AIR - Air NZ.

[Lewylewylewy]

Hardly fair that the government could blame them for a failure when it's the government that basically stopped them trading. Surely the government holds some responsibility here?

[Lewylewylewy]

There seems to be something wrong with the idea of an island nation relying on the ability of other nations to enable us (and our tourists) to get in and out of the country. Seems like a big power to put in the hands of someone else. Or maybe that's small minded thinking? I don't know. There's definitely a risk that needs to be managed there.

[Jantar]

Thanks for that. Those sort of costs will constrain pilot supply to some degree. Do you know on what basis they are paid bonuses?

No. I do know his salary, and he has mentioned a per diem for when he has to overnight away from his base, but he hasn't mentioned bonuses.

[Blue Skies]

There seems to be something wrong with the idea of an island nation relying on the ability of other nations to enable us (and our tourists) to get in and out of the country. Seems like a big power to put in the hands of someone else. Or maybe that's small minded thinking? I don't know. There's definitely a risk that needs to be managed there.

Theres no way any NZ Govt would not ensure we have a national carrier & were left at the whim of foreign carriers, at least partially due to our geographical position.
Generally speaking, NZ is an end of the line destination, i.e. with the odd exception, we are not on the way to anywhere, so we are not used as a connection point or a Hub by airlines, such as many countries in Asia, Europe, & places in N America.
The whole tourism industry & our exports esp of fresh produce would be vulnerable to decisions we had no control over.
Aside from that, its in the whole countries best interests to ensure we have a reliable national domestic carrier which can feed off both international arrivals & domestic travel & freight, serving much of the country.
Can't imagine too many foreign owned carriers serving places like Invercargill, Blenheim or Gisborne.

[Blue Skies]

It isn't that the job is hard to learn, but rather the cost of learning. My son is a captain flying for QANTAS internally, and currently stood down. He has now got his student loan down to $156,000 for learning to fly and getting all the relevant ratings.

It used to be when kids had a passion for flying but couldn't afford aero school, they would join the airforce and get paid while learning to fly. Later many of them switched to careers as highly paid commercial pilots.
That option probably doesn't exist now?

[Zaphod]

It used to be when kids had a passion for flying but couldn't afford aero school, they would join the airforce and get paid while learning to fly. Later many of them switched to careers as highly paid commercial pilots.
That option probably doesn't exist now?

Doubtful in NZ, given the lack of any real airforce capability.

[macduffy]

Doubtful in NZ, given the lack of any real airforce capability.

Not really. It was only the strike force that was disbanded.

http://www.airforce.mil.nz/about-us/...ft/default.htm

[Zaphod]

Not really. It was only the strike force that was disbanded.

http://www.airforce.mil.nz/about-us/...ft/default.htm

The strike force are always the primary feeder into civilian services. Not a lot of other aircraft left, which is why experienced pilot recruitment comes primarily from the international sector, or from other civilian operators. The NZ air force hardly factor in to recruitment in the private sector at all now.

[Cyclical]

The strike force are always the primary feeder into civilian services. Not a lot of other aircraft left, which is why experienced pilot recruitment comes primarily from the international sector, or from other civilian operators. The NZ air force hardly factor in to recruitment in the private sector at all now.

I remember meeting some guy in the UK about GFC time who said Easyjet or Ryanair (can't remember which) pilots used to go to Hamilton NZ to do training. Not sure if there was any truth to it.

[Zaphod]

I remember meeting some guy in the UK about GFC time who said Easyjet or Ryanair (can't remember which) pilots used to go to Hamilton NZ to do training. Not sure if there was any truth to it.

Could have been. There's a number of really good flight schools in NZ. The government made changes to the funding model back in the mid 00's, which caused a number of them to merge or close, so there aren't the total number there used to be, but the ones that are left are provide better outcomes.