Cost of flight training takes off following Budget changes
Changes in this year’s Budget mean student pilots will no longer be able to borrow to fund their solo flying for their commercial licences.
A Hamilton flight training provider welcomes changes in the Budget that will allow them to provide a better quality service – but students will pay the cost.
The budget released this week outlines plans to pull student loan funding for the 100 hours solo flying required to receive a commercial pilot’s licence – a projected cost of $25-$30,000 a student.
But Hamilton’s CTC Aviation Training sees it as a positive move that would produce higher quality pilot training.
Chief Executive Ian Calvert said the funding changes would help separate the students who were committed to a career in the industry and those who were stringing along for the ride.
“I think it will reduce the number of pilots being trained so that those who thought it was a good idea, something they could do because there was a student loan, will now be filtered out and therefore the number of pilots trained will better match the industry demand.”
He said the previous government funding regime was based on 2003 figures that were not economically viable now and that changes outlined in the budget were more realistic.
“It’s really bringing the true cost of flight training into the real world.”
It would allow reinvestment back into the business and improve equipment, technology and training techniques that were currently out-dated.
He said while it would be more expensive for students he didn’t expect a reduction in numbers studying in Hamilton or an exodus of trainee pilots overseas, as New Zealand training prices were still competitive internationally.
However, South Island student organisation SANITI believes the changes will seriously limit access to pilot training in New Zealand.
SANITI student president Rachel Boyack who represents over half of the current student pilots in New Zealand said aviation services and the public should be concerned.
“A pure market approach will restrict aviation pilot training to those who can afford it, rather than those who are likely to be successful pilots.
“Student pilots already face an uphill battle in their quest for a career in the aviation industry and this budget will make their training even more difficult.”
