The NZAAL does not require any planes or equipment from NZICPA. Photo / NZME
Whanganui’s commercial pilot academy will operate out of the Wanganui Aero Club next year.
Aero club president Bruce Gordon said the New Zealand Commercial Pilot Academy (NZICPA) would be based at the club for six months, with an option of a one-month extension.
“For that, they are going to help us do some alterations so we’ve got the right facilities for us to co-exist in the building,” he said.
“I think it’s a great opportunity for the aero club to try and get ahead a bit.
“All clubs struggle so, by having another income for a period of time, we can catch up on some deferred maintenance.”
The aero club is located about 300m from the academy premises at Whanganui Airport, on the other side of the main airport terminal.
Ōamaru-based flight school NZ Airline Academy (NZAAL) will move into the NZICPA’s hangar and classrooms at the start of January, with the NZICPA winding down by mid-next year.
The NZICPA is overseen by Whanganui District Council’s commercial arm, Whanganui District Holdings.
Holdings chairwoman Carolyn van Leuven said Greg Bishop, a former KPMG NZ partner, recently joined the Holdings board and had agreed to take on an advisory role to the council for the transition from NZICPA to NZAAL.
She said he had significant financial, tax, aviation and energy sector expertise.
The aero club, established in 1929, was one of the first flight training establishments in the country.
Gordon said the deal with the academy was “a win-win, for them and for us”.
The club had a big footprint at the airport, he said.
“It is going to disadvantage our members for a period of time but, hopefully, they’ll see at the end that it was worth it.”
He did not say how much the academy was paying for the deal.
The Chronicle asked the council about the type of agreement reached between NZICPA and the aero club, and the amount NZICPA would pay.
Whanganui Mayor Andrew Tripe said questions relating to the aero club were “matters between the club and NZICPA, and you are best to direct those queries to them”.
NZICPA chairman Matt Doyle referred the Chronicle to van Leuven.
She said she did not know the exact figures involved in the deal.
“There are obviously financial arrangements, but I think [NZICPA] are doing some other stuff to help them [aero club] out as well.”
Moving to the club made sense, van Leuven said.
“NZAAL wants to be able to develop its own thing and move forward, so it’s much easier for NZICPA to have a separate place to work.
“We’re glad it’s been able to be negotiated.”
The NZICPA had a negative equity of close to $5 million at the end of the 2024-25 financial year.
Investigations by the Civil Aviation Authority and NZ Qualifications Authority began in May, for safety and quality of training, respectively, but have now concluded.
The council has agreed to support the academy financially until the latest cohort of students finishes training.
In November, council chief financial officer Mike Fermor said costs to keep it open until mid-next year depended on “multiple variables”.
“When we have all the information, we will certainly make full and final financial reports available to the public,” he said.
NZAAL director Jonathan Manuel said 15 new aircraft had been ordered for its Whanganui operations.
None of NZICPA’s equipment or planes is required by NZAAL.
“Five have reached the country already and two more will arrive at the port on December 29,” Manuel said.
“Being an authorised centre, we’ll put them together in Ōamaru and fly them up.”
NZAAL won the supreme award and the excellence in international trade award at last month’s Indian Newslink Business Awards in Auckland.
Manuel said Bishop had gone to Ōamaru to meet with him and his team “so he can understand what we are doing here and what support he can provide”.
“We are pretty stoked. The council has been very supportive.
“With January 1 being a [statutory holiday], we will probably come in on January 2.
“Like we did in Ōamaru, we’ll slowly build numbers. We don’t want to just rush in and overwhelm the place.”
Tripe said Bishop was highly regarded and he had been brought on board because “transitions aren’t easy”.
“No doubt there will be a few bumps along the way but I’m sure we’ll be fine,” he said.
“I’ll be in touch with [NZAAL] pretty soon, just to roll out the welcome mat.
“Their entry into Whanganui provides a sustainable future for the airport, which is important.”
Mike Tweed is a multimedia journalist at the Whanganui Chronicle. Since starting in March 2020, he has dabbled in everything from sport to music. At present his focus is local government, primarily Whanganui District Council.