NZFF

You might want to keep an eye on the AirNZ press releases today... an interesting announcement is scheduled to be made.

HardCorePawn wrote:

QUOTE (HardCorePawn @ May 16 2008, 12:23 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You might want to keep an eye on the AirNZ press releases today... an interesting announcement is scheduled to be made.

Air New Zealand to establish Aviation Academy
Friday, 16 May 2008, 11:18 am
Press Release: Air New Zealand

16 May 2008
Media Release

Air New Zealand to establish Aviation Academy

Air New Zealand is to establish an aviation academy to develop and nurture home-grown pilots, cabin crew, engineers and specialist airline management staff.

Air New Zealand General Manager Airline Operations and Safety Captain David Morgan said planning was well underway for the Air New Zealand Aviation Academy.

Captain Morgan, who is also Air New Zealand’s Chief Pilot, said the academy was being set up to ensure the steady flow of local talent into Air New Zealand and other airlines within the Asia Pacific region.

In the highly competitive aviation industry, Captain Morgan said it was important to ensure that Air New Zealand had the best people available to support its future growth plans.

“The academy will form the basis of Air New Zealand’s long-term commitment to continuing to build a world-leading airline through a highly skilled and motivated workforce which sees real career prospects and a future in New Zealand.”

“We already operate a very successful training school offering engineering, tourism and travel programmes. This is an opportunity for us to build on that and create in New Zealand an internationally-recognised and accredited aviation academy that will meet the future needs of Air New Zealand and other airline operators in our region,” he says.

“It will also provide opportunities and career structure for our people, and help them define and manage their career paths within the aviation business.”

As well as providing training for those starting out, Captain Morgan said the academy would provide support and training for staff moving through their careers, including aircraft type rating and simulator training.

Air New Zealand’s goal was to establish the academy in partnership with industry, offering people the ability to train at different locations around the country.

This would also provide additional economic benefits to New Zealand regions, Captain Morgan said.

Air New Zealand expected to be able to put around 200-300 pilots and engineers each year through the curriculum that it would develop.

Captain Morgan said New Zealand-trained pilots, cabin crew and engineers were held in high regard internationally for their expertise, professionalism and attitude.

“We expect the Air New Zealand Aviation Academy to further build on and enhance the New Zealand aviation industry’s excellent international reputation.”

Air New Zealand is currently in discussion with a range of potential partners and expects to announce more details about the academy over the coming year.


ENDS

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0805/S00326.htm

beaten...

The funny thing is... the press release still is not up on their press release page!

Will be interesting to see what comes of this... although I dont know where they are going to find instructors!!

This is beneficial to a lot of people for a lot of reasons- Air NZ (as well as most other airlines) are struggling to find suitable pilots as there is a shortage (which is only predicted to get worse)- If air NZ doesnt provide a solution, they will be forced to pay higher and higher wages to get pilots from overseas/keep NZ trained pilots....which would quickly become uneconomical

So- Set up an acadamy which guarantees pilots trained to your standards and ethos, 'lock' them into a contract for a number of years, pay them a bit less than the going rate in order to fund/payoff their training (due to the fact that NZ is finding it harder to pay 'equivalent' pay and keep pilots here)

Pilots get 'free' training, Airlines get pilots for 'no' cost.

Interesting they've included Engineers. Don't they(ANZ) have a history of laying them off and downsizing in this area?

Bandit wrote:

QUOTE (Bandit @ May 16 2008, 03:11 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Interesting they've included Engineers. Don't they(ANZ) have a history of laying them off and downsizing in this area?

probably same reason Re: Timmos post re: pilots as their is an on going industrial despute with Air NZ's engineers at present

Air NZ engineers ramp up industrial action
Friday, 16 May 2008
Engineers will ramp up industrial action against their employer Air New Zealand after voting down a pay offer from the company.
The engineers, members of the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union (EPMU) and the Aviation and Marine Engineers Association, have already imposed an overtime ban.

Negotiations have been on-going since March, with about 1500 staff members beginning the low-level industrial action on May 9.

From today, engineers will refuse to tow aircraft in and out of hangars, and from next Friday they will refuse to do engine testing.

EPMU national secretary Andrew Little said if an agreement was not reached, the next step would be to refuse work on any aircraft with Air NZ's signature "koru" design on its tail.

The members, who make up the vast majority of Air NZ's engineer workforce, have been seeking a 5.8 per cent pay rise but voted not to accept an offer from the company that amounted to 3.92 per cent over a year.

In mediation between Air NZ and the unions this week both sides appeared to have reached an agreement, but the offer endorsed by the unions was voted down when put to the members.

Air NZ said tonight it was disappointed the unions were not able to gain the support of their members.

The company said current strike actions and the action commencing tomorrow was at this stage not expected to impact its scheduled services, due to the airline's contingency planning.

Air NZ hoped to meet the unions again next week.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4550155a11.html

they are also short of engineers since they took on the Hawaiian airlines 767 servicing contract.

Does this mean we still have to have a aviation or what ever degree or the like?

Sweet! Hope there is an ANZ actual aviation school set up by 2009, then I'd be keen as beans to join!

Ooh interesting
I may do something like that.
It seems a good program for Air New Zealand to be starting.

Cheers
Daniel

Interesting news.
Didn't Singapore Flying College want to set one up in NZ as well?
I thought NZ had one of the highest number of PPLed pilots per capita, but I guess most of them don't have a CPL or MEIR and stuff.
Either way this is a good step forward for Air NZ and the industry.

Cheers
Anthony

NZ255 wrote:

QUOTE (NZ255 @ May 16 2008, 04:36 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Does this mean we still have to have a aviation or what ever degree or the like?

Why would you want an aviation degree? *Cough* Waste of money *Cough*

Yeah but wouldn't they pick someone with a degree over someone without. (All other aspects e.g. hours, equal)

NZ255 wrote:

QUOTE (NZ255 @ May 16 2008, 05:45 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yeah but wouldn't they pick someone with a degree over someone without. (All other aspects e.g. hours, equal)

No. I've talked to Dad about it, and it's pretty much just a more expensive way of going somewhere better like Nelson Aviation College (Where I'd go if I could afford it). I don't see why you need a degree to fly a plane.

What, are Massey going to have a Diploma in Bus Driving next?

Yeah, I guess

So when it starts, you apply and they pay if you get in???



If so, my prayers have been answered.

How would you get in etc. Where would it be set up? Would there be requirements such as PPL? (in anyones professional opinion)


This could be really great news for me (anyone that knows me knows just how aviation orientated I am. For example during my 3rd XI hockey game tonight (we lost 10/11-0 to the Kapiti 1st XI - We are in a grade above us) I would occasionaly glance up at the aircraft approaching from overhead).

What He Said

The article doesnt give too much information, but very very interested to hear some more. Im sure it will be setup by 2011 for me!

Kelburn wrote:

QUOTE (Kelburn @ May 16 2008, 06:27 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I would occasionaly glance up at the aircraft approaching from overhead).

Yeah I do that all the time during evening summer trainings at Thorndon Pool for Polo

Hrm dont all jump up and down in extreme excitment. I have no doubt that it will cost (and heaps) and it says no where that you actually get trained up and taken on as a pilot. The prob for them at the mo is being part 121 the flight crew have to have so many thousand hours (can't remember exact, maybe 1500) plus 100hrs ATO time so unless that changes dont get hopes up too high (dont wanna sound like mr negative as I fear I some times do)

And as VAC said, there is ZERO use for an aviation degree, just a waist of time and money. For them to select you as a piklot they pick on yr personality, ablilty to adapt to their environment and a whole lot of other stuff, not yr qualifications. They pic you to be interviewed on yr quals. bla bl bla I think I have said most of this before

Have fun all !

victor_alpha_charlie wrote:

QUOTE (victor_alpha_charlie @ May 16 2008, 06:00 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

What, are Massey going to have a Diploma in Bus Driving next?

What do people have against Massey?? You do almost everything you would normally for a course at say like NAC or Ardmore Flying School, add one or two managment papers and you get the usual CPL, MEIR and a degree which is recognised internationally, and if for some reason you cant fly anymore, step striaght into an Airline or airport management role...

Its pretty much the same price bar a couple of thousand... Which in the scheme of things is bugger all.

Meh why do I bother, everyone makes up their mind knowing so little.

A185F wrote:

QUOTE (A185F @ May 16 2008, 06:41 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hrm dont all jump up and down in extreme excitment. I have no doubt that it will cost (and heaps) and it says no where that you actually get trained up and taken on as a pilot. The prob for them at the mo is being part 121 the flight crew have to have so many thousand hours (can't remember exact, maybe 1500) plus 100hrs ATO time so unless that changes dont get hopes up too high (dont wanna sound like mr negative as I fear I some times do)

And as VAC said, there is ZERO use for an aviation degree, just a waist of time and money. For them to select you as a piklot they pick on yr personality, ablilty to adapt to their environment and a whole lot of other stuff, not yr qualifications. They pic you to be interviewed on yr quals. bla bl bla I think I have said most of this before

Have fun all !

Forget degrees, learn how to spell you young chaps!

It's handy in all aspects of life, not just when flying planes.