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International Aviation Academy of New Zealand

Course Information

The Academy

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Course Information

The aviation industry requires a high level of skill and professionalism. It is also an expanding industry that provides constant challenges and requires the greatest possible training and qualifications from its pilots.

The International Aviation Academy of New Zealand is the only dedicated full time professional flight organisation of its type operating from a major international airport.

The Academy is also the largest New Zealand owned operation of its kind in New Zealand, however care is taken to give individual and personal attention to each one of our students. Our professional flight instructors have proven their abilities to be Flight Examiners for the Civil Aviation Authority. 

Career opportunities stretch internationally for holders of New Zealand professional pilot licences. Academy pilots train in an environment of varied weather patterns and terrain known to aviation employers all over the world. Our Academy trained pilots are working in European Countries, United States of America, India, the Gulf States, Indonesia, Asia, Africa as well as New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific.

Between the Academy and its parent organisation, the Canterbury Aero Club, flight training has been our business since 1928. While aviation in the 21st Century is a vastly different industry from those early days, the years of experience and continuity within our flight training organisation are invaluable to our students and recognised by employers.

Aircraft

Academy students have the advantage of access to a large fleet of aircraft, ranging from basic trainers to multi engine instrument equipped aircraft including glass cockpit equipped aircraft. Currently the Academy’s training fleet consists of the following aircraft types:

  • Piper Tomahawk PA38
  • Alpha A160a
  • Piper Warrior PA28-161
  • Piper Archer PA28-181
  • Piper Arrow PA28R-200
  • Piper Cerokee PA28-140
  • Cessna 172
  • Partenavia P68C
  • Pacific Simulator EuroJet PS4.5 (modelled on the A320)
  • Frasca Piper Seminole G1000Nxi

Our aircraft are maintained to the highest possible safety standards by our own Engineering division—another unique feature to our organisation.

Learning to fly at an airport where the traffic mix ranges from B777 and A320s to 10 seater commuter and corporate aircraft, puts our students in a professional environment and gives them an advantage from the start of their training.

The Academy has exclusive use of its own satellite airfield just eight kilometres away, offering a quiet, focused training ground just outside the Christchurch air traffic zone. Such flexibility is unparalleled in New Zealand.

Course Fees

The course fees include:

  • First time theory instruction and examination fees for PPL, CPL, IR and ATPL
  • Flight Training
  • Initial PPL, CPL, IR and C Category Instructor Flight Tests
  • Airways and Local Aerodrome Landing Fees
  • Compulsory course costs

Note: Course fees include one attempt at each exam and flight test. In the unlikely event of a test or exam failure, extra training and test or exam costs will be incurred. These costs are not covered via student loan funding or included in the self funding course price.

The Government has announced that Fees Free for the first year of study or training will finish at the end of 2024. A final-year Fees Free policy will replace it, starting from 1 January 2025.

If you are a first-time tertiary learner in 2025, you may be able to get Fees Free for your final year of study or training. If you are eligible, you will need to apply for your entitlement through IRD from 2026 onwards.

For more information about the transition from first-year Fees Free or the final-year Fees Free policy, visit ird.govt.nz/fees-free

Qualification Costs – Domestic SAC Students

Qualification
Duration
EFT Value
Course Cost
Available Student Loan
Student Shortfall

Private Pilot Licence – Level 4

4 months

NA

$36,000

$0

$36,000

NZ Diploma in General Aviation – Level 5 (XC, CPL, MEIR)

16 – 24 months

2.0250

$119,242

$70,866

$48,376

NZ Diploma in Aviation- Flight Instruction Level 6

3 – 6 months

0.7250

$46,200

$25,375

$20,825

*The student shortfall is due to low government funding. IAANZ offers students payment options.

These prices are for NZ Student Loan funded positions and are indicative for 2026 and subject to change. Please email StudentAdmin@iaanz.co.nz for self funded domestic prices and Elizabeth.w@iaanz.co.nz for International prices.

Note:

Course fees/costs are an average and may vary depending on the academic standard and flying ability of the student. We reserve the right to require a student to undergo additional training in order to reach the required standard. This may require additional time and expense. We endeavour to maintain quoted costs, however due to circumstances beyond our control e.g. fuel increases, currency fluctuations etc price changes may occur.

Programme Information

NZQA Approved Qualifications:

  • NZ Diploma in Aviation – General Aviation ( Student Loan funding available)
  • NZ Diploma in Aviation – Airline Preparation (Student Loan funding available)
  • NZ Diploma in Aviation – Flight Instruction (Student Loan funding available)

The NZ Diplomas in Airline Preparation and Flight Instruction have a selection process. Students apply for entry for these in the second year of the Diploma in General Aviation.

NZQA Approved Training Schemes:

  • Private Pilot Licence (PPL) *
  • Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL)
  • Instrument Flight Rating (MEIR)
  • Airline Transport Pilot Licence Training Scheme (ATPL)
  • Flight Instructor Rating Course (C-Cat)

* Theory papers available, online or face to face

Entry Requirements

Be at least 18 years of age before commencing the programme

Complete the ADAPT Trainee Pilot Pre-screening test

Either:

Hold NCEA Level 3 with at least 14 L3 credits in English rich subjects (English, History, Geography, Biology, Classical Studies, Art History, Journalism, Media Studies, Religious Studies, PE) and 14 L3 credits in Maths orientated subjects (Physics, Chemistry, Calculus, Accounting, Economics) - or equivalent.

OR
Apply for special admission as an adult learner (over 20 years of age) with relevant work experience, prior flight experience at an aero club, or experience working with heavy machinery. 

OR 
If accepted you must pass all your Private Pilot License theory exams or equivalent.

Hold an Aviation Class 1 Medical Certificate

Be competent in spoken English to meet CAANZ requirements

Meet the Fit and Proper person requirement of CAANZ

Applicants will be required to provide a Land Transport driving history report, a Ministry of Justice report and will be interviewed prior to acceptance.

Entry Criteria

To be eligible for any of our programmes you must be able to show you have the ability to complete the programme, have a clear criminal and driving offence record and be able to hold the appropriate class of medical. For more details, refer to the application process