FAQ’s for international enquiries

We are not resourced to provide courses to DGCA requirements, and our Piper Seminole PA-44 twin engine aircraft used for the MEIR course, is not recognised by DGCA.  The diploma course we offer international students meets NZ CAA requirements.

We don’t usually train international students for the Instructor Rating course due to the difficulties in being able to fill the supervision requirements needed to work post study.As we are not authorised immigration agents, we are unable to provide professional advice in this regard.  We recommend you undertake research in the first instance by clicking on the following Immigration NZ website link regarding work visas https://www.immigration.govt.nz/work/.  We believe that the wages you receive as a C Category instructor do not meet the minimum threshold required to obtain a visa.  This is opinion only, and you should conduct further research.We also believe you need sponsorship in order to apply for a work visa, and this is a challenging process.  New Zealand employers are obliged to hire New Zealand residents before seeking applications from non-New Zealand residents.   We believe it may not be in your interests to outlay the costs of training for an instructor rating for possibly no benefit.

We have no history of our international students staying on in New Zealand after course completion. They will usually return to their home country to continue their aviation pathway.As we are not authorised immigration agents, we are unable to provide professional advice regarding obtaining a work visa.  We recommend you undertake research in the first instance by clicking on the following Immigration NZ website link regarding work visas https://www.immigration.govt.nz/work/.  We believe it is likely that the wages you receive as a pilot entering the job market here in New Zealand may not meet the minimum threshold required to obtain a visa.  This is opinion only, and you should conduct further research.We also believe you need sponsorship in order to apply for a work visa, and this is a challenging process.  New Zealand employers are obliged to hire New Zealand residents before seeking applications from non-New Zealand residents.

The agency in New Zealand you need to begin the process of licence conversion with is Aspeq who are contracted by the NZ CAA to assess overseas licences for conversion.  Click on the following link to find out more https://www.aviation.govt.nz/licensing-and-certification/pilots/pilot-licensing/recognising-foreign-pilot-licences/Once you have ascertained what requirements you need to meet, we may be able to assist with any flight training or ground instruction to meet those standards depending upon our aircraft and instructor schedule, and the dates you are wanting this done by.An overall estimate would be provided once we receive the CAA assessment of your requirements to convert.  Likewise, we will work with you to agree a suitable time schedule of when this could be carried out.In order to convert an overseas CPL licence, you need a minimum 250 hours commercial operational experience, otherwise you can convert only to a PPL.  As mentioned above, Aspeq will be able to assist you with exactly what requirements you need.

Currently there is no direct pathway to an airline in New Zealand as you won’t have the required minimum flying hours to apply.  You will graduate with 250 hours, however airlines require anywhere between 500-1500 hours commercial operational experience before you can apply.  You will need to obtain work in the general aviation sector to build your hours.  In New Zealand our graduating students find work with small business operators such as scenic flights and skydive operators, fish spotting, or sheep mustering (in Australia) for example, before they then can apply to operators such as air ambulance and small regional airlines.  Obtaining an instructor rating (for domestic NZ residents) is an alternative route to building hours also as work can be secured with aero clubs and flight training providers.