New Zealand - Training Schools and Job Prospects
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Mate, the mountains are a looooooooooooonnnnnnnnngggggggggg way away from Christchurch - especially in a 22. If you are purely looking for mountain training, head to Wanaka.
Join Date: May 2006
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Hi all
I’m currently living in South Africa and have been thinking about moving to New Zealand for family reasons, namely they are all there. Just looking for a little help with what is going on in the industry jobs wise. My hours aren’t great about 2500 with 1500 turbine. What is the general feeling about dirty foreigners
stealing jobs? Is it an issue or like here is there enough to go around at the moment. The reason I ask is I’m heading over for a holiday soon and thought I might pop in and say hallo at some companies, just wandering if I should take a steel hat and a decent pair of running shoes
Thanks for any and all replies
Cheers
I’m currently living in South Africa and have been thinking about moving to New Zealand for family reasons, namely they are all there. Just looking for a little help with what is going on in the industry jobs wise. My hours aren’t great about 2500 with 1500 turbine. What is the general feeling about dirty foreigners
stealing jobs? Is it an issue or like here is there enough to go around at the moment. The reason I ask is I’m heading over for a holiday soon and thought I might pop in and say hallo at some companies, just wandering if I should take a steel hat and a decent pair of running shoesThanks for any and all replies
Cheers
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: New Zealand
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With that amount of hours, you shouldn't have too much of an issue getting a job in NZ. However that is totally up to the operators themselves and what they think of you. Generally at the moment there is enough to go around but this entirely depends on what time of year you are in NZ. Totally up to you and also depends on what kind of flying you want to do as well.
Join Date: Jan 2001
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Hef, you express some strong concern there young fella! Do you mean they've got too big therefore trainees do not get enough individual attention, or is it poor service, or are you implying safety issues.
For what it is worth! I've heard "horror stories" about many an operator over many a year. Facts and stories often tend to be strangers.
You can PM a response if you like.
Regards
TK
For what it is worth! I've heard "horror stories" about many an operator over many a year. Facts and stories often tend to be strangers.
You can PM a response if you like.
Regards
TK
Join Date: May 2008
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Helicopter pilot is one of the skills shortage of Jobs listed on
the New Zealand immigration site.
Are they only accepting pilots with a certain number of hours?
to be allowed to immigrate here.As yes that is fair.
Or can New CPL-H pilots from overseas, or a foreign person trained for CPL-H here in NZ with low hours (ie just completed CPL-H) use that to immigrate to New Zealand.?
As I'm one of the esitmated 70+ new CPL-Hs looking for work in this country.
Be crazy to let overseas new CPL-H pilots in under this law.There is not a pilot shortage from what i see.I know 1 in my class is working for free to land that first job.
Telling me to train to become an instructor is making this a pyramid system. As its the only it seems to get anywhere.
Paul
the New Zealand immigration site.
Are they only accepting pilots with a certain number of hours?
to be allowed to immigrate here.As yes that is fair.
Or can New CPL-H pilots from overseas, or a foreign person trained for CPL-H here in NZ with low hours (ie just completed CPL-H) use that to immigrate to New Zealand.?
As I'm one of the esitmated 70+ new CPL-Hs looking for work in this country.
Be crazy to let overseas new CPL-H pilots in under this law.There is not a pilot shortage from what i see.I know 1 in my class is working for free to land that first job.Telling me to train to become an instructor is making this a pyramid system. As its the only it seems to get anywhere.
Paul
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Pilot shortage - NZ
There is no pilot shortage in NZ, However there is a shortage of experienced pilots in NZ.
Every week I get cv's sent to me by fresh CPL H holders.
It is almost criminal how many NZ (and foreign) hopefuls are being churned out of the large training (money processing) organisations. Huge student loans are being generated and as far as I can see there is probably work for only 1 in 100 new recruits. These organisations are laughing all the way to the bank, they get free crewman etc, and even charge keen students for essential ferry flights. Ive heard guys have paid for the pleasure of ferrying machines to/from Frost flights. As I say laughing all the way to the bank.
Basically there is no role for a CPL H with 150 hours and a R22 rating, for one thing our insurers would add such a premium for low time pilots the amount would exceed the annual salary of that low time pilot!!
As ever there is the huge hurdle of getting from 150 to 1000hrs.
I suppose the least worst option is an instructing role. Key thing is having a point of difference.
However anyone with 1000hrs and a few hundred turbine is a different story. You would get an interview at least, then its down to personality, attitude and of course ability.
Every week I get cv's sent to me by fresh CPL H holders.
It is almost criminal how many NZ (and foreign) hopefuls are being churned out of the large training (money processing) organisations. Huge student loans are being generated and as far as I can see there is probably work for only 1 in 100 new recruits. These organisations are laughing all the way to the bank, they get free crewman etc, and even charge keen students for essential ferry flights. Ive heard guys have paid for the pleasure of ferrying machines to/from Frost flights. As I say laughing all the way to the bank.
Basically there is no role for a CPL H with 150 hours and a R22 rating, for one thing our insurers would add such a premium for low time pilots the amount would exceed the annual salary of that low time pilot!!
As ever there is the huge hurdle of getting from 150 to 1000hrs.
I suppose the least worst option is an instructing role. Key thing is having a point of difference.
However anyone with 1000hrs and a few hundred turbine is a different story. You would get an interview at least, then its down to personality, attitude and of course ability.
Join Date: May 2008
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"Basically there is no role for a CPL H with 150 hours and a R22 rating, for one thing our insurers would add such a premium for low time pilots the amount would exceed the annual salary of that low time pilot!!"
Sure the training orgs would be doing their best to suppress the facts.
It worked for me, told 1000s of heli pilots needed, even big posters on the walls with quotes from heli-mags
And working for free just isn't enough now, I know paying
for fuel is done now to build up hours.
I take it your are in the New Zealand Helicopter industry?
or moved from the scene to another country.
Sure the training orgs would be doing their best to suppress the facts.
It worked for me, told 1000s of heli pilots needed, even big posters on the walls with quotes from heli-mags
And working for free just isn't enough now, I know paying
for fuel is done now to build up hours.
I take it your are in the New Zealand Helicopter industry?
or moved from the scene to another country.
Join Date: May 2008
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CPL-H+ 5 hours turbine (Hughes 369 rating)=
"Helicopter Professional Pilot License"
Yes you'd denfinatly stand out from the crowd and be in demand.
Never knew there was such a license...
http://www.nelson-aviation.co.nz/Hel...ot_Course.html
That's If people don't believe some of the schools here are a big con.
And yes they have now purchased another R22B rumour has it to cover the demand for such a qualification. Joining the the other four R22
------------------------------------------------------------------------
On a serious note,
Recommend
http://www.heliworxwaikato.co.nz/index.html
"Helicopter Professional Pilot License"
Yes you'd denfinatly stand out from the crowd and be in demand.
Never knew there was such a license...
http://www.nelson-aviation.co.nz/Hel...ot_Course.html
That's If people don't believe some of the schools here are a big con.
And yes they have now purchased another R22B rumour has it to cover the demand for such a qualification. Joining the the other four R22
------------------------------------------------------------------------
On a serious note,
Recommend
http://www.heliworxwaikato.co.nz/index.html
Guest
Posts: n/a
Not a sneaky bit of advertising is it Paul? 
I agree, totally unfair to charge students for frost ferry flights.....the machine is already being charged to the vineyard for the return trip and at quite a nice hourly rate also. Im sure not everyone does this, but those that do.....sheesh!!
Yes there are alot of students learning to fly, and lots of new CPL's also. But it never ceased to amaze me when I was cleaning the heli's in full view of the deck with several students having coffee and talking war storys that NONE of them had the sense to come and give me a hand. Those that did were the ones that got the ferry flights and the positive praise to those that needed to know.
You have to realise that world owes you nothing. To the students that would turn up, fly and leave a dirty machine your not helping yourselves. That way wouldnt work in my operation. This is a really small industry, people talk.
Cheers
Hughesy
I agree, totally unfair to charge students for frost ferry flights.....the machine is already being charged to the vineyard for the return trip and at quite a nice hourly rate also. Im sure not everyone does this, but those that do.....sheesh!!
Yes there are alot of students learning to fly, and lots of new CPL's also. But it never ceased to amaze me when I was cleaning the heli's in full view of the deck with several students having coffee and talking war storys that NONE of them had the sense to come and give me a hand. Those that did were the ones that got the ferry flights and the positive praise to those that needed to know.
You have to realise that world owes you nothing. To the students that would turn up, fly and leave a dirty machine your not helping yourselves. That way wouldnt work in my operation. This is a really small industry, people talk.
Cheers
Hughesy
Join Date: Mar 2006
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False Impressions
It is about time that the student loan funding students into flying came to a complete stop! All it is doing is literally flooding the industry with more brand new helicopter pilots. There are a large number of these guys showing up overseas, Canada/Australia/USA etc and are faced with the same problems they had when they were in NZ. It has been encouraged by some of these training organisations that there are jobs out there for them. There are even some training organisations that do not even have the appropriate licenses or approvals to be carrying out such training. These guys are using the training system to fund them through their debts. This is getting serious! Its not fair on the the students or the industry in general. Sooner or later these guys are going to be faced with serious dissapointment. There is a huge number of guys out there with helicopter pilot licenses in hand that used the student loan system to pay for it but have never used it and have given up.
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I meet a guy who came out of a christchurch outfit (not Garden city). Had 150hrs roughly TT with a R22, H269,H369 plus AS350 ratings...oops forgot jetranger. Also had some other crap and a Student loan of 140,000 dollars..I shook my head in wonder.
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i agree with the student loan scheme, there must be a heap of new minted CPL's out there with very little hope in getting a job in NZ, from an financial perspective there is very little risk as it;s interest free, you can take a lifetime to pay it back, the problem starts when you cant get a job in NZ and have to go overseas and then they start charging interest on a $80k+ loan. The loan scheme provides easy cashflow for training providers and normally a lot less riskier than normal aerial work. Would be interesting to know the number of CPL H liceneces issued over the past couple of years. Ive paid as i go and therefore it;s streched out a few years, but i must say the chances of getting a flying job in NZ look pretty bleak with all competition.
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Advice to 609FC
IMHO.
There is an APPARENT shortage of EXPERIENCED pilots in NZ. There are some jobs that have not been filled after some months. The reason is that for the first time in perhaps fifteen to twenty years there is a global shortage of experience. That's longer than many of the employers in NZ have been in the industry. They are slow adapting to the fact that the skills market is now against them and pilots choose to look elsewhere.
What's next? Either conditions will improve (too late for some) or experience demands will lower. That will be good for those wishing to get a start. However that will continue to perpetuate the NZ cycle - get started, get experienced, get out if you can. This applies to other vocations as well.
Kiwi pilots sometimes get a bagging by pilots from other nations for lowering condition standards elsewhere. That's probably justified to a degree. It stems from the poorer conditions that are accepted in NZ. Almost anything elsewhere is probably an improvement and hence it appears that a Kiwi will work harder for less than others are prepared to. Sad that it happens, but it all stems from too many helicopters, too little work, and too many enthusiastic pilots. What appears to be a willingness to work for less in the eyes of others is money for jam in the eyes of a Kiwi.
So 609FC, depending just what your 2500 hrs experience encompasses you might get a job in NZ. But, accept that you would be there for personal reasons other than making a good living as a pilot. You would do better as a helicopter pilot almost anywhere else.
There is an APPARENT shortage of EXPERIENCED pilots in NZ. There are some jobs that have not been filled after some months. The reason is that for the first time in perhaps fifteen to twenty years there is a global shortage of experience. That's longer than many of the employers in NZ have been in the industry. They are slow adapting to the fact that the skills market is now against them and pilots choose to look elsewhere.
What's next? Either conditions will improve (too late for some) or experience demands will lower. That will be good for those wishing to get a start. However that will continue to perpetuate the NZ cycle - get started, get experienced, get out if you can. This applies to other vocations as well.
Kiwi pilots sometimes get a bagging by pilots from other nations for lowering condition standards elsewhere. That's probably justified to a degree. It stems from the poorer conditions that are accepted in NZ. Almost anything elsewhere is probably an improvement and hence it appears that a Kiwi will work harder for less than others are prepared to. Sad that it happens, but it all stems from too many helicopters, too little work, and too many enthusiastic pilots. What appears to be a willingness to work for less in the eyes of others is money for jam in the eyes of a Kiwi.
So 609FC, depending just what your 2500 hrs experience encompasses you might get a job in NZ. But, accept that you would be there for personal reasons other than making a good living as a pilot. You would do better as a helicopter pilot almost anywhere else.
Join Date: May 2008
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I'll delete that first post
Not the best way to say what point I was making.
Suggestive comment I knew what company that person did there training
with, with regardes to scissorlink's post.
And suggesting the company involved was baiting him with promiss of a job , so got rating through them, to get this nonexistant position.
And naming the company I believed was behind it.
All Comment made without facts. So deleted.
Sorry.Drinking and posting on the long weekend a bad mix
Not the best way to say what point I was making.
Suggestive comment I knew what company that person did there training
with, with regardes to scissorlink's post.
And suggesting the company involved was baiting him with promiss of a job , so got rating through them, to get this nonexistant position.
And naming the company I believed was behind it.
All Comment made without facts. So deleted.
Sorry.Drinking and posting on the long weekend a bad mix
Last edited by Paul_tail rotor_Wint; 31st May 2008 at 07:41. Reason: lost meaning and negetive comments
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How long has Helipro been in CHCH, who did they buy out ?? Real shame the North American Summer and the N.z summer aren't at the same time....then there would really be a shortage of drivers..Sh*T when I started you needed 3000 hrs to get in with Helicopter Line now you can get a job with 400 
How times have changed
How times have changed
Join Date: Aug 2007
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Helipro bought out Christchurch Helicopters.
Good crowd. Heli flying is in general 50% more expensive than in South Africa.
Salaries in SA are also much better than here, for experienced pilots.
I was busy doing my ppl conversion with Helipro, but I have had to stop while I sort out some issues in South Africa.
Regards
Basil
Good crowd. Heli flying is in general 50% more expensive than in South Africa.
Salaries in SA are also much better than here, for experienced pilots.
I was busy doing my ppl conversion with Helipro, but I have had to stop while I sort out some issues in South Africa.
Regards
Basil
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Loach
Just an update with info:
http://www.astralhelicopters.co.nz/
http://www.l37helicopters.co.nz/ (R22's) PPL@ $510 per hr training cost.
http://whl.wanaka-helicopters.co.nz/ www.heliflights.co.nz [same site] Book , really busy as above
http://www.christchurchhelicopters.co.nz/ Same as Garden City Helicopters
http://www.heliflight.co.nz/ is Auckland based (Use CBi300's) NO (S) as Heliflight(s) is wanaka Helicopters
http://www.chopper.co.nz/ [Ardmore Helicopters Auckland]
http://www.helipro.co.nz
http://www.helinorth.co.nz/
http://www.helicopter-centre.co.nz NZ heli training Centre limited
http://www.heliworxwaikato.co.nz/index.html
http://www.helitraining.co.nz/ =[NSHelicopters] are a training outfit. Probably in the top 3 biggest in numbers trained.
http://www.nelson-aviation.co.nz
http://www.eftl.co.nz/training/eftl_..._training.html EAGLE FLIGHT SCHOOL Ardmore Airport
http://www.newzealandeducationguide.com/helicopters.htm Norwest Helicopters [main website down?]
http://www.bayhelicopters.co.nz/ Hourly fee for Robinson R22 BETA II, $ 500.00
http://www.kapitiaeroclub.co.nz/aeroclub.htm helicopter training in a two seated Hughes 300 PPL-H to CPL-H
generally prices are heading northward from $475 now.
Few more I know I have forgotten.
Ian Wakeling lists in the local Aviation newspaper, don't have the details at hand.
Al Gwilt/MW Helicopters - They're a Gazelle operation in Stapleford, so I can't remember how he ended up on my list.
Wanaka Helicopters - Great. Email sent.
Garden City Helicopters - I put a question mark beside these guys because their web site didn't tell me enough to make my email list.
NSHelicopters - Don't seem to be a training outfit.
Heletranz - Same as above.
Bruce Harbey/Harvey Helicopters - no website that I can find.
Ian Wakeling - Same as above.
Christchurch Helicopters - Email sent. They train with R22s which is a minus, but their site is quite good. No prices, mind you.
Shoreline Helicopters - Can't find them at all.
Helipro - Great site, email sent.
Tasman Helicopters - They don't seem to offer training and only seem to have one EC120 B4.
Mountainair - Seems to be a fixed wing school.
Heliflights - Already contacted and had a reply from these guys. A bigger/busier school than I'd like, but I'm not dismissing them yet.
Wanaka Helicopters - Great. Email sent.
Garden City Helicopters - I put a question mark beside these guys because their web site didn't tell me enough to make my email list.
NSHelicopters - Don't seem to be a training outfit.
Heletranz - Same as above.
Bruce Harbey/Harvey Helicopters - no website that I can find.
Ian Wakeling - Same as above.
Christchurch Helicopters - Email sent. They train with R22s which is a minus, but their site is quite good. No prices, mind you.
Shoreline Helicopters - Can't find them at all.
Helipro - Great site, email sent.
Tasman Helicopters - They don't seem to offer training and only seem to have one EC120 B4.
Mountainair - Seems to be a fixed wing school.
Heliflights - Already contacted and had a reply from these guys. A bigger/busier school than I'd like, but I'm not dismissing them yet.
http://www.astralhelicopters.co.nz/
http://www.l37helicopters.co.nz/ (R22's) PPL@ $510 per hr training cost.
http://whl.wanaka-helicopters.co.nz/ www.heliflights.co.nz [same site] Book , really busy as above
http://www.christchurchhelicopters.co.nz/ Same as Garden City Helicopters
http://www.heliflight.co.nz/ is Auckland based (Use CBi300's) NO (S) as Heliflight(s) is wanaka Helicopters
http://www.chopper.co.nz/ [Ardmore Helicopters Auckland]
http://www.helipro.co.nz
http://www.helinorth.co.nz/
http://www.helicopter-centre.co.nz NZ heli training Centre limited
http://www.heliworxwaikato.co.nz/index.html
http://www.helitraining.co.nz/ =[NSHelicopters] are a training outfit. Probably in the top 3 biggest in numbers trained.
http://www.nelson-aviation.co.nz
http://www.eftl.co.nz/training/eftl_..._training.html EAGLE FLIGHT SCHOOL Ardmore Airport
http://www.newzealandeducationguide.com/helicopters.htm Norwest Helicopters [main website down?]
http://www.bayhelicopters.co.nz/ Hourly fee for Robinson R22 BETA II, $ 500.00
http://www.kapitiaeroclub.co.nz/aeroclub.htm helicopter training in a two seated Hughes 300 PPL-H to CPL-H
generally prices are heading northward from $475 now.
Few more I know I have forgotten.
Ian Wakeling lists in the local Aviation newspaper, don't have the details at hand.