New planes have aero club members flying high
Two ‘‘powerful’’ aerobatic planes have been bought by the South Canterbury Aero Club as it upgrades its fleet for teaching potential pilots.
Club chief flying instructor and manager Aaron Pearce said they had upgraded from their 40 year-old Piper Tomahawks to the 2007 Alpha 160As aircraft which were owned by the Canterbury Aero Club for the past decade.
‘‘It was time to modernise . . . they [Alphas] are Kiwi-made, powerful, tough and aerobatic.’’
Pearce learnt to fly in an Alpha 12 years ago and thinks it is great being able to teach others in it.
He said they are worth $100,000 but the club managed a partial trade-in on the New Zealand versions of the French Robin.
The club also owns a Piper Archer 4-seater and a Cessna 150 and has access to other aircraft.
Pearce was surprised how lockdown had spurred more people on to learn to fly despite the impact of the pandemic on travel.
He said Timaru was the best place to learn in the country because of the wide open space and the ‘‘fantastic’’ airfield.
‘‘There’s multiple runways and it’s not too congested and we’re not paying huge tower fees.’’
The Richard Pearse Airport does not have a control tower so pilots need to communicate on the radio with other pilots for landings and take offs. The airport has its own frequency for a mandatory broadcast zone for communications on positions.
‘‘We teach [flying students] situational awareness and independent decision making.’’
The club, incorporated in 1946, was situated at Saltwater Creek and using Tiger Moths. When Pearce started working for the club five years ago there were six students flying 40 to 60 hours a month but now there were on average about 30 students clocking up 150 to 180 hours a month. The club has 130 members.
He said there were a number of high school students who worked after school to fund their $250, 90-minute sessions and they could complete their pilot’s licence within 12 months to two years depending on their commitment.
Pearce’s work in reinvigorating interest in the club was acknowledged with an Honourable Company of Air Pilots and Navigators Grandmasters Medal (under age 30) last year. In October 2019 he flew to England and received the award from the Royal Air Force Air Chief Marshal Sir Mike Wigston.