Following completion of the Airways International air traffic services training programme, you will earn a New Zealand air traffic control trainee licence or flight service trainee licence, issued by the New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority https://www.aviation.govt.nz/, which is recognised by the International Civil Aviation Organisation https://www.icao.int/Pages/default.aspx.
As an air traffic control student, you will be awarded a NZ Certificate in Air Traffic Services (Level 5) and a NZ Diploma in Air Traffic Services (Level 6), and as a flight service student, you will earn a NZ Certificate in Air Traffic Services (Level 5).
Once you have successfully completed your on-job training with Airways New Zealand, you will earn your full New Zealand air traffic controller or flight service officer licence, issued by the CAA.
It may be possible for you to cross credit to Massey University’s Bachelor of Aviation Management from your air traffic control qualifications, should you choose to study at Massey.
You may be eligible for study under the Fees-Free tertiary education scheme. Alternatively, you may be able to access a student loan if you meet Study Link’s eligibility requirements – take this eligibility test to find out. You may also be eligible for a student allowance. You don’t have to pay back the student loan until you start earning.
As each person’s entitlement varies according to their personal circumstances, we recommend that you contact StudyLink on 0800 88 99 00 to discuss eligibility. Please note fees are reviewed annually and subject to change.
Due to limited places on Airways International’s air traffic services training programme, all applicants are required to undergo a full screening process. The intent of this process is to offer training to those students who have demonstrated skills and aptitudes, which will maximise their chance of success and achievement of full potential. With only 2-3% of the global population possessing the competencies to succeed in air traffic services, selecting the right person from the start saves you, the student, time and money by improving the chances for training success.
An air traffic controller who has completed their on-job training with Airways New Zealand would start on a total of around $115,000 gross, including base salary, shift loadings, superannuation and allowances.
A flight service officer who has completed their on-job training might start on a range of rates between around $60,000 and $114,000 gross, including base salary, shift loadings, superannuation and allowances, depending on the unit they start in.
A Class 3 medical certificate is a requirement for all air traffic controllers for any on-job training, providing quality assurance that Airways staff are fit to provide air traffic services. All staff are required to keep these certificates current, as per the Civil Aviation Act 1990. Flight service officers are not required to hold a Class 3 medical certificate.
If you have any doubt about your health, medication, or medical history, you are advised to arrange a Class 3 Issue Medical Examination with a CAA appointed Medical Examiner as soon as possible (the list of Examiners is available here).
Some common causes which may prevent a person from obtaining a Class 3 medical certificate include colour blindness, a history of seizures, fainting and some medications (see here for more information).
If you have any questions, please contact med@caa.govt.nz. If you are in doubt, consult your CAA Medical Examiner. Airways NZ has its own Corporate Medical Adviser, and Airways staff or the CAA Medical Examiner can approach him for advice – however the final decision on medical fitness is made by the CAA Medical Unit.
Once you have successfully completed the Airways International air traffic services training programme, you are able to work as an air traffic control trainee or a flight service trainee, subject to:
Your first six weeks (flight service training) or first eight to nine months (air traffic control training) is spent at the Training Centre in Christchurch. You will then be offered an employment contract with Airways New Zealand, before being relocated to undertake on-job training for approximately four to nine months. The time spent in on-job training is dependent on the location and your learning capacity.
The locations for on-job training vary for each student, however these locations are typically regional aerodrome towers such as Rotorua, Palmerston North, Napier, Invercargill and New Plymouth. For flight service, training is either in the tower at Paraparaumu, Milford Sound, or in one of our surveillance centres in Christchurch and Auckland. Students are advised of the on-job training locations in the last few weeks of their initial training course. While we take your preferences into consideration, you must be flexible and have the ability to relocate.
Training course hours for the Christchurch Training Centre are usually rostered between 0700hrs and 1900hrs Monday to Friday, on a shift hour basis of seven hours per training day – comprising six contact hours and a one-hour lunch break.
At times there will be a need for shift work to fit in with other users. Start times will then be adjusted accordingly, i.e. 0600 to 1400, 1030 to 1800, 1600 to 2400.
Breaks are scheduled during the course – you will have holiday breaks of between one and three weeks depending on the time of year.
If you are under 20 years old at the start of your training (for flight service), then, a minimum of Level 2 NCEA pass (12 credits pass in Maths at Level 1 and 8 credits in English at Level 2) and 42 other credits at Level 3 or equivalent is required. If you are over 20 years old (for air traffic control), then, we will consider your tertiary level study and your work experience to date to show us you have the right stuff for training.
We only accept you into training in your 20th year, as you cannot gain a New Zealand CAA licence until you are 21 years old. In the meantime, go and do something you enjoy, and what you’re good at. You don’t need a tertiary qualification to gain entry, but the commitment required completing one will assist you when you do start studying with Airways International.
If you’re selected for our air traffic services training programme, the current fees for 2024 are:
Flight service training: $3,000 (inclusive of GST). This comprises the 051 Licensing Subjects modules, and upon completion you are eligible for a flight service trainee licence, issued by the New Zealand CAA.
Air traffic control training: $14,000 (inclusive of GST). This comprises of the following courses, and upon completion you are eligible for an air traffic control trainee licence, issued by the New Zealand CAA:Â
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These fees cover all tuition costs and course materials of the air traffic control and flight service training programmes. You will need to provide your own computer during the course.
Course fees are to be paid before your course starts.
Air traffic controllers and flight service officers for Airways New Zealand work at surveillance centres, airport control towers and sometimes even air shows. Typically, they work 7.5 hour shifts and are rostered four days on and two days off with five weeks’ annual leave.
If you are accepted, you will be expected to find your own accommodation. There may be others also starting the course at the same time who might be looking for a flatmate.
If your application meets our requirements, we will ask you to sit our aptitude tests. These tests are specifically designed to see if you have the ability to be an air traffic controller or flight service officer. We measure your ability to follow written instructions, to visualise three dimensionally, solve complex problems under time pressure and accurately check data. If you meet the requirements, you will then complete personality questionnaire. If you are successful at this stage, you will be considered for a place at the Assessment Centre.
The induction module for all students covers meteorology, aircraft operations, air navigation, navigation aids, communications, aviation law, human performance and air traffic services equipment. For air traffic control students, the simulator modules cover the basics of hands-on air traffic control in the aerodrome tower and surveillance centre environment. It teaches students how to keep aircraft separated using a range of tools, rules and procedures.
You can only apply once per intake. If you are unsuccessful, you will be able to re-apply once the next intake is open. Â
We typically have two intakes per year for our ATS training programme.
If you are invited to an Assessment Centre and you are unsuccessful, you will be required to have a stand-down period of 18 months before you can re-apply.
Please note that if you have been unsuccessful at an Assessment Centre twice you will not be eligible to re-apply. Â
