New Zealand - Training Schools and Job Prospects

[Heli-kiwi]

From what I understand Heliflight were training Masseys students under contract, Apparently that has all gone sour and a court battle is ensuing.
I know a few of the guys at Heliflight and reckon they have a really professional setup and good image, I'd give them a look.

[biffed]

Professional set up and good image.

you cant have read some of the last threads on this place.

[warrigal]

I trained with Heli-flight.And they did me no wrong.And I have made some great lifetime mates out of the place.Cheers to all the Heli-Mob from Nth Aussie.Especially the prettier ones!

[discobeast]

Have a look at Nelson Aviation College. Great people and awesome part of the country.

[flap2equality]

I trained there, and as i have said on many occasions on other posts, i have nothing bad to say on heli-flight. They were pro's from start to finish, a good bunch of people, many of whom i consider 'friends', and to top it all off i personally found it very good value for money.
And just as soon as i get enough money togeather for my CFI then they are right up there on my potential list of training.

It really was the best time of my life.

[warrigal]

True that Disco. I have heard that NAC are a good outfit.And the Nelson area would have to be one of the most beautiful places in the world to train.I used to be a deerculler in the ranges there many moons ago.

[HillerBee]

By the way, I don't think student pilots are able to judge the quality of their instructor in the first place. Looking back now I'm an instructor I can tell wheather my instructors where good or not. But definitely not judge before you have experience yourself.

A lot of students blame their own inability on the instructor and the school.

But in the commercial world we do not really have an option to be honest and just say you don't have the ability, find another career.

[whirlygirlie]

Thank you, guys, for all your advice. I really want to train in NZ.....it's cheaper and hopefully it will be a bit of an adventure.

[MIA]

ALL Training schools have politics and busy schools will have even more. Its just the dynamics of people and stressful situations. The fact is that the students begin to realise that they have spent alot of money and that the job market is not easy once finished.....it becomes easy to blame the school or instructor. And yes you will allways find some students who get on better with one instructor rather than another and some instructors are just better than others full stop.

The reputation and quality of instruction in NZ is up there with anywhere else in the world and all the well known training schools in NZ produce a quality product.

[whirlygirlie]

Thanks for your wise words, Mia, I completely agree. I know that wanting to be a commercial heli. pilot is a risky decision and I hope it all goes well for me, but heyho if it doesn't then at least, in the future, I can look back and be glad I gave it my best shot. Not 'giving it a go' is what I'm scared of!!
Blue skies!

[BigMike]

Whirlygirlie, write to all the schools and see what they are offering. Have you considered Australia? Depending on what school you train at, the job prospects may be a little better.

[nuthin]

Try Ardmore Helicopters

They have a female instructor and female students.
They also take the time to make sure their commercial students get a leg up in the industry.
Well worth a visit.
Cheers

[atplwanabee]

Uk PPL(H)

hello,
I am very intrested in doing some chopper flying over in NZ. I have a ppl (h) uk issued, is it a problem to convert?

I've heard from friends the chopper flying is great over there??

[Bravo73]

Originally Posted by atplwanabee

hello,
I am very intrested in doing some chopper flying over in NZ. I have a ppl (h) uk issued, is it a problem to convert?

I don't want to sound too mean but have you heard of Google? Try typing in CAA NZ.

Have a little root around their site and you might find this.


HTH,

B73


PS Some of the scenery is spectacular by all accounts. Check the ROTORHEADS AROUND THE WORLD thread or the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

[terrorteen]

Last I heard was that you can change your UK ppl to NZ ppl as long as your UK ppl meets the flying requirement of the NZ ppl, i.e mountain flying and any other minimum requirements that CAA set out.
But check out the NZ website to make sure,even send them an email to ask.

Terror

[golf bravo]

Jobs in NZ

I have 200 twin turbine hours and 100 squirrel hours plus fixed wing time. Does anyone know of any companies who are currently recruiting and may be interested.

Cheers

[snowrider]

North or South Island ?

I am currently taking a year out travelling, currently in Oz but heading over to NZ in a couple of months.

I have a UK PPL(H) and fly R22s. I have been thinking of doing my 44 type rating and am wondering whether its cheaper (than the UK) to do the course in NZ? As a bonus I would get to check out the scenery at the same time.

Does anyone have any comments on price or recommendations as to where would be good to do it? Where would the scenery be more spectacular, north or south?

Thanks

[mongoose237]

I have a UK PPL(H) and fly R22s. I have been thinking of doing my 44 type rating and am wondering whether its cheaper (than the UK) to do the course in NZ?

Nope, because it won't count as a JAA type rating.
In which case you might as well fly a little bit on both islands.

[r44driver]

Yeah, it shouldn't count either because those R44s in the UK are much harder to fly than the ones in NZ.

[TheFlyingSquirrel]

I don't see any dilemma mate. I keep going on about NZ, but I drove from the tip of the North Island to Wellington. We rented a FW and did some flying. The scenery was God-like to say the least. Never got to the South Island, but I hear it's better ! Dug this pic of Wellington out. Doesn't do it justice.