PPL in New Zealand...???

[krisfromeast]

Hi guys,

I am looking into doing my PPL in new zealand and maybe build some hours on top

Anyone who has been there and can recommend any school please let me know.

Any advise about quality of training, licence convertion or anything at all much appricieted.

I've heart flying is simmilar to the UK one cos of weather conditions and current exchange rate makes it very interestion option.

many thanks

[4Foxtrot]

You may wish to recast your query to the 'D & G General Aviation and Questions' forum but if it's of any use, check out Euro Flight International for background info on getting a New Zealand PPL.

Rates do seem cheaper, about NZ$200/hr (£72/hr) dual for a PA28, but I wouldn't have a clue about which school is best, or indeed how current these rates are. If you believe their website, then Aspiring Air in Wanaka (South Island) provides a good all-round experience and I'm probably heading over there myself early in Jan/Feb to get some hours in. The scenery in that part of the world is amazing, but before I get singled out by the North Island flying junta, both islands offer excellent flying challenges.

I shall watch this thread with interest.

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

When my wife and I were there in March/April we visited Dargaville Aerodrome on North Island. Rates were NZ$90 per hour dual in a modern trainer. The reaction from our son, who did some PPL training several years ago in the UK, was dramatic!!

[PAJ]

A few considerations - I see you are based in London therefore you will require a JAA PPL to fly in the UK. I am not sure if there are any JAA training schools out here (there may well be but I am not aware of any personally). The NZ PPL is an excellent license though with a similar set of emphasies as you would find in the UK. The main difference is training to fly in mountainous terrain, something we don't really experience very much in the UK. From what I hear, if you train in the South Island you will have much more emphasis on this mountain flying than you will in the North Island so this is something to consider.

The NZ Class 2 medical needs to be held in order to fly out here, and when I did mine, I was surprosed at how strict it was! My Class 1 initial in the UK was pretty much the same standard, maybe even not quite as detailed!

There are plenty of flight instructors around, and lots of aero clubs. In terms of airspace, procedures and weather etc, NZ is very similar to the UK. Also, the infrastructure for flying is very good. You would most likely need to do some training back in the UK after though so factor this in.

Below is a link to the NZ CAA - their website is an excellent source of info. Plus seach google.co.nz for aero clubs to get an idea of prices. Hope that helps.

http://www.caa.govt.nz/pilots/gettin...ence_pilot.htm

[krisfromeast]

Thanks very much for your information and advice...I should be heading out there in about month time.

Checked few schools and it looks mych cheaper then UK plus lots of different flying options (mountains) so it should be a challenging.

Now i am thinking of staying there a bit longer and do as much flying as possible!!!!maybe preparation for ATPL. see what happends???

Once again many thanks

[skyworks]

Mainland Air

Hi there!
I am from Spain and I hold a NZ PPL. I flew there close to 200 hours. I did it in Dunedin at Mainland Aviation College (South Island). Good place, good instructors, always available planes and very nice place to fly, beautiful mountains and lakes, but also you have to be ready to fight with the NZ meteorological conditions!!!, so you will obtain a good handling skills.
Defenitely it was a good experience . Go for it!!

[pressed_on]

For what purpose

If you are going there just for kicks and to do some private flying, then the smaller aeroclubs are the way, try to stay away from Ardmore Airport in this case and head a bit south. hamilton is good and the South Island is majestic.

However if you are looking to go on to an ATPL and a JAA one at that, there is a school in Hamilton which trains guys out of the UK. It's called CTC Aviation. I have no idea if they are good/otherwise but I do know they train prospective ATPLers from the UK.

Motueka near Nelson (sth island) is also really nice and they get all of the good weather!

One other thing. If you go to an operator in Taupo (middle nth Island) called Taupo Air Services, they train as well and the owner is a top bloke. You'll have no worries with training and there may be a job at the end if you choose to go commercial. Scenery second to none.

Cheers

[PAJ]

To add to the above, if you really wan to learn in NZ but plan to do an ATPL, then CTC are an excellent way of achieving both goals - that's who I'm training with. The fleet is pretty much spanking new (well the Alphas are, just had one delivered two days ago with 8 more to come) and the facilities are exceptional. However, you cannot just do a PPL here; it is now an integrated course where you go through single engine phase to CPL standard, then move straight on to twin engines for the CPL test and the IR, all while studying for the ATPLs. Also bear in mind that there is a tough selection process to go through - only about 5% of the 4,000 people a year who apply make it. Well worth it if you can get in though!

[kiwi chick]

Hey there!

I trained at a Private Training Establishment back in 2004, who are now booming with lots of International Students.

If you want details, PM me. I found them excellent (not that I had a lot to compare it to then, but I have a bit more now!) they've been operating for years, more one-on-one than your average aero club (in this region anyway).

I can highly recommend them, and currrent costs are AROUND $140 an hour dual for a C152.

I'm not sure about other regions, but we don't generally do mountain flying as part of the syllabus for PPL, but this can be incorporated into CPL hour-building if thought necessary in the individuals circumstances.

Tis a great place to learn to fly! (And, no... I don't work there or have any association with them! )

Hope this helps!

Kiwi Chick

[Ozzymick]

Try this link http://www.associatedaviation.co.nz/

I did some hour building there very cheaply. If you ask nicely you can go up with the guy doing the traffic and build your hours that way. I think I only paid $20 per hour for that. Nicky is the newest Instructor there so she is always keen to get in the air.

Regards

Mick

[kiwi chick]

Hey, Ozzymick, that was the same place I was referring to, LOL!

Just wasn't sure if I'd get told off for "plugging", haha!

Can highly recommend - top notch place

[Ozzymick]

Never thought of that, is that me in the Poo now????

Keep wanting to go back but just havent got the money yet.

I managed to get some aerobatic time in with Geoff as well. it was fantastic.

[krisfromeast]

thanks very much for all your answers and help...99% I am going to do @ Tournaga flying school with English instructor.

Fully inclusive PPL package

Pay as you fly 50Hrs flight training
•25Hrs Solo
•25Hrs Dual

•6weeks accommodation

•Use of company vehicle

•Flight test

•6 written exams

•All Airways and landings

•Loan of books, headsets and equipment

•Logbook

•Medical (Initial G.P fee)

$9950NZ

*₤3495GBP

*Prices may vary due to exchange rate

any comments as usual appreciated

[aero junkie]

I would recommend Tauranga They are quiet cheap!

[preduk]

What does the NZ PPL allow you to do in the UK? I.e Would it allow them to fly G Reg aircraft, or would they need to resit all the UK exams again?

[biggles0449]

from what ive picked up, you dont need to convert your ppl to uk. so long as the aircraft is g reg and flown in the uk, you should be fine. the info i have been given is from a south african fto, but there shouldnt be any reeason why the same doesnt apply:

The South African (ICAO) Private Pilot Licence is valid for entrance to the UK CAA exams and for flights in UK registered aircraft within United Kingdom airspace including the flight training and tests; so there is no need to convert to a JAR-FCL PPL (A) before applying for the JAR CPL/ IR.




hope this helps and doesnt confuse things!

[preduk]

Thanks for that.

I was sureI heard that as well, just wanted to make sure because apparently the theory exams are pretty much the same.

Anyone thinking about going to EuroFlight in NZ next year?

[squawkident.]

Ive also got a NZ PPL and was looking to have it "converted" to a UK license.
There is a section in LASORS which deals specifically for this: ie. PPL license from an approved JAA country into a UK PPL.
I think that you would have to take air law, comms and another subject at ppl level, as well as a skills test, but if youve done the xcountry qualifier then you woudnt need to do that again.
Good luck anyway

[Ozzymick]

If my memory is correct it depends on your hours as well. Over 100hrs you only need to do Law and Radio, under 100hrs you need to do all of the theory exams. It also has to be on the one machine ie Helicopter not mixed Fixed wing & Helicopter as I tried to do.

[preduk]

So... Just so I'm picking this up right.

If a person went to go to New Zealand to do their PPL, got it and came back home. They would need to sit their UK exams theory (if they have under 100hours) again? Basically they need to convert it? In order to fly G-Reg aircraft?