Flying in New Zealand

[NLM13]

Hi guys,

I am thinking of going to NZ for a working holiday later in the year and would like to do some hour building while there. Has anyone had any experience of flying in NZ on a JAA licence or have any rcommendations on schools/clubs etc?

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[Golden Monkey]

Me too chaps. Any information on the current GA scene (schools, prices) gratefully received - I have a Canadian license but don't think that's too much of a problem?

Also, what sort of weather would you expect (North/South island) in ... say ... August or September. I was planning on heading over for a briefish (two week) tour after my next Vancouver pilgrimage and it's got to be worthwhile in terms of flyable days!

Thanks, SSS

[ZK-NSJ]

go to <a href="http://www.webwings.co.nz" target="_blank">www.webwings.co.nz</a> . .there is a listing there of various establishments

[Luke SkyToddler]

Chaps ...

As it happens, I'm heading home to NZ in a couple of weeks for a bit of a 3- or 4- month holiday, and I'm taking two of my buddies / students with me who want to do a bit of hour building. (I'm a New Zealand and JAA licenced CPL/IR/instructor who's been living up here in the UK for the last three years).

The plan is to spend the first two or three weeks sitting on the beach and ringing around scoping out where the cheap flying is to be found, and then I'm going to renew my NZ instructor rating, sort them out with NZ PPL conversions (not a big drama if you've already got JAA licences) and send them on their way for some serious hour building (and of course the large scale South Island expedition to the Wanaka Warbirds airshow in Easter) :)

Anyway it's a beautiful little country to fly around and I highly recommend it. As I say we'll be on the ground in the next couple of weeks and searching for the best deals, so if you'd like to be kept up to date on our progress, then feel free to email me.

[str12]

Hi All

Did a few hours in NZ about 6 weeks ago, flew out of Napier. It worked out to be about one third of the price per hour wet for a Tomahawk than in the UK. And the scenery's much better than from Shoreham.

Good way to learn about mountain waves, rotors etc.

I think the weather would be OK. Ski season in the South, maybe wet in the North but very flyable.

Have fun, I'll be back behind a desk somewhere in Europe by then..

str12

[Frankie Four Fingers]

flew in NZ a while back, easy to convert UK PPL. .to NZ PPL just a couple of hours checkride and maybe a x-country if you intend to cover some distance. The NZ CAA are v.helpul and fees far. .cheaper than back home (http://www.caa.govt.nz/)

if you want a decent base to fly from, checkout these guys, <a href="http://www.airacademy.hs.co.nz/" target="_blank">http://www.airacademy.hs.co.nz/</a>. .they're based in Hastings, n.r Napier and worth. .a look. v.friendly staff and a/c are maintained to a high standard, cheap acomm onsite and good bar. or is that baa.

dont make mistake i did though, and try fly to s/island via ferry ndb in a low powered single, mountain waves impressive but good chance you might end up getting wet. go via wellington instead.

also, white island (active volcano) approx 30nm off east coast of n/island great fun to fly round

FFF