Nelson Aviation College

27/08/2026

Last week Thursday we were present at the Air New Zealand Engineering and Pilot Career Evening in Christchurch.

Nina Devlin represented us proudly on the flight instructor panel, sharing her experience and insights with those interested in becoming a pilot.

We also had the amazing opportunity to tour the Engineering Hangar and get up close to an A320 undergoing scheduled maintenance.

It was a fantastic evening and a great opportunity to connect with others wanting to learn more about the pathways available within the industry.

These events are held annually, so if you have a friend or family member who is interested in flying for Air New Zealand or joining their engineering team, keep an eye out around late July next year for your chance to grab free tickets and check it out for yourself.

24/08/2026

When you’re training to be a pilot, the region around you becomes part of your downtime.

In winter, some students head up to Rainbow Ski Field, if there’s enough snow for a ski day. On warm days, it might be a boat day in the Abel Tasman, with a few people getting together and heading out for the afternoon.

Real fruit ice creams tend to show up somewhere along the way. If there’s a bigger break, Golden Bay is usually where people end up.

It’s a pretty easy place to settle into because there’s a lot to discover.

21/08/2026

How do aircraft stay away from one another?

With aircraft travelling at high speeds and sharing the same airspace, communication and coordination are essential. In this video, Sam, one of Nelson Aviation College’s IFR instructors, explains how pilots and Air Traffic Control (ATC) work together to keep aircraft safely separated.

Pilots receive clearances, follow assigned routes and altitudes, and maintain constant communication with ATC. Sometimes, aircraft are instructed to enter a holding pattern, a defined flight path that allows them to safely wait for further clearance.

ATC helps manage the traffic, but pilots remain responsible for understanding their clearance, monitoring the aircraft and speaking up if something doesn't look right.

Learn to fly in Nelson, New Zealand, while developing these essential skills from the cockpit.

18/08/2026

Last week Thursday, Lachlan, Leigh and Giles had another successful evening talking with a capacity crowd of 400 tickets holders at The Air New Zealand Pilot Career Evening in Auckland.

Lachlan represented NAC on the panel during the pilot presentation and answered questions about his personal experiences.

Tomorrow is the final event of this series, in Christchurch. Free tickets went fast but you can still put your name on the waitlist through the link below:

https://www.eventbrite.co.nz/e/air-new-zealand-engineering-and-pilot-career-evening-christchurch-2026-tickets-1993506818558

18/08/2026

Well done Nixon Kim on your PPL flight test pass recently. Congratulations Nixon, and big thanks to Liam for Nixon's instruction. Flight training continues for Nixon with the first phase of CPL training.

14/08/2026

The Pauwels Flying Scholarship is the creation of retired airline captain, John Pauwels. After nearly 50 years flying, nearly 40 of those for Air New Zealand, John wanted to give back.

We currently have three students under this scholarship scheme making our total four students, since being offered the opportunity to become involved.

Fantastic to be a partner organisation and to be featured on their blog! Read more about this initiative through their website.

This article is the first in a short series showcasing the Air New Zealand preferred Flight Training Organisations that we are affiliated with. The first off the rank is Nelson Aviation College. This year, three of our winners are in attendance, and two previous winners have already graduated from

12/08/2026

NAC instructor Matt Anderson and CEO Giles Witney had the pleasure of meeting and talking with 150 people who attended last Thursday evening at the Conference Centre at Wellington Airport for the Air New Zealand Pilot Careers Evening.

Matt was a panellist and did a great job sharing his thoughts on his own training at the College.

Our team will be in Auckland tomorrow evening and in Christchurch the week after (20th August) for the next events in the series.

Free tickets went fast!
Want to join the waitlist for the Christchurch evening. Register here:
https://www.eventbrite.co.nz/e/air-new-zealand-engineering-and-pilot-career-evening-christchurch-2026-tickets-1993506818558

11/08/2026

Excellent work from Sam Wilson and Kate Larkin recently. Congratulations to you both for successfully completing your MEIRs. Sam and Kate will shortly be commencing their C Cat Instructor Rating training with us. Well done you two. Many thanks to IR instructor team at Nelson base.

07/08/2026

The 2027 Nelson Aviation College prospectus has arrived.

Inside, you'll find everything you need to know about our flight training programmes, locations, core values, entry requirements, and the pathways available to launch a career in aviation.

If flying has always been the goal, now is the perfect time to start planning.

Download your copy today and take the first step towards training with Nelson Aviation College.

https://www.nelsonaviation.nz/prospectus

06/08/2026

What happens if an aircraft engine stops?

Engine failure is one of the most important emergency procedures every student pilot learns during flight training. In this video, Sam, one of Nelson Aviation College’s IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) instructors, explains how pilots are trained to manage a simulated engine failure safely and make the right decisions under pressure in both single-engine and multi-engine aircraft.

Training in Nelson, New Zealand, gives student pilots the opportunity to develop these essential skills in a diverse flying environment while preparing for real world scenarios.