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Useful experience for flight instructors includes:

• teaching
• work with machinery
• customer service
• weather forecasting.

Flying experience is also useful, for instance through Gateway, Air Cadets, Walsh Memorial Flying Camp, Young Eagles and gliding. 

Flight instructors may do some or all of the following:

• prepare flight training programmes
• teach students how to fly an aircraft safely
• teach students the principles of flight, aircraft operations, and aviation rules and theory
• carry out and teach pre-flight checks on aircraft
• teach students how to use aircraft controls, and how to fly during the day, at night and with instruments
• test students' skills and knowledge, and write student reports
• teach qualified pilots about new equipment and different aircraft
• teach students aviation law and Safety Operation Policies (SOPs).

Flight instructors in demand after COVID-19 recovery

There's increased demand for flight instructors because:

• international students are again able to travel to New Zealand to learn to fly
• demand for pilot training is up within New Zealand
• increased demand for aeroplane pilots, as well as more older pilots retiring, means flight instructors are being hired as aeroplane pilots. This opens up more positions for flight instructors.

According to Aviation New Zealand, 188 fixed-wing (aeroplane) and 13 rotary (helicopter) flight instructors worked in New Zealand in 2019.

Flight instructors may get work at the flight school where they trained

Flight schools may prefer to hire former students as flight instructors because they know their students' abilities and skills. Some schools only hire former students.

When you are deciding on a flight training programme, ask schools about job opportunities, and whether they have an ongoing need for flight instructors.

Types of employers varied

Flight instructors may work for:

• aero clubs
• flying schools
• airline academies
• Massey University
• the New Zealand Defence Force.

Some major airlines, such as Air New Zealand, also employ flight instructors.

Aviation New Zealand

(04) 472 2707 - www.aia.org.nz

Civil Aviation New Zealand (CAA)

(04) 560 9400 - www.aviation.govt.nz

Flying New Zealand

0800 422 635 - execsec@flyingnz.co.nz - www.flyingnz.co.nz

ServiceIQ

0800 863 693 - intel@serviceiq.org.nz - www.serviceiq.org.nz

Flight instructors may progress to become senior instructors, or work as airline pilots once they have gained enough flying hours.

• Aeroplane pilot job information

Flight instructors usually teach people to fly either aeroplanes or helicopters.

They may also specialise in:

• particular types of aircraft such as propeller, jet, light or large commercial aircraft
• agricultural flying
• how to operate drones.

Flight instructors need to be:

• safety-focused
• supportive, patient and positive
• excellent communicators with good people and leadership skills
• able to think logically, follow procedures and act responsibly
• proactive and good at making decisions under pressure
• good at record-keeping and time management.