Get your head in the clouds with Mainland Air
DID you know there has never been a better time to be a pilot, and you can start a career in the air from right here?
Mainland Air offers flying lessons to take you from zero hours to a commercial pilot licence, and beyond!
After which you’ll be in hot demand, as there’s currently a massive worldwide shortage of pilots.
Asia alone needs the completely impossible 200 pilots a week for the next 20 years to service the number of flights required out of Vietnam, Thailand, and China.
Our own national carrier, Air New Zealand, is suffering a drought as pilots at the top end retire and simply aren’t being replaced. More women are needed too.
‘‘Only 15% of pilots are women,’’ Philip Kean, of Mainland Air, says, and he’s keen to rectify that.
Academically, NCEA Level 3 qualifications are handy, but not absolutely necessary, if you’re dedicated. No longer just a bucketlist activity, becoming a pilot simply requires a good standard of general health, 50 hours training, and costs around $12,000, which can be spread out over two years — essentially the price of a good secondhand car.
A commercial licence will take around 200 hours, including the exams. You’ll be skyhigh in no time and be legitimately able to say, ‘‘Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking’’.
Why not try a trial flight for yourself from as low as $129 to see if you like it, or give a gift voucher to that hardtobuyfor person who appreciates something different?
When it comes to the ultimate anniversary celebration or specialoccasion getaway, Mainland Air offers day trips to Queenstown and Milford Sound, and can create a bespoke boutique treat not too rich for the pockets of mere mortals.
Why drive when you can beat the birds in a nine, five, or threeseater Cessna 152 or 172, or a Piper Chieftain twin engine? It’ll work out at as little as $250 per person; half that if you fly the plane yourself.
A day trip to Central from Dunedin only takes 40 minutes, which is marvellous when you compare it to a teethgrinding fourhour drive, not forgetting the price of petrol.
Get your head in the clouds, tick off a longheld dream or take your lovely somewhere special with Mainland Air.