Kestrel Aviation was established in 1985 by Ray Cronin the Managing Director and Chief Flying Instructor for the company. Motivated by the lack of dedicated helicopter flying schools in Australia, Ray identified a need for a specialist helicopter training school and Kestrel was established at Moorabbin Airport. Kestrel was named after the small hawk called the 'Kestrel' which is one of the few birds that can both hover and fly.