Nelson Aviation College

[Kippers7]

Hey
I am currently training part time with RAC in Queensland (PPL), and i am looking to do my CPL with Nelson Aviation in NZ due to there live in quarters and integrated theory program. Any comments about Nelson Aviation or just training in NZ in general would be extremely helpful.
Thanks..

[NZDP]

They pretty good. Great place to fly.

[Got the horn]

Been there, done that-had a great time. Highly recommended.

[139BOY]

Nelson Aviation College have always had a good name but there are other great schools in NZ. I trained at Bay Flight International in the Bay of Plenty. Very professional school & owned by a very experienced pilot. Controlled airspace but not to busy, great flying weather, training area's close by, in house theory, good student accomodation. The boss has a lot of contacts in the charter & RPT world & a lot of ex students/ instructors are flying for the 2 regional airlines.
Check out there web site.

139BOY

[Kippers7]

Thanks for that info mate i will check it out...

[solowflyer]

I will second Bay Flight. Cpt Hooker is a top bloke and VERY experienced in all forms of aviation not to mention BOP being a very lovley part of the country.

[Aragon]

NAC

hi guys. thinking of joining Nelson Aviation College too. what have you guys heard abt this school? any good? experienced instructors with lots of hours? anyone from this school have anything to say or recommend? thx.

[XRNZAF]

NAC

Never been there myself, but have heard only good things from a number of people in the know... Including testing officers. If you're dead keen on going to a "larger" school, probably not a bad option...

[DeathStar-Alpha]

I ahvn't been there, but also heard good things. Theory classes, from what mates have said who went there, were brilliant in that there was a very high pass rate and the avg was also high. The 3 or 4 people I knew who did their BGT (GTK, call it what you like) got 100% can't argue with that

[Aragon]

hey guys, thx for the replies. seems like NAC is a safe bet for now i guess.

anyways, there's another school im seriously considering too. Bay Flight International, owned by Captain Hooker, as mentioned here. Any students from BFI or anyone who knows Bay Flight have anything to comment about them...

[ZK-NSN]

Did my CPL, IR and BGT theory exams at NAC back in 2001. Very good school. If you do end up going there, would highly recommend you dont use the accommodation on the airfeild. Its expensive, cramped and you will probably have to room with another person. They can arrange homestay and flats though.
Bay Flight seems a very social place, know bugger all about the flying side of things there.

[Lindstrim]

I'm currently at Bay flight working towards CPL atm. Love the area to fly as it can be really bad over other parts of the country yet still be nice in TGA.
They do work you hard and you do need to put extra effort in outside of hours but thats like most schools.

Any other questions PM me.

[Aragon]

Great help guys. I found this school in Dunedin, Mainland Air Aviation College.

Mainland Air New Zealand | Flight Training

Any one can vouch for this school? Seems like a decent school. What do you think?

The rate for PPL is quite reasonable at NZD 47,000 only.

[Konev]

mainland air is a brilliant school that is held back by the dunedins lack of runways (only 1) however tieri (sp) is 1 minutes flight away off the northern end and thats a grass based GA field which helps a lot.

they are now shifting the PPL students to alexandra which is a great town with great weather and a cute lil airport, wanaka, queenstown, invercargill and dunedin all within 45 minutes flight.

can recommend NAC and mainland to anyone.

[Corkey McFuz]

47k for a PPL ?? You must have miss read it,or there is a typo in there somewhere.
NAC and mainland are both great.

[aileron_69]

NAC

NAC is a great place. I went there for CPL theory and CPL flight training and I have nothing but praise for them. The instructors all knew their stuff and they will do a bit of extra curricular flying like Mountain and Farm strip work which a lot of outfits seem to shy away from these days. The weather in Dunedin could be a bit of a downside to Mainland. It tends to be pretty settled in Motueka a lot of the time.
Being close to Nelson CTR and not a long flight to get in amongst all the cook strait and Wellington traffic is good experience too.
And of course then there's the Dodgy Ref Sports bar in Motueka, fantastic place to spend every night of the week
If thats not to your liking the Grumpy Mole in Nelson never fails to disappoint

[Aragon]

Hi guys! About Mainland, here's a direct quote from the registrar:-
PPL - $13,017.00 CPL - $34,030.50 Total $47,047.50
Add a lil bit more for: - IR - $18,249.00

[Results may vary]

Hey guys,

Just want to spark up this thread again if I may.....

After a bit of a break I'm looking to do a bit of revision to finish my CPL (10-20hrs). Is NAC still highly recommended as it was on here a few years ago?

Any advice on accommodation? Someone had mentioned that the onsite rooms are expensive and possibly shared.

I won't have any wheels so can anyone recommend any nearby off site housing?

The NAC website says they have access to other aircraft. Any ideas of what? Any S/E Pipers? And what are the hourly rates of the 152 and 172?

Cheers in advance

[A185F]

They have a base now at nelson airport which may (or may not) be easier for accommodation. The 152 there is about 210 an hour. No piper singles that I know of.

[Corvallis]

I was there many years ago. All i can say is that they were excellent. And a little economical compared to australia as well. They must be still good.