Latest news with #NZICPA
NZ Herald
6 days ago
- Business
- NZ Herald
Whanganui pilot academy investigation: Some planes cleared to fly as students back facility's future
The CAA has been investigating safety at the academy since May 23, with the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) conducting an investigation into the quality of training. The NZICPA's Part 141-Aviation Training Organisation certification, which allows it to conduct aviation training and assessments, is suspended. The CAA extended the suspension for an additional 30 days from June 23. Compain said the academy was taking a phased approach to lifting the suspension. An open letter from trainee pilots Murshid Mohamed, Saanvi Rawal and Shahad Parammal, on behalf of students and parents, said if the academy had been abandoned or shut down, it would have 'left an unfortunate mark' on the perception of aviation training in New Zealand. 'The reputational ripple effect would have been swift, loud and global,' it said. 'Fortunately, that outcome has been avoided.' The letter said students and parents trusted the NZICPA, regulators, leaders and community members guiding the process. 'It is a case study in how a country with world-class aviation values responds to internal challenges without compromising its international credibility.' Students had witnessed a period of deep uncertainty and concern over the past few months, it said. 'What emerged through this difficult time was a powerful example of how New Zealand's aviation ecosystem – from regulators to local leaders – chooses to act, not out of fear or politics, but with clarity, unity and responsibility." Whanganui Council Holdings (Holdings) chair Carolyn van Leuven said discussions about a potential sale were ongoing. Holdings is the council's commercial arm. On July 7, the Chronicle reported five parties were interested in the business. 'We are undertaking due diligence and making a thorough assessment before we narrow down options and bring recommendations back to Whanganui District Council for a decision,' van Leuven said. 'As always, our priorities are to ensure a return to safe, high-quality flight training in Whanganui – and to get the best outcome for Whanganui ratepayers from a difficult situation.' While planes were grounded, funding for students' food and accommodation was coming from a $10.3 million funding package signed off by the council in 2023. Compain said staff were ensuring the academy was well managed and costs remained within its existing funding. 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 the Whanganui District Council.
RNZ News
08-07-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Enrolments banned while international flight school fixes 'serious shortcomings'
A statutory clampdown requires Whanganui's beleaguered international pilot academy to stop enrolling new students or issuing new offers of place. Photo: 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. Photo: 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.
NZ Herald
26-05-2025
- Business
- NZ Herald
Whanganui's NZ International Pilot Academy being investigated by CAA after safety complaints
'This action has been taken under Section 314 of the Civil Aviation Act 2023, due to concerns around maintenance practises and the record-keeping processes,' it said. 'The prohibition applies to all flight operations and was deemed necessary to ensure the safety of students, staff, and the public. 'Ground-based training and instructional activities remain unaffected and will continue as scheduled.' Glanville told the Chronicle that the CAA chose to investigate following concerns raised through 'anonymous reporting'. 'There is a general prohibition of using our aircraft while they [CAA] determine if there's a safety aspect to it or not. 'We cannot use our current aircraft fleet, but the Part 141 licence we have is not suspended. 'We are not shut down. They are just investigating whether there is a wider problem with the maintenance of our aircraft.' The academy is funded by the Whanganui District Council and operates under the council's financial arm - Whanganui District Holdings. In 2023, the NZICPA signed a deal with Indian airline IndiGo to train 200 new cadets up to December 2026. Ten second-hand planes, costing $2.78 million in total, were added to the fleet last year. Whanganui Mayor Andrew Tripe said he had a meeting scheduled with the NZICPA board and chief executive for this afternoon. 'We are just trying to gather as much information as we can,' he said. 'The wellbeing and safety of students is a priority.' The academy started operating in 2017, with the council as a 100% shareholder. 'It's got its own board and management team, but, as councillors, we are expecting meticulous attention to safety from all our CCOs,' Tripe said. A report from Holdings chair Carolyn van Leuven to the council's council-controlled organisations and economic development committee in April said a twin-engine DA42 had been bought for the academy. 'NZICPA had previously identified the risk associated with operating only one twin-engine trainer, which was realised when our only DA42 was out of action for five weeks during scheduled maintenance and the shortage in New Zealand of rental DA42's,' it said. At that meeting, NZICPA chairman Matthew Doyle said there were 141 students at its accommodation facilities, with 26 instructors. The council is building a $3.6m partial parallel taxiway from the academy's hangar to the main runway to mitigate safety issues such as backtracking (back taxiing). Glanville's letter said no charges would be made to cadets for accommodation or food during the investigation, starting from May 23 'to the date that a cadet resumes flight training'. 'We are also permitted to lease aircraft not included in the prohibition notice,' it said. 'These will operate under the maintenance control of their respective owners until NZICPA's system is rectified and approved.' Mike Tweed is a multimedia journalist at the Whanganui Chronicle
NZ Herald
25-05-2025
- Business
- NZ Herald
Whanganui flight school halted by CAA for ‘aviation-related' issues
A Whanganui pilot academy has been grounded due to 'aviation-related' concerns from the Civil Aviation Authority. The academy, owned by Whanganui District Council, provides training for international and domestic students. The CAA is reviewing the concerns with the academy to determine the next steps. A Whanganui pilot academy has been grounded following 'aviation-related' concerns from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). New Zealand International Commercial Pilot Academy operates out of Whanganui Airport and provides 'aviation education training and assessments to the highest industry standards', according its website. 'The CAA has made the decision to ground aircraft operated by the NZICPA for safety reasons while we address these concerns,' says a CAA spokesperson. NZICPA offers a pilot cadet programme for Indian airline IndiGo as well as catering for international and domestic students.
NZ Herald
22-05-2025
- Business
- NZ Herald
Whanganui council invites public to have say on former St George's School buildings
The buildings at Grey St were bought by Whanganui District Holdings, the council's financial arm, in 2019 in a joint partnership with Te Ngakinga o Whanganui. They were meant to house an aviation training hub through the New Zealand International Pilot Academy (NZICPA), then a homeless hub initiative was 'aborted', Langford said. A retirement village and a petrol station on the corner of the site were potential options in recent years. 'Hotel development has been suggested, as well as student accommodation for NZICPA. 'Based on three-bedroom properties using Kāinga Ora -style social housing designs, you could fit up to 150 units on the site.' The council's preferred option was to seek a long-term lease of the site, but elected members voted against having a preferred option during public consultation. Langford said previous conversations with private developers showed leasing the site would likely mean demolishing the buildings beforehand. His report to the council said demolition would cost $1.255 million, including deconstruction, asbestos removal and soil remediation. 'The City Endowment Fund has cash reserves of $1.5m,' it said. 'This ringfenced fund could be used to fund the deconstruction and remediation rather than debt funding.' Langford told councillors there was one live lease inquiry from a community health provider, which wanted to develop a medical centre and community hub. 'My understanding is their timeframes are becoming increasingly tight. 'I believe they are keen to progress their development and have some urgency because they are in temporary accommodation at the moment.' Advertise with NZME. Councillor Michael Law said he did not agree with going out to consultation because the process would take up a lot of officers' time and there would be little feedback. 'We just need the information in front of us to do what we are paid to do,' he said. 'Please give me a business case and I'll make a decision based on that.' Langford's report said leasing the property long-term would provide a net financial return of $109,000 a year. Refurbishing the buildings was estimated to cost $12m. Demolishing them but keeping them for council use would mean a net annual cost of $180,697, including the loss of revenue from the YMCA, which currently occupied part of the property. Selling the site was not considered viable because of commitments made by the council to the Whanganui Land Settlement Negotiation Trust (WLSNT) in 2018, the report said. They prevented the council from divesting any property while the land treaty settlement process was under way. 'Council officers have engaged with WLSNT, who have confirmed an interest in 125 Grey St, and that they would not support council divesting the property,' it said. 'However, they are supportive of long-term leasing arrangements.' Councillor Rob Vinsen asked how much Holdings bought the buildings for in 2019. The council did not give a figure when asked by the Chronicle last month. Langford said he could not remember the original price, but when the council bought the property back from Holdings in 2023 it paid about $1.2m, with no impact on ratepayers. 'That was sufficient to completely clear the Holdings' financing they used to acquire it,' he said. 'It's got a current book value as an asset, because of the impairments we've applied to the buildings due to their condition, of $2.5m.' His report said the buildings had a seismic new building standard range of 10% to 30%. The earthquake-prone building threshold under the Building Act is 34%. 'The site is confirmed to contain significant levels of asbestos contamination,' it said. 'Based on the level of risk, the main buildings should only be entered with full personal protective equipment.' The original school buildings, built in 1927, have Class C heritage status under the Whanganui District Plan. Whanganui Deputy Mayor Helen Craig said it was a strategic site and the community needed to think about how it could function in the future. 'The existing building, I think, most people would consider to be pretty iconic,' she said. 'If people have real ideas or business opportunities they think could be viable, it would be good to hear about that.' Public consultation runs from May 27 to June 15. Part of the consultation process will include car parking options along Parsons St and Carlton Ave. 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 the Whanganui District Council.
