New Zealand – New Zealand’s pilot training sector is warning that the country faces a shortfall of around 100 pilots in 2025, with flight schools, regional airlines, and training providers all struggling to keep pace with surging demand for new aviators. Training leaders say outdated regulations and rising costs are slowing pilot production, creating growing strain across the aviation system.
- At Ardmore Flying School, one of the country’s largest training organisations, Irene King said the current pilot qualification structure—introduced decades ago—forces schools to train on academic-year timelines rather than on a competency-based model, delaying pilot readiness.
- “We’re training exactly the same product that the rest of the world trains in 14 to 16 months. For us, it’s taking anywhere up to three, three-and-a-half years,” King said. “That’s a consequence of the framework that government has put in place.”
- The extended training period and overall costs—often exceeding NZD 100,000 per student—are major barriers to entry, discouraging potential cadets at a time when global pilot demand is rising sharply.
- King warned that the shortage is already visible in operations, with regional routes facing cancellations and airlines grounding aircraft due to lack of crew.
- Associate Transport Minister James Meager confirmed that reform is underway, led by Ringa Hora, the national Workforce Development Council.
- A revised pilot training framework—expected to be released by the end of 2025—will shorten qualification times and modernise pathways to match international standards.
- The government’s Aviation Action Plan, running through 2027, includes broader workforce initiatives such as recruiting experienced foreign pilots and reviewing Civil Aviation Authority and training systems.
Source: Ardmore Flying School and Local Media Reporting
You may also check our Terms and Conditions for our Content Policy. Searching for specific information - kindly contact us to see if we can assist you.