Sky's the limit for trainee pilots

CTC Aviation Training (NZ) Limited, a global leader in airline pilot training, is holding an open day at its Crew Training Centre in Hamilton on Saturday.

Visitors will receive information about what it takes to be accepted into the programme.

Those attending the open day will get the chance to take a guided tour of CTC's extensive training facility located near Hamilton International Airport.  Visitors will also get up close with the company's G1000 (glass cockpit) aircraft, including the Diamond DA42 and Cessna 172, as well as the Diamond DA20 Katana.

Members of the CTC flight training team and current cadets will also be available to answer any questions.

Ian Calvert, CTC Aviation Training (NZ) Limited CEO, says one of the company's main recruiting focuses this year is for people looking to take up the Jetstar Ab-Initio Cadet Programme which is intended for candidates with limited or no previous flying experience.

"Two years since we began training pilots for Jetstar, many CTC graduates are now flying with the airline.  We need to recruit 32 Jetstar ab-initio trainees this year, so there's huge opportunity for New Zealanders to land a career as a pilot with one of the region's top airlines," he says.

In addition to the Jetstar pilot cadet programme, the open day event will provide information on other CTC training programmes. Everything from the CTC Wings International Pilot Programme - for students with little to no flying experience - to the Instructional Techniques Course - for the qualified pilot wishing to become an instructor  - will be covered.

There will be prize draws for presentation attendees to win a flight in a DA42 aircraft.  Others will win the opportunity to try out CTC's flight simulators.