Former air manager sets new course

BASES COVERED: Drew Ferry (right) has joined Dave Pitt as a driving instructor contracted to AA Driver Training in Wanganui.

Another driver has joined AA Driver Training as a contracted instructor for the Wanganui District.

Drew Ferry started as an instructor before Christmas, joining David Pitt.

While Mr Ferry teaches in a car with an automatic transmission, Mr Pitt takes his students in a car with a manual gearbox.

"Dave and I are effectively complementing each other in the fact we're not fishing for the same clients," he said.

Mr Ferry said the option of teaching in two different cars reflected the shift in cars from manual to auto transmissions.

"In my experience certainly the younger learners like the auto because they're not having to worry about that manual shift, using the clutch and those other things, particularly when they are new to driving," he said.

He is new to the business having retired after 35 years as an Air NZ manager.

"I'm what you'd call an 'active relaxer' but I like to be doing something and this opportunity came up to be self-employed and I jumped at the chance," he said.

Mr Ferry is no stranger to taking foreigners through driving training either. He has been teaching English as a second language and has had a number of new citizens at the wheel.

"These are people dead keen to learn to drive because they see it as an asset. They can get out and about and their employment opportunities improve.

"But being able to communicate with them is really important and that's why my background in teaching languages with them is really helpful."

Mr Pitt has been a driving instructor for 14 years and said he was still getting plenty of learners who wanted to get their skills at the wheel in a car with a manual gearbox.

"In fact, many parents insist their children learn to drive in a car with a manual gearbox," he said.

"Many will say it's the best way to learn to drive because you have to learn a lot of actions at the same time not like an auto."