School of Flight » NZ Diploma in Aviation (Airline Preparation) » FAQ's

What’s an FTO Partner?

 “FTO Partners” are the flight training organisations (FTOs) that Air New Zealand has chosen—as a result of a rigorous selection process—to provide airline-informed ab-initio flight training under the Aviation Institute umbrella.

 Who are the FTO Partners?

 Air Hawke’s Bay (Hastings)

International Aviation Academy of New Zealand (Christchurch)

Massey University School of Aviation (Palmerston North)

Nelson Aviation College (Motueka)

Southern Wings (Invercargill)

What are the entry requirements for the FTO Partners?

All applicants must complete the ADAPT pilot pre-screening tool on the ATTTO SkillsConnect website. http://www.nzskillsconnect.co.nz/working-our-industries/aviation/adapt-pre-screening-tool

To be eligible to enter an FTO Partner, you need to score “Average” or above. A grade of “Below Average” will only be acceptable in individually assessed special circumstances. A grade of “Poor” is not acceptable. You will need to submit your ADAPT result sheet to the FTO of your choice before being granted an interview.

 The other pre-requisites are:

Criteria

Required Standard

Competency in spoken
and written English

Refer note 1
  • Four years’ secondary schooling in a country where the first language is English; or
  • An IELTS overall score of 6.0, with no sub-part (reading, writing, listening or speaking) below 6.0; or
  • A score in another English language test in which the selection board has the means to assess its equivalence to the IELTS requirements above.
  • For BAv domestic students, four years secondary school English, including Year 12 English as part of University Entrance; intenational students require IELTS 6.5 with no sub-part lower than 6.0 (or an equivalent English language test).

Aviation experience

Some experience of being around aircraft, or provides evidence of self-motivated efforts to educate themselves about aircraft and the profession of being a pilot.

Cognitive capacity

NCEA Level 3 Certificate (or equivalent) with

  • at least 14 Level 3 credits in a language-rich subject (such as, but not limited to, English, history, art history, geography, biology); and
  • at least 14 Level 3 credits in a numbers-oriented subject (such as, but not limited to, calculus, statistics, physics, chemistry, accounting)

Or

  • A trade qualification at Level 4 or above;

 Or

  • A pass in all PPL subjects gained over a period of not more than 42 days where
    • No more than two subjects have been failed
    • No one subject has been failed more than twice.

For BAv Students – as above, as part of meeting the Massey University academic entry requirements.

Appropriate level of health

Refer note 2

A New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority Medical Certificate, Class 1. Applicants who are advised they have successfully completed the selection process must present their Class 1 medical to the flight training organisation before they commence training.

Passport/Visa status

Refer note 2

A student visa. As part of the pre-selection process, applicants who are not citizens or permanent residents will be asked to sign a document that states they know of no reason why they would be denied a student visa. Applicants who are advised they have successfully completed the selection process must present their student visa to the flight training organisation before they commence training.

Fit and proper person

Refer note 3

An up-to-date Criminal Convictions Report showing:

  • a conviction-free period of at least three years prior to the date on which training will commence; and
  • no more than one conviction for drunk driving.

An up-to-date Demerit Points and Suspension History Report (Traffic Offence History) showing:

  • A maximum of 65 demerit points (or equivalent for international students) within the three years immediately prior to the date on which training will commence.

Note 1:

All applicants must prove competence in spoken and written English. Domestic students will meet the screening requirement by having attended high school in New Zealand. Regardless of the information provided at the screening phase (to which these criteria apply) candidates who are unable to prove an adequate level of English during the selection process will not be successful.

Note 2:

In the event that a successful applicant does not hold a Class 1 medical or student visa by their nominated course commencement date, they may transfer their enrolment to the next available course. Such transfer of enrolment may occur more than once provided the student is able to commence training within a period not greater than 180 days from the completion of the selection process. If the period will exceed 180 days, the applicant must re-sit the entire selection process.

Note 3:

Applicants will be made aware that a conviction for drunk driving (or other serious offence or serial offending) while on the course breaches the fit and proper person criteria, and their training may be terminated.

 65 demerit points is equivalent to two minor speeding offences (20 demerit points each) and a restricted driver carrying and unauthorised passenger (25 demerit points).

 

What is the flight training course called, what qualification is offered?

All student pilots at FTO Partners will enrol on either the New Zealand Diploma in Aviation or the Bachelor of Aviation (Massey University only).

The New Zealand Diploma in Aviation is a new qualification, available for the first time in 2012. Transition arrangements will be in place to transfer all students currently enrolled on any other diploma in aviation over to the New Zealand Diploma.

 If I complete the New Zealand Diploma in Aviation, can I cross-credit towards a degree?

Yes. You will be able to cross-credit toward the Bachelor of Aviation Management (BAvMan) degree offered by Massey University. Contact Massey University for details of cross-crediting arrangements.

 What does the course include?

The New Zealand Diploma in Aviation will have four streams: General Aviation, Instructor, Agricultural and Airline Preparation. All students will complete a Private Pilot Licence (PPL) and Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL). After that, the completion requirements depend on the stream chosen. Those pilots enrolled with the Aviation Institute will be completing the Airline Preparation stream.

 For the Airline Preparation stream, students will complete a PPL, CPL and Multi-Engine Instrument Rating (MEIR). Then they will undergo a secondary selection process for entry into the Airline Integration Course (AIC).

 What’s the Airline Integration Course (AIC)?

Selection into the AIC will be provisional: a student must pass all Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL) subjects to the required standard to commence the AIC course. Massey University students must have completed the academic component of all four compulsory PARTS (PART 1, PART 2, PART 3A, PART 3B) of the BAv. The selection process will be carried out after CPL/MEIR completion so that students who are not selected can apply at this point to complete the New Zealand Diploma in another stream. Massey Students may attend AIC selection when they have become enrolled into PART3B papers and have completed Flight Exams S3FE1 and S3FE2.

 WHAT WILL BE INVoLVED with AIC SELECTION?

The AIC selection process shall consist of:

  1. CAA flight test and exam performance criteria, or
  1. Massey University academic and flight-test performance criteria
  1. An interview to assess non-technical competencies
  2. A simulator assessment to assess technical competencies
  3. A review of the reference provided by the FTO at which the student has completed their ab-initio training.
  4. A team-working exercise to assess interpersonal skills.

CAA Flight Test and Exam Performance Criteria

The candidate shall have passed all CAA flight tests and theory examinations for PPL, CPL, and MEIR, and all theory examinations for ATPL, with:

  1. No more than one resit in any one flight test (PPL, CPL, SEIR or MEIR) and no more than two flight test resits in total.

 For the purposes of these criteria, “resit” is defined as an attempt at an exam or flight test subsequent to an initial failed attempt. A “failed attempt” does not include:

 Note: As the selection process takes place before candidates enrol on the ATPL subjects, acceptance into the final stage of the Airline Preparation strand, the AIC, is conditional upon performance in the ATPL subjects meeting the above criteria.

Massey students are to have met all of the requirements pertaining to PARTS 1, 2, 3A & 3B of the BAv in accordance with the rules and regulations of the degree, as promulgated in the University Calendar.

 Interview to Assess Non-technical Competencies

Candidates will take part in a behavioural interview to assess non-technical competencies defined by Air New Zealand. These competencies strongly reflect those used by the airline to select pilots.

 The competencies to be assessed are:

 Simulator Assessment to Assess Technical Competencies

Candidates will be required to perform a set of manoeuvres and procedures in an airline flight simulator to assess technical competencies defined by Air New Zealand. These competencies strongly reflect those used by the airline to select pilots.

 The competencies to be assessed are:

 Reference/Testimonial from the FTO

The FTO shall write a reference/testimonial for each student applying for the Airline Preparation strand. The reference shall be based upon the student’s training record, and shall include comment on the student’s conduct towards, and interactions with, instructors and fellow students during training.

 Team-working Exercise

Candidates will take part in a group or team-working exercise to assess personal competencies as defined by Air New Zealand. These competencies strongly reflect those used by the airline to select pilots.

 The competencies to be assessed are:

  1. 1.      What are options for FTO Partner students who started training before 2012?

What’s the First Officer Programme?

 The First Officer Programme is designed for sponsored foreign airline cadets, and will include the Airline Integration Course and a jet or turboprop type rating.

 Can I buy a jet type rating?

 Self-funding a jet type rating will not make a low-hour pilot eligible for employment as a jet pilot with Air New Zealand.

 Other jet airlines do require candidates to complete a type rating at their own cost. Air New Zealand is able to provide type ratings to suitable self-funding individuals. For more details on the fleets available, please click here.

Normal entry requirements are 1000 hours total time with 400 hours multi engine in a multi crew environment. Those with less experience will need to undertake an Airline Integration Course prior to their type rating. 

If you wish to self-fund a jet type rating in the hope of gaining employment with another jet operator, contact that operator to check their pilot-entry requirements before commencing the type training.

Pilots employed by Air New Zealand are type-rated post employment at the airline’s expense.  They are then bonded for a period of time and sum of money. If they resign within the period of their bond they must repay the bond (or a portion of it).

What are options for FTO Partner students who started training before 2012?

Students who have graduated from an FTO Partner prior to 2012 are not part of the Aviation Institute course, as they have not been through the standardised selection process. However, they will be eligible to apply for the AIC if they are endorsed by their FTO.

Graduates of FTO Partners who successfully complete the AIC selection process will be given preference for AIC places ahead of other successful candidates who have not graduated from an FTO Partner.

Alternatively, students currently enrolled at an FTO Partner can choose to gain flight experience in the general aviation environment and then apply for the AIC or apply directly to an Air New Zealand Link or other airline when they have met traditional entry criteria.

Student loan funding for the AIC is only available if it is undertaken as an element of the New Zealand Diploma in Aviation (Airline Preparation) or the Massey BAv. BAv students who are selected for the AIC will be required to enrol in paper 190.298 as one of their “third year Option” papers.

 What are the options for students currently training at non-FTO Partners?

If you are training at a non-FTO Partner, once you have completed your CPL, MEIR and ATPL theory you can apply for the AIC. To be accepted on to the AIC you will need to successfully complete the selection process.

 It is important for you to know that the AIC will be a limited-numbers course (approximately 80 students per year), and preference will be given to graduates of FTO Partners. There is no guarantee you will be able to do the AIC if you have not graduated from an FTO Partner.

 Alternatively, students currently training at a non-FTO Partner can choose to gain flight experience in the general aviation environment and then apply for the AIC or apply directly to an Air New Zealand Link or other airline when they have met traditional entry criteria.

 What will be the recruitment process at the end of training? How will Student pilots be tagged for future follow-up?

It is important that student pilots on the Aviation Institute course understand that there is no guarantee of a job at the completion of training.

Part 121, the law governing the operation of large aircraft (Dash-8 size and above), requires that any pilot must have at least 500 hours’ total flight time. This means that immediate graduates are legally unable to fly as pilots for Air Nelson, Mt Cook or Air New Zealand. The only company within the Air New Zealand Group that can legally hire pilots with less than 500 hours’ experience is Eagle Airways, which operates Beech 1900D aircraft governed by Part 125.

All graduates of the Aviation Institute flight training programme will enter the Air New Zealand pilot database “pool” alongside experienced pilots. An online tool enables all pilots in that pool to update their personal details at any time.

When an Air New Zealand Group airline needs to hire pilots, recruiters will refer to this database pool and select interviewees from eligible candidates within that pool. “Eligibility” includes having at least the minimum number of total flight hours required by each airline. Preference will be given to graduates of Air New Zealand Aviation Institute Flight Training Organisation Partners.

It is important to understand that meeting minimum eligibility requirements does not guarantee an interview. Interviews with low hours are particularly unlikely in times of low demand for pilots when airlines have a large number of experienced pilots to choose from.

 To be offered a first officer position with a Link airline, interviewees must successfully complete the Recruit to the Group selection process. This process is the same for all pilots, regardless of experience.

https://careers.airnz.co.nz/

http://www.aviationinstitute.co.nz/ai/school-of-flight/new-zealand-diploma-in-aviation-airline/

http://www.attto.org.nz/about-the-new-zealand-diplomas

http://www.nzskillsconnect.co.nz/working-our-industries/aviation/adapt-pre-screening-tool

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