Around 20 per cent of students at the NZ International Commercial Pilot Academy (NZICPA) in Whanganui have returned home as the school’s aircraft fleet remains grounded due to an ongoing safety investigation by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA), the New Zealand Herald reports.
It is further reported that the grounding, effective from 23 May under Section 314 of the Civil Aviation Act 2023, came after anonymous concerns were raised regarding maintenance practices and record-keeping.
A letter from NZICPA chief executive Gerard Glanville to students said the prohibition was “deemed necessary to ensure the safety of students, staff, and the public.”
While flying is suspended, ground-based training continues.
Glanville confirmed that students left voluntarily for a break and were not instructed to depart. “We will co-ordinate with them to bring them back in again, as soon as we understand the implications of this inquiry,” he said. The academy has retained students most likely to resume flying first. Travel costs were covered by students themselves.
In response to the probe, NZICPA has engaged industry consultants and is preparing remedial plans covering maintenance, airworthiness, and flight operations. “Obviously, NZICPA is looking at all the possible paths,” Glanville said.
NZQA is conducting a parallel review into the quality of training and the academy’s compliance with the Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners) Code of Practice 2021, with specific attention to student accommodation. NZQA deputy chief executive Eve McMahon stated that the agency is reviewing evidence gathered from students and management and will determine next steps based on its findings.
The academy has assured students they will not be charged for food and accommodation during the training suspension. “That comes from our balance sheet,” said Glanville. Whanganui Mayor Andrew Tripe confirmed the council is not covering these costs but said student wellbeing remains a priority.
“It’s fair to say we are working with urgency, but it pays to understand the full situation, which is complex.”
Owned by the Whanganui District Council, NZICPA is operated by its commercial arm, Whanganui District Holdings, which is currently in the process of being wound down.
The academy currently has about 140 students, including 108 enrolled in the IndiGo cadet programme.
In 2023, giving a strategic boost to its global pilot pipeline, Indian airline IndiGo renewed its Cadet Pilot Training Agreement with NZICPA. The partnership built on a successful earlier phase in which the New Zealand-based school trained approximately 45 cadets.
The IndiGo Cadet Pilot Program is a structured initiative aimed at training pilots to the airline’s exacting standards, with continuous oversight from IndiGo’s training team. Notably, around 40% of the cadets selected are young women, chosen purely on merit, signalling a shift towards greater gender equality in aviation.
Currently, it us being reported by the NZ Herald that the school’s financial outlook remains under pressure. “We don’t have income coming in, and we are covering costs at the same time. It’s almost like a pseudo-Covid world at the moment but, obviously, a much shorter one,” Glanville said. He confirmed to NZ Herald that while NZICPA’s Part 141 training licence is still active, the academy is not permitted to use its current aircraft fleet during the investigation.
To ensure training continuity, the academy is exploring the option of leasing unaffected aircraft from external providers, which would operate under their owners’ maintenance systems.
Meanwhile, a $3.6 million council-funded taxiway is being constructed to improve safety at the airfield. The academy, which began operating in 2017, is expected to begin repaying a $10.3 million council investment once it returns to profitability.
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