Enrolments banned while international flight school fixes 'serious shortcomings'
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Tuakana Te Tana
Enrolments of new learners at Whanganui's international pilot academy have been halted until "serious shortcomings" are addressed.
The New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) has placed statutory conditions on the troubled New Zealand International Commercial Pilot Academy (NZICPA) while an action plan is put in place.
The council-owned academy's fleet has been grounded since May 23 because of a safety investigation by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
That probe followed safety concerns raised anonymously.
Now the NZQA clampdown requires the academy to stop enrolling new students or issuing new offers of place.
The academy must also develop and implement an action plan, to NZQA's satisfaction, to improve governance and management oversight of all training operations.
It must improve quality management systems to comply with obligations under private training establishment rules, and ensure training is properly planned for and delivered.
The ratio of instructors to learners must improve to 1:5, and individual training plans must be developed for learners, with scheduling to help ensure timely achievement of training milestones. Primary instructors must be assigned to ensure continuity for individual learners.
"The statutory actions will be in place until we are satisfied that NZICPA has reduced the ratio of instructors to learners, improved planning and scheduling, and increased governance and management oversight of training operations," said NZQA deputy chief executive of quality assurance, Eve McMahon.
"I would like to thank NZICPA's learners for raising their concerns, staff and management for supporting NZQA's investigation, and CAA for their advice and expertise in aircraft training best practice."
McMahon said NZQA would stay "actively engaged" with the academy and continue to work closely with the CAA and other agencies.
The investigation found that student accommodation and food broadly reflected their contracts with the academy, with NZICPA voluntarily taking action where improvements were needed, McMahon said.
"NZQA will now be focusing on monitoring NZICPA's progress against the conditions and ensuring the necessary improvements are made."
The flight school is owned by the Whanganui District Council, operating under its commercial arm Whanganui Council Holdings Limited (Holdings).
It has been operating since 2017 and has its own board and management team. In 2023, it agreed a deal with Indian airline IndiGo to train 200 cadet pilots through to December 2026.
Whanganui mayor Andrew Tripe said last month the council was working to ensure the best outcome for students and staff and to ensure the long-term interests of ratepayers were protected.
He said the council aimed to minimise financial exposure and retain a safe and effective international flight training facility in Whanganui so that it could continue to provide economic benefits to the region.
"The academy, at full strength, is estimated to inject more than $9.5 million annually into our economy," Tripe said.
Former chief executive Gerard Glanville resigned in June.
NZQA's statutory conditions have been imposed under Section 348 of the Education and Training Act 2020 and take effect today (Tuesday).
"This gives NZICPA the opportunity to operate in a limited way, while addressing serious shortcomings in their management, planning and systems," said McMahon.
The New Zealand International Commercial Pilot Academy in Whanganui has been grounded because of a safety investigation by the Civil Aviation Authority.
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The Whanganui council is expected to consider selling the flying school "in the next few weeks".
A joint statement from the council and academy on Friday said sale negotiations were underway with five interested parties.
Holdings chair Carolyn van Leuven said it had received offers from five different parties and was working through them.
"Progress is promising at this stage, and we expect to go back to councillors for a decision in the next few weeks.
"We are working very hard to ensure the best outcome for Whanganui ratepayers from a difficult situation.
"A key focus is on continuation of a flight school in Whanganui, for the benefits it brings to the Whanganui airport and economy."
Van Leuven said Holdings was also looking at what would provide the most efficient pathway to get students back on track with their training.
Their food and accommodation was being covered by the academy while the fleet was grounded.
Weekly costs were being monitored carefully, and the academy was operating from an existing council funding package of $10.3 million signed off in 2023.
"Any interim support for students is being funded from this envelope," van Leuven said.
NZICPA chair Matthew Doyle said the academy was continuing work to lift the suspension of its Part 141 certificate that enabled it to train aviation students.
"Several assurance documents have been sent to CAA, and we await their response."
Doyle said ground training was continuing at the school and its first aircraft, ZK-CTQ, had cleared inspection.
"This is an important milestone. The supporting documentation will be submitted to the Civil Aviation Authority this week and we expect other aircraft to follow soon after."
Academy director Craig Compain has stepped into an executive role to oversee the running of the academy.
LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
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