Flight Training
Licensing Schemes
There are two licencing schemes in New Zealand. The formal scheme, supervised at every level by the Civil Aviation Authority, is known as the general aviation (GA) or “Part 61” scheme. A licence issued under Part 61 is a Private Pilot Licence (PPL) and entitles the holder to fly a single engine aircraft, by day in good weather with passengers but not for “hire or reward”. It is acceptable to cost share with passengers.
Further training allows the pilot to attain the professional levels of knowledge and skill required for the Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL).
The less formal scheme is supervised by a “Part 149” organisation which issues a Microlight Pilot Certificate and Permit to Fly for microlight aircraft. A certificate issued under Part 149 entitles the holder to fly a single engine aircraft with a maximum weight of 600Kg, by day in good weather with ONE passenger but not for “hire or reward”. It is acceptable to cost share with a passenger.
It is not possible to credit more than a nominal amount of Part 149 experience towards a Part 61 licence. All Part 61 experience can be credited towards a part 149 certificate.
If you have no intention of becoming a professional pilot, are happy being able to carry only one passenger by day in good weather seriously consider becoming a Microlight pilot. For anything else the Club suggests training for the PPL from the start.
|
PPL |
Microlight |
|
| Good weather by day flying | Yes | Yes |
| Good weather by night flying | Yes with additional training | No |
| Cloud flying | Yes with additional training | No |
| Maximum passengers | Limited by aircraft type | 1 |
| Maximum aircraft size | Limited by aircraft type | 600Kg weight; max 2 seat |
| International privileges | Yes—but ask host country | No—but ask host country |
| General aviation instructor required | Yes | No |
| Career development path | Yes | No |
| CAA medical required | Yes | No—GP medical will do |
| External exams | Yes | No—exams supervised by instructor at your club |
| Flight test with examiner | Yes | No—flight test with instructor |
| Training on GA aircraft counts | Yes | Yes |
| Training on microlight aircraft counts | See below | Yes |
| Training on Light Sports Aircraft counts | Yes—with a GA instructor | Yes |