Newbie & Flying Training Advice (Merged)

[keeg]

Aspiring Pilot - Air NZ turboprop question - University Entrance

Hi All,

Hoping I can get some advice and some questions answered towards beginning my journey to being a pilot. For context I am 24yrs old, Living in CHCH, NZ. Have always loved flying. I am on a plane at least monthly travelling for work, have been on plenty of small aircraft on whale watching tours etc too. I have a discovery flight booked in a few weeks.

Currently I am thinking pathway wise to work on getting my PPL part time through Canterbury Aero Club by end of 2026 (Am fortunate to have good savings so would be able to fly frequently)
Then would look to go full time to IAANZ to get a Diploma in Aviation - Student loan and then pay the shortfall cost.
After this look to either study flight instruction or airline prep to help with either becoming an instructor or getting into GA to build hours, but unsure as this is a more confusing stage to understand. Is this a somewhat standard pathway or any recommendations for anything I may be missing?

I have NCEA level 3, but not university entrance. Not an issue getting into IAANZ with this however I note on air NZ website ads for turboprop FOs it says the following requirement. Do I need to find away to get some more NCEA credits or would this be irrelevant once qualified?

• University Entrance / Equivalent

Additionally I would love if there was an air NZ turboprop FO/Captain on here, bonus if CHCH based that can discuss rosters and how often there are nights away from home while on domestic turboprops. Just out of curiosity

Thanks

[pointyendforward]

Is a diploma in aviation actually of any use in the industry, or is merely used as a lever to enable a student loan by a flying school?

[keeg]

Originally Posted by pointyendforward

Is a diploma in aviation actually of any use in the industry, or is merely used as a lever to enable a student loan by a flying school?

From what I can gather, mostly a way to enable a student loan.
IAANZ is a “preferred flight training organisation” for air NZ, but from what I gather this doesn’t really mean a whole lot, but has to be better that nothing

[PiperCameron]

Originally Posted by pointyendforward

Is a diploma in aviation actually of any use in the industry, or is merely used as a lever to enable a student loan by a flying school?

If you want to spend your entire career as a pilot, then no - but if you would like a career in the business side also/instead of, then yes.

Which path you choose is entirely up to you.

[Powerglide]

Originally Posted by keeg

Hi All,

Hoping I can get some advice and some questions answered towards beginning my journey to being a pilot. For context I am 24yrs old, Living in CHCH, NZ. Have always loved flying. I am on a plane at least monthly travelling for work, have been on plenty of small aircraft on whale watching tours etc too. I have a discovery flight booked in a few weeks.

Currently I am thinking pathway wise to work on getting my PPL part time through Canterbury Aero Club by end of 2026 (Am fortunate to have good savings so would be able to fly frequently)
Then would look to go full time to IAANZ to get a Diploma in Aviation - Student loan and then pay the shortfall cost.
After this look to either study flight instruction or airline prep to help with either becoming an instructor or getting into GA to build hours, but unsure as this is a more confusing stage to understand. Is this a somewhat standard pathway or any recommendations for anything I may be missing?

I have NCEA level 3, but not university entrance. Not an issue getting into IAANZ with this however I note on air NZ website ads for turboprop FOs it says the following requirement. Do I need to find away to get some more NCEA credits or would this be irrelevant once qualified?

• University Entrance / Equivalent

Additionally I would love if there was an air NZ turboprop FO/Captain on here, bonus if CHCH based that can discuss rosters and how often there are nights away from home while on domestic turboprops. Just out of curiosity

Thanks

Hey,

PM me for more info

[Dashm8]

I know someone that got into Air NZ turboprops only having completed NCEA level 1. It may have changed now but they had to have all ATPL subjects to interview.

For others with the education requirements ATPL subjects are “preferred”

[eagerbeaver1188]

Originally Posted by pointyendforward

Is a diploma in aviation actually of any use in the industry, or is merely used as a lever to enable a student loan by a flying school?

It’s highly recommended as a fallback should you not be able to fly, or choose not to fly for some reason.

But, also as valuable, having another skill or trade is sought after when looking for jobs in GA or in the even of a downturn in the industry.

[PiperCameron]

Originally Posted by eagerbeaver1188

But, also as valuable, having another skill or trade is sought after when looking for jobs in GA or in the even of a downturn in the industry.

Barista, service station attendant, supermarket shelf stacker, cleaner...

[Limabeta95]

Info PPL

Hi everyone! ✈️

I’m looking for information about getting a Private Pilot Licence (PPL) in Australia.

Could anyone share approximate costs, training duration, and recommend the best flight schools near Sydney?

Any personal experiences or tips would be really appreciated. Thanks in advance!

[rudestuff]

US or Australia, you need to make your mind up!

[Capt Fathom]

Originally Posted by rudestuff

US or Australia, you need to make your mind up!

I suspect that decision will be made based on the feedback re training in the USA verses Australia!

[Bushbattler]

1500 hours a looking for the next step

Hi everyone,
I’m a charter pilot in Aus, finding myself stuck in a bit of an in between position where I feel I am too qualified to just side step into another piston multi gig but still not yet qualified for something like the RFDS. For context I have almost 1500, 500 plus multi, a little bit of turbine, 0 night and nearly finished my ATPLs, aiming to end up in emergency services. I’ve been advised that going to a small airline like Rex is the best option, love to hear if anyone has any advice.
thanks in advance

[Bushbattler]

Originally Posted by pointyendforward

Is a diploma in aviation actually of any use in the industry, or is merely used as a lever to enable a student loan by a flying school?

I’ve met many pilots who have it and not one that have actually used it or thought it was worth the money, but if business is your interest then that may be a different story

[nomess]

It’s mainly a lever used by students to complete an endorsement without self funding, and it’s also a lever used by many training organisations to simply keep themselves in business. Without all these programs half the training providers wouldn’t exist today. However it appears to be contributing to an oversupply of graduates, and increasing the debt many in this country carry. It’s a nasty debt too with some ugly indexation and fees attached.

Completing a FIR or IFR rating is fairly demanding and full on, the added workload for the Diploma side is a massive distraction, but if you don’t have the financial means to do it solo, then you just need to suck it up and push though it.

[evilducky]

Originally Posted by Bushbattler

Hi everyone,
I’m a charter pilot in Aus, finding myself stuck in a bit of an in between position where I feel I am too qualified to just side step into another piston multi gig but still not yet qualified for something like the RFDS. For context I have almost 1500, 500 plus multi, a little bit of turbine, 0 night and nearly finished my ATPLs, aiming to end up in emergency services. I’ve been advised that going to a small airline like Rex is the best option, love to hear if anyone has any advice.
thanks in advance

If RFDS/Aeromed is your goal, Rex is not the pathway to getting there. Those operators want single-pilot IFR, night hours and roles where you've had to make decisions/manage pressure. Kindergarden for aeromed is GAM, Aviair, Chartair, Hardies, Hinterland, Seair, Airlink.

The piston/turbine part is irrelevant, plenty of drivers are getting their first turbine gig at RFDS. Night and single pilot IFR is the experience you need to chase.

[bunningz]

Request for advice - Flight School Training

Hi everyone,

I'm an engineer who's looking to begin my career as an airline pilot in Australia. I've been looking into various routes, including the Qantas Group Pilot Academy, Sharp Airlines Pilot Program, and the Rex Pilot Program.

Any suggestions for Australian flight schools or advice from people who have recently completed training would be greatly appreciated. I'm interested in learning about your experiences, the benefits and drawbacks of various schools, and anything you wish you had known before enrolling.

I do understand the saying 'don't hang up your hat on one airline or organisation' however I believe that you should have some sort of end goal, which in my case is Qantas.

Thanks for your time!

[nomess]

The Rex Pilot program is no longer. The Qantas Group program, which isn’t a subsidiary it’s an external training provider, is also not a guaranteed pathway into the group, from recent reports those who finished the course a couple of years back have only been getting an offer call at this moment, and that’s only a percentage. Hundreds are currently unemployed and trying to get work in GA. It’s super competitive to get into, not to mention it’s a very tightly packed in course, not everyone makes it through and drop out.

I would be mindful about putting all your eggs in the Qantas basket, unless you are thinking about working for a subsidiary. The academy doesn’t push people into mainline and you need to go via a sub first, have a read on here around some experiences around that.

Virgin is the best pathway into mainline. We are seeing that play out as we speak.

[bunningz]

Thanks for your response Nomess. For the Virgin pathway, would you just go to a normal flight school, get your CPL and build hours, or is there a specific pathway/schools Virgin prefers? And what kind of experience do people usually have before they get picked up?

Just trying to understand what the first steps actually look like.

[sambobs1]

REX SF340 Recruitment

Anybody recently done the interview process?

[YeaNah]

REX cadet program has restarted. Definitely worth a look.