The New Zealand Airline Academy (NZAA) ordered 10 new planes late last year— one has already landed — to join their primary training fleet of 17 aeroplanes.
The nine new planes yet to arrive consist of eight hi-tech Tecnam PT2008 high-wing models and one Tecnam P-Mentor.
NZAA co-director and academy co-founder Celroy Mascarenhas said they set out to be the best flying school they could be with a focus on the highest safety standards and quality luxurious aircrafts for their students.
Mr Mascarenhas said they were happy with the academy’s expansion, despite recent reports local flight schools in New Zealand were on the "brink of collapse" due to plummeting enrolment numbers.
"I know there has been low enrolment at other schools. I have been told we are the largest in terms of student numbers, which is great."
The flight training school now has 92 international students and 10 on its waiting list.
The first of the 10 planes added to the fleet is a Tecnam P2006T and it came the long, but not the longest, way to Waitaki.
The Tecnam P2006T arrived at the NZAA from Italy late last year, having been transported across the world by a "ferry pilot".
A ferry pilot transports aircraft from one location to another.
Australian ferry pilot Stuart Caling flew the aircraft from Rome through Greece, Egypt, Abu Dhabi, India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Australia before flying on to Auckland and Nelson over two weeks, arriving in Oamaru in late November.
Mr Mascarenhas said the decision to use a ferry pilot was economic and time-saving.
Using a ferry pilot also meant the aircraft would be on New Zealand soil in less than two weeks.
The aircraft is the most technologically advanced multi-engine training plane and is used for pilot training for the academy’s international students.
The plane is the academy’s second Tecnam P2006T.
