EC2 - September 2014 EC2 - September 2014 | Page 6

6

SKILLS & TRADE

CTC students
reach for
the skies
A Hamilton flight training organisation generates an
estimated $90 million annually. By Paul Charman
Globalisation gets the blame for shifting jobs off-shore but occasionally it also
brings this country a handsome windfall.
That’s one way to describe the establishment of CTC Aviation, in Hamilton.
This flight training organisation, which generates an estimated $90 million annually for
the New Zealand economy, is part of a global
pilot training and resourcing company.
CTC Aviation launched in the UK in 1992,
established in New Zealand in 2003 and
recently set up a flight training centre in
Phoenix, Arizona. After briefly setting up
at Ardmore, the school shifted to Hamilton
in 2004, where it established purpose-built
training and accommodation facilities.
CTC Aviation now trains an astonishing
300-350 pilots from 16 countries annually.
“The Kiwi dollar may not be as favourable
to foreign investment as when the school
first opened but many other factors make it
well worthwhile bringing trainees to New
Zealand,” says the Aviation Chief Operating Officer for Ab initio (from the beginning) Training, Peter Stockwell.

Mr Stockwell points out that the training environment is enhanced by a great air
traffic control system run by Airways New
Zealand, plus by having far less congested
air space than in Europe and Asia.
This country boasts great facilities and
infrastructure for students, and – while it
may seem counterintuitive – the terrain and
weather can be more varied and difficult
than in many countries, he says.
“Mountains and poor weather may make
operating more difficult, in fact the weather
can effectively close down flying at times.
But such challenges provide vital experience in the formative years, delivering a
potentially life-saving skill-set in a pilot’s
professional development.” says Mr Stockwell.
Meanwhile, CTC Aviation has spared
no expense in providing highly qualified
instructors, well-designed accommodation
and the pastoral care appropriate for its
many young trainees living far from home.
The company’s purpose-built 200-bed
accommodation facility is effectively just

CTC Aviation now trains an
astonishing 300-350 pilots from
16 countries annually.

across the airfield from the training centre,
giving trainees a mere 4km to drive to work
each day. As well as shared recreational
facilities, each room has its own bathroom
and kitchenette, with centralised full kitchens providing opportunities for trainees of
varying cultures to prepare their own food.
Qatar Airways has joined forces with
CTC Aviation to offer a course called The
CTC WINGS MPL Route. The programme is
open to applicants worldwide, with no previous flying experience required. Developed
jointly by Qatar Airways, CTC Aviation and
the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority, graduates benefit from the excellent training and
employment opportunities provided.
CTC Aviation also trains Jetstar’s future
airline pilots for their operations in Aus-

IT’S
ENRNOT TO
FOR OLLI O L
SEP NG N ATE!
&
CO NOV OW
URS
2
ES 014

WITH THE WORLD
CLASS TRAINING
YOU RECEIVE AT
SERVILLES ACADEMY
THE POSSIBILITIES
FOR YOUR FUTURE
ARE ENDLESS...

BECOME A
TOP STYLIST

TRAVEL THE WORLD
ON CRUISE SHIPS

OWN YOUR
OWN SALON

WORK ON
FASHION SHOWS

STYLE FOR EDITORIAL
& PHOTOSHOOTS

Servilles Academy offers the
following courses:
— Foundation Certificate
in Hairdressing
— Advanced Certificate
in Hairdressing
— Youth Guarantee (zero fees!)

WORK IN
FILM & TV

tralia and Singapore, as well as pilots for
Dragonair in Hong Kong and Royal Brunei
Airlines from the Asia Pacific region.
“Even if a candidate has little or no flying
experience, we can take them from the
basics through single-engine and multiengine flying,” says Mr Stockwell.
“Depending on opportunities at the time,
they can be taken on to jet training and
airline-type rating, eventually achieving
placement with one of our partner airlines.
“Our team has placed CTC WINGS ATPL
Integrated Route graduates with easyJet,
British Airways, flybe and Monarch Airlines. To date 17 airlines ha ve actively
selected CTC WINGS graduate pilots and
we’re always talking to new airlines about
their cadet requirements.”

CREATE EXPERT
COLOUR

Visit our website for full course
details and information on how
to apply. servillesacademy.com