Flying in New Zealand

Organisations

• the Airways Corporation of New Zealand provides air traffic control services, the Internet Flight Information Service and the Aeronautical Information Publication  - the Weather Card helps translate coded weather forecasts 

• the Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand sets the rules. Its site includes the details of all the aircraft on the New Zealand register (New Southern Sky) 

• Aspeq carries out delegated personnel licensing functions such as examinations 

• Recreational Aircraft Association of New Zealand certifies microlight pilots and modifications - Training Manual 

• Gliding New Zealand 

• the Aviation Medical Society of New Zealand represents medical examiners

• The New Zealand Aviation Federation is the umbrella organisation for general aviation activities.

• The Sport Aircraft Association NZ supports homebuilders.

• AOPA NZ supports private aircraft owners. 

• New Zealand Association of Women in Aviation 

• NZ Warbirds Association 

• The New Zealand Aerobatic Club holds competitions.

The Wings over New Zealand Aviation Forum is an excellent bulletin board run by Dave Homewood. 

Air shows

The three big air shows held in New Zealand are:

• Wings Over Wairarapa 

• Classic Fighters Omaka 

• Warbirds Over Wanaka 

Aero clubs

Most Flying NZ (Royal New Zealand Aero Club) member clubs have web sites or at least Facebook pages:

Flying is in my blood

Apart from working on aviation issues at the Ministry of Transport for many years, I have held a Private Pilots Licence (PPL) and have logged over 270 hours mainly flying Piper and Cessna aircraft (usually an Arrow, Archer or 172 after I learnt to fly in a Tomahawk). Almost all my flying has been the Wellington Aero Club and Northland Districts Aero Club (now the Whangarei Flying Club). During my early retirement I was Secretary of the latter Club from August 2018 until standing down in May 2023. With the Whangarei Flying Club I learnt to fly a Tecnam P92 Eaglet G5 and an Aeroprakt A-22LS, and held a Sport Aviation Corp Advanced Pilot Certificate.

My father was a pilot in the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) during the Second World War flying Tiger Moth, Oxford, Hudson, Walrus and Catalina aircraft in New Zealand and around the South Pacific. I was fortunate to have short flights from Wellington and Whangarei in a PBY-5A when The New Zealand Catalina Preservation Society had one flying in New Zealand - sadly it is currently for sale. From the 1960s my father held a PPL, serving a term as President of the South Otago Aero Club and was still flying until six months before he died at the age of 75. Over the years I spent many hours in small aeroplanes flying with him. 

My maternal grandfather, Edgar Shand, served as Observer in the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) during World War One, in the immediate post war period was involved in civil aviation administration and was an early Vice President of the Otago Aero Club.

In 1998 I visited the Old Mandeville Airfield near Gore, where Tiger Moths, the aircraft my father learnt to fly on, are restored,.

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Last updated on 12 July 2023