Flight Training Schools in New Zealand

Eagle Flight Training School in one of the best pilot training schools in New Zealand. Photo courtesy of Eagle Flight Training/FB

New Zealand is one of the top destination for students who want to pursue a career in flying and become pilots. Many international students who do pilot training in New Zealand Flight Training Schools join some of the worlds top airlines as pilots, aircraft engineers and flight instructors. 

The weather in New Zealand is ideal for pilot training as the days are clear and  sunny days for months.  Pilot  training can take advantage of the cooler seasons to get practical experience flying in cloud  conditions, sometimes even within icing conditions.

Training in New Zealand is cost effective. This reduced cost in building flight hours and training can be a real advantage to Pilots from European & Asian countries. Here cadets are trained from day 1 of flying right through to their first Airliner Simulator Training Flight.

New Zealand’s geographical setting and varying meteorological condition aids pilot airmanship in training students to be world class pilots.

So if you are going to New Zealand for pilot training,  one of the following would be your target. The course programs offered in New Zealand Flight Training are : 

• Private Pilot Licence (PPL)
• ​Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL)
• ​Instrument Rating (IR)
• ​Instructor Rating (C Cat)
• ​Frozen ATPL
• ​Aircraft Engineering 
• Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL)

 

• Multi-crew Coordination (MCC) Training

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• Private Pilot Licence (PPL)

Most pilot training begins with getting a private pilot license This is like getting your first motor vehicle licence. A PPL holder can act as a Pilot-in-Command but cannot work for a salary/remuneration. 
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• Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL)

After completing your private pilot licence training , you may want to go further and obtain a commercial pilot licence.  With a Commercial Pilot Licence  CPL, you will be able to work for a salary, hire or reward. 

• Instrument Rating (IR)

The Instrument Rating is when you operate/navigate the aircraft solely by looking at the instruments onboard the aircraft and radio signals from the ground. This program is mandatory for students wanting a career as an airline pilot. The instrument rating gained on a single engine aircraft is known as SEIR and instrument rating gained on a Multi-Engine aircraft (an aircraft with more than one engine) is known as MEIR.  This rating can be obtained while training for the commercial pilot licence. 

• Instructor Rating (C Cat)

This program is for students who hold a Commercial Pilot Licence with 150 hours of Pilot-in-command time and would like to pass on their skills and knowledge they have gained to other student-pilots. This is similar to a Teachers’ Training Program. 

• Frozen ATPL

Most airlines these days prefer to take pilots with Frozen ATPL as this would allow them to start Command training once they meet the required hours on the type of aircraft. This program will ensure that you gain the extra knowledge to upgrade from First Officer to a Captain and includes.

Flight Training Schools in New Zealand 

Here are top Flight Training Schools in New Zealand. 

• The Eagle Flight Training School
• Air Hawkes Bay Limited
• Nelson's Aviation College
• International Aviation Academy of New Zealand
• Massey University Aviation School 
• Canterbury Aero Club
• ThePilot
• Ace Aviation
• Air New Plymouth
• Ardmore Flying School
• Mainland Aviation College
• Middle Earth Flying School
• Southern Air Services ltd
• Southern Wings
• Wakatipu Aero Club
• Wanaka Helicopter Training School 

Entry requirement for pilot training in New zealand

The entry requirements for pilot training/flight training in New Zealand varies from school to school but in most cases are similar.  Below is mostly required and you must prepare for it before you apply. 

• Student need to have completed 18 years on the start date of the program
• Class 2 medicals – ‘FIT’ for PPL or Class 1 medical ‘FIT’ for CPL of CAA NZ (Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand)
• Highest educational certificate from their home country
• IELTS or equivalent English test acceptable to Immigration NZ for Level 5 program

Flight Instructor Training - New Zealand
Flight instructors in New Zealand must have a Category A, B, C, D or E flight instructor rating.

The Category E rating is specifically for conducting agricultural (top dressing, etc.) flying instruction. Category D flight instructor may conduct type ratings for any aircraft for which they hold a type rating. Category C flight instructors cannot send students on their first solo, and must operate under the supervision of a Category A or B flight instructor.

Contacts for the Schools.
You can follow the links on the flight school names stated above to get more information and the application processes on their websites.