow Helicopters with the vision of sharing her passion for the Hawaiian Islands by air. Her guests consistently rave about their flights with Nicole—a transformative experience where they gain a greater appreciation of Hawaii while learning about the ecology and history of the Islands. Her ability to make people feel safe and comfortable while flying is a testament to her trusted name.

Previously, Nicole was the primary pilot for a Japanese tour company on Oahu. During this time she flew hundreds of hours on Oahu and managed all the operations as well as maintenance on their fleet of aircraft including a helicopter and two airplanes. She gained a well-deserved reputation in the local travel industry for her ability to provide excellent service to an international clientele flying both helicopter and airplane tours of the island.

Before that, Nicole was responsible for the rapid growth of an exclusive helicopter charter service in the Bay Area, including the supervision of the company’s Part 135 certification. She created a highly customized charter service that was well received by vineyard owners, top-ranked chefs and estate owners in the famous Sonoma and Napa Valleys. Nicole extended clientele by partnering with luxury spas, resorts, and vineyards to develop new landing areas at these venues.

Nicole’s love of flying began with the adventure of long commercial flights during childhood visits to family and friends around the world. She began training as a pilot at age 16 and went on to create her own Bachelor of Science Degree in Business, Aviation, and Communications at Eastern Michigan University.