Becoming a pilot in NZ

[kiwi]

hey guys, another topic about becoming a pilot in NZ. I hope that's fine!
Well, here in Europe it is common that the flag carrier of a state has a pilot cadet programme.
For example in Germany. Lufthansa hires young people, they go through a screening and if they pass all 3 stages, they'll have a sponsored ATPL and TR training with Lufthansa.
Same in Switzerland with Swiss. I don't know about Air France, but Turkish Airlines and British Airlines used to have that as well.
Now I've been looking around in NZ, there aren't so many airlines apparently. Plus, it seems they're all connected to Air NZ.
Well it seems ANZ doesn't have such thing like a programme for their future pilots? They send the kids to aviation colleges and what not.

In Australia are a few airliners hiring I guess.
But how do young people become pilots in New Zealand?
That training is far beyond a normal kids financial ability. Or do they all go over and settle in Australia, hoping they may return to NZ and ANZ?

Cheers

[Mith18]

One of the annoying things at becoming a pilot in NZ now is that the Govt has cut funding to some of the courses (student loan etc) so to do a course, say $100k, you have to pay $10k out of your own pocket.

Most pilots that I know of in NZ have started at their local aerodrome either doing a course straight off, or just flying with friends/family who are trained.

There are a few outfits, 5 of which IIRC are sort of a "feeder" to ANZ, CTC in Hamilton is a feeder to Jet Star and other airlines in asia.

The way I'm planning on doing it, is since my schooling isn't good enough, I'm doing the PPL theory exams, then Joining a Diploma in Aviation through Air Hawkes Bay, and then getting my CPL and other fun ratings, and then applying at Air New Zealand once I have enough hours.

[huff3r]

CTC does cadetships with Jetstar, IF, and only IF you pay the course fee of $120k NZD outright. No student loan options. Most Kiwis train under student loan schemes, or have rich parents. As for getting a job out of it, it takes perseverance and a bit of luck, AirNZ mostly don't hire fresh young pilots, and nearly everyone wants pilots with at least 500hrs, whereas a CPL course will only get you 200. So it's either find someone who will take you, and hour-build til the big guys will, or get an instructors rating and teach to build up the hours.

[jimmyconway]

QUOTE (Mith18 @ Feb 2 2013,5:34 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

One of the annoying things at becoming a pilot in NZ now is that the Govt has cut funding to some of the courses (student loan etc) so to do a course, say $100k, you have to pay $10k out of your own pocket

[goingboeing]

I finally just got into air nz regionals and have just shy of 2000 hours and 6 years of hard work behind me, the others who got in were of the same position . Bottom line they still take there pick from the best qualified to do the job not who can pay them the most money.

The interview was definitely not easy and neither is the training and its common for people to get the chop at any time if not up to standard.

At the end of the day anything worth having takes time and a lot of hard work my mother was definitely not rich and i delayed starting flying untill I was 23 and had worked hard for that reason. My first jobs involved travelling the world flying in Africa america png etc and they give you an experience level that I believe doing a cadetship will not and at the end of day was both fun and a tremendous learning experience.

Good luck to anybody pursuing a career in aviation it can be heartbreaking at times but also something that will be the best thing you have ever done.

[ScottyB]

Congratulations @goingboeing!

I am currently in my second year at the IAANZ in Christchurch on the Air New Zealand integration course. I have completed all of my PPL, CPL and IFR exams without failing any. I got my PPL in August 2012 and passed my Cross Country flight test in December. I have been hour building since then and am about a week of heading into the twin engine (MEIR) phase, in a Partenavia.

Would be keen to say in touch with you @goingboeing!

Regards
Scott

[chopper_nut]

Thankfully in the helicopter industry, the pool hasnt been polluted too much by the student loan thing. Lots of pilots out there but the ones who have no idea dont tend to last. On my ground course, the ones who we always said would do well have and the rest havnt.

[Syncop8r]

Am I misinterpreting, or do some people hold the view that student loan funding has allowed inept pilots to get CPLs?
I don't see that one's competence will depend on whether they borrowed, have rich parents or somehow earnt the money themselves.

[Ian Warren]

QUOTE (Syncop8r @ Mar 4 2013,10:07 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Am I misinterpreting, or do some people hold the view that student loan funding has allowed inept pilots to get CPLs?
I don't see that one's competence will depend on whether they borrowed, have rich parents or somehow earnt the money themselves.

Forget the riches .. student me ... tell ya tho .. If the fan hit the pooh on a airliner ... I'd be the first put me hand up .. this argument has been around for 40 years plus .. .. Strange thing as i no many at my age who are , many 10s of thousands of hours , they wished they spent there moneys better and went to bissness school , STRANGE ..

Put it this way .. due to Flight Simulation and peoples interest in a way we all could be a lot safer ........................ Till you get me behind the yoke .. and if its an ARBUST .. lookout .. I'd thinking its a F-16

[benwynn]

QUOTE (Syncop8r @ Mar 4 2013,7:07 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Am I misinterpreting, or do some people hold the view that student loan funding has allowed inept pilots to get CPLs?
I don't see that one's competence will depend on whether they borrowed, have rich parents or somehow earnt the money themselves.

It's not really the money factor, but more so the fact that (almost) anybody can (or could) just rock up and fly. The problem with this was too many people failing and dropping out of the courses mid way through either through lack of ability (both physical and intellectual) or particularly lack of interest. A lot of people fly because they love it and it's all they've wanted to do, but unfortunately a lot of people think its a 'cool' idea, and I even come across people simply doing the CPL and MEIR course to get a 'free' PPL (they just want to fly privately). Understandably, they had to do something to make it just a little bit more difficult.

[chopper_nut]

QUOTE (Syncop8r @ Mar 3 2013,10:07 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Am I misinterpreting, or do some people hold the view that student loan funding has allowed inept pilots to get CPLs?
I don't see that one's competence will depend on whether they borrowed, have rich parents or somehow earnt the money themselves.

It has allowed inept pilots to get CPLs, I have seen some absolute muppets get the piece of paper. As I said before though, they dont tend to get jobs.

[SA227]

I was on an annual refresher course over the weekend and we had our new Manager Flight Operations come and have a chat. He was previously with CAA and prior to that CTC and made one interesting comment. Apparently there has been a large reduction in the number of people applying for pilot courses, the exact reason why isn't known but I guess we could speculate. I would like to think that the people getting into it now are the people who are genuinely interested in flying as a career.