Looks like CTC are going to be the ones who get the nod then.
I still can't see though where they are getting the idea they need 100 pilots a year from. Maybe this figure includes all the link companies? But then thats probably on the lean side of things. I will be very suprised if Air NZ jet group give starts to more than 30 guys this year. From what Ive heard over the last few weeks is that they may look at reducing sectors and parking some of the 747s to save fuel, also putting the 777 through HK to London. I cant see much more recruiting this year or next, unles fuel prices slow. Adding to the problem is that in the next few months Air NZs current fuel hedge expires, this is going to result in a HUGE increase in their fuel costs.
So maybe the focus of the flight school will be to train students for overseas airlines, where the is defintley a huge demand at present.

Isn't it great when you're idling at $30 a minute, holding point alpha HN waiting to get a word in edgeways so you can backtrack to line up (with paying customers in the back) while those twin sewing machines hog the airwaves..its going bananas up there lately!

I hear there is some discussion about sealing the grass 36/18 vector - opposite circuit directions, long enough for the twin stars to float down, (i've heard 1000m banded about), and hopefully an ability to load the circuits up.

2low2fast...what? And the circuits are ALREADY loaded up??? It is now unusual to have no-one in the circuit anytime between first light and off watch at 8:30pm...there are usually at 2 and often 4 or more bashing the circuit...it still surprises me to hear "CT? request 2 hours circuits". What the hell are you going to learn doing circuits for 2 hours??

Probably worth the airport company looking at a parallel taxiway on the eastern side of the main runway. May I suggest that to get a normal 1 hours worth of circuits done, someone needs to request 2 hours worth if flying at Hamilton?

:D Absolutely. Would certainly help the exodus of 1900s, Q300s and ATRs in the morning (especially with a third Beech based in HLZ now) - it's a bit primitive having one taxiway for an international/busy training airport...

Hi Guys,

Just wondering if anyone knows when Air NZ actually plan to start training pilots through the academy? One press release said later next year but another has said by the end of this year...was planning on getting stuck in to training as soon as i finish uni in July but may hold off a bit to see what happens with this. Also, do you think getting a PPL before applying would be a help or hindrance? Thanks!

From what i've heard over the RT, when they request 2 hours of CTs. 1st hour is dual, 2nd is solo. HN is struggling to cope now, not to mention the airspace above it, absolute fight to get a slot.

Hey JTN747,

Here's a piece of free advice u may or may not want!

Get your ass down to the local aeroclub, ask the nice instructor for a
CPL/IFR rating. Then call in to see every G/A operator u can think of and beg them to let u wash their aircraft. After a while u may even fly them, give yourself a few scares, get a thousand hours in your log book!
Then rock yourself down to Nelson, fly a dash 8 for two years
( if you've got half a brain you'll stay well away from Eagle )
Then AND ONLY THEN, try your luck with Air New Zealand or the equivalent of and those of us that have had to do exactly that, may just have enough respect to let you touch more than just the push to talk button!!!!

Couldnt have siad it better:D:D

There is no easy way jtn747..... Go use your your degree to get a good job and start saving for your CPL.

Remember...If you skip GA you wont have any stories to spin at the bar:ok:

threecombs

Would you care to explain. Always thought that from the guys and girls I had spoken with that Eagle was a good place to start out along the way to a jet job. Perhaps the info I have is wrong.

Yeah whats with the eagle bashing again... Are you a shiny new nsn f/o with his/her head firmly shoved up...
Whats wrong with eagle, arent we supposed to be on same side. Pull ya head in mate.
Nsn's management aint any better than Eagles at the moment.

Hard to imagine that being advice anyone in JTN's position would want!

Threecombs, who knows, perhaps the guy thinks that "begging" is beneath him?

Since when did "begging" become a requirement to become a pilot?
(and its such a puzzle why kids don't aspire to become pilots anymore :rolleyes:)

He has a realistic shot at getting AirNZ to pay for all his ab initio training! :ok: But your advice is what, to pay for all his own training and then whore himself out to work for free in GA???? Followed by what, buying a jet type rating I suppose? WHY???? (and hey I'm not knocking that but if you don't have to, I mean, really... :confused:)

Very strange sense of perspective you got there mate!!

The rest of the world has been hiring fresh CPLs as jet FOs ever since the 707.

Or did some Grade 3 pimple face actually get you believing you need 2,000TT to fly a jet?

JTN747, go for it! you're joining the industry at a time when it's never been easier to get a decent job. Getting a PPL before you finish uni would probly be a very good idea. Then if AirNZ cadet doesn't work out, you can go the traditional route, or get the military to pay for it, or fall back on your degree!

Just do yourself a favour and never ever work for free, despite what some may recommend - it just isn't acceptable, in any circumstance, ever. :=

Hey Captncannot,

I think Threecombs wasn't implying this young lad should go out there and work for free, but rather he should roll up his sleeves and start the hard work form the bottom like we all did.

Also there is no way in hell Air New Zealnd is going to give these academy guys a single hour for free. They will have to pay for it with a big student loan!

Hey heres a thought. Whats the chance of Air NZ tying in the cost of a Beech or Dash rating into the cost of the Academy course? This could be some round about way of forcing pilots to pay or their ratings?

Some of us that did time in GA just worked for years at subsistance pay levels for operators that will never be able to replace the aircraft they operate when they run out of hours. The GA industry is on borrowed time IMHO. That hoary old chesnut of "doing your time" has had its day. Besides, you can only do SPIFR now if you have 750TT which is impossible for most new CPLs.

Why not take a quick, easier route if its available. If you're smart and talented enough to fly for the airlines then you deserve to get payed an honest wage!!

Thanks for the replies everyone. Good to hear some different perspectives. Just to make it clear, i am willing to do whatever it takes to reach my goals, and if that means taking the GA route then i am more than happy to do that, i am in no way against doing the hard yards. I just want to explore all my options, and the AirNZ academy seems like it could be a great opportunity, but obviously this depends on all of the conditions which are attached! Any more advice would be really appreciated :)

Well it sure sounds to me like he advocates begging to work for free washing someone's aircraft! apologies to 3C if that isn't the case.

This self flagellating 'do your time' mindset does seem to be unique to Australia and NZ. Pilots in other parts of the world would turn their noses up at the crap on offer in Australasian GA, so you can't blame the guy exploring the alternatives.

With AirNZ talking up a cadet scheme why would someone want to start from the bottom when you may soon be able to start in the middle? AirNZ obviously recognise this, and they get an employee with so much to lose they probably wont leave anytime soon. With a cushy turboprop ride after a year of sleeping in the jumpseat on a widebody, presumably getting paid considerably more than any NZ GA job in the process? NZ GA operators may be about to discover the true impact of 'pilot shortage', they really have absolutely nothing to offer in such a hot job market. Depending on the terms of the cadetship of course, I'm assuming here, probably incorrectly, that cadets won't be charged money for the privilege..

JTN, if you end up going the GA route your fastest option is to get out of NZ anyway. Australia, South Pacific, Africa, the Caribbean and the U.S all offer Kiwis much better contracts with a lot more flying. Very few NZ GA jobs offer anywhere remotely near 1000 hours per year and none of them that I've ever heard of pay what operators elsewhere will offer you (in fact most of them still won't even offer to pay a salary!)

There's other ways to get an airline job if you don't have either smarts or talent mattyj, trust me. Gulp :eek:

what did you swallow!?:eek: