School of Aviation , Te Kura Rererangi

Massey's School of Aviation offers New Zealand's only aviation degrees. Train to be a commercial pilot or gain aviation management qualifications for a future career in this exciting industry.

Overview

Massey's School of Aviation was established in 1987 to meet the aviation industry's needs for graduates with a wide industry perspective.

We were the first New Zealand training organisation to meet the regulations for Civil Aviation Authority Rule Part 141 certification and are New Zealand's only university with an aviation school.

The school is an Air New Zealand preferred flight training organisation, and the only aviation school in New Zealand that is ISO-accredited.

Massey's School of Aviation is located close to the Palmerston North Airport business park.

Te Tiriti o Waitangi at Massey

We are deeply committed to being a Tiriti-led university, demonstrating authentic leadership in contemporary Aotearoa New Zealand as we uphold te Tiriti o Waitangi, the founding document of our nation, and its principles through our practice. We embrace this not just as an obligation but as a real opportunity for the nation and its people.

Te Tiriti o Waitangi ki Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa – The Treaty of Waitangi at Massey

Study with us

Undergraduate qualifications enable you to train to become a pilot, or you can specialise in aviation management with the skills to adapt to the needs of aviation organisations.

Aviation Management students can study in New Zealand or internationally by distance study. The school's a long-standing relationship with the Singapore Aviation Academy enables international students to enrol in aviation management courses while living offshore.

Senior aviation managers are required to demonstrate not only technical knowledge and expertise, but also postgraduate aviation qualifications and skills.

An aviation postgraduate qualification from Massey can prepare you for a future career in senior aviation roles or add an industry–specific postgraduate qualification to your industry experience.

Study aviation

Fly planes while getting in-depth knowledge of the aviation industry. We're New Zealand's only university with an aviation school.

Youthful person standing next to a small plane Youthful person standing next to a small plane Youthful person standing next to a small plane Youthful person standing next to a small plane

Pilot or professional study

We offer different qualifications depending on whether you're interested in pursuing a career as a pilot or in aviation management.

Become a pilot

Become an aviation professional

Our facilities

Aviation Centre

One of a kind in New Zealand. It includes:

  • Diamond DA40 and DA42 aircraft
  • flight simulators
  • maintenance hangers
  • operations area
  • classrooms and briefing rooms overlooking runways.

Location: Palmerston North Airport

Flight systems and airstrip

Bachelor of Aviation students work alongside the busy Palmerston North airfield with full Air Traffic Control services. Aviation Management students’ classes are also mostly taught at the Aviation Centre so they experience flight operations and airport operations at close hand.

Diamond DA-42 flight simulator

Massey's state-of-the-art flight simulator has a 220-degree wraparound screen and can be set to any airport in the world. Massey University's School of Aviation was the first pilot training facility in New Zealand to install this new-generation simulator.

Diamond DA40 Single-Engine Trainer

Massey owns 12 single-engine trainer aircraft. They have a cruising speed of 110 knots and a range of 720 nautical miles. The trainers are fitted with Garmin 1000 cockpit displays incorporating digital moving map displays, terrain awareness warning and traffic avoidance systems.

Diamond DA42 Twin-Engine Trainer

Massey owns two Diamond DA42 twin-engine trainer aircraft for the air transport pilot qualification. These aircraft have a cruising speed of 140 knots and feature Garmin 1000 cockpit displays incorporating digital moving map displays and terrain awareness warning systems.

Robin R2160

Massey's low wing fully-aerobatic two-seat trainer, is used for the BAv students' "upset training" modules and for those working towards gaining their aerobatic rating.

Aviation Centre video tour

Tour through Massey's Aviation Centre based at Palmerston North Airport. As well as the school’s fleet of technically-enhanced Diamond DA40 and DA42 aircraft, the centre houses ground-based training facilities, including a new generation Diamond DA-42 flight simulator.

Our programmes from undergraduate to PhD-level degrees, along with remotely-piloted aircraft systems courses, are delivered from this location.

Professional training courses

Massey offers professional training and short courses.

Remote Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS)

Massey offers two professional courses for Remote Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) operators to learn aviation legislation and safety processes.

Civil Aviation Instructional Techniques Course

Teaching you how to teach others to fly. Pass on the the flying experience gained from your commercial pilot’s licence to teach the next generation. Learn the knowledge, attitudes, skills and techniques to help you become a flight instructor.

CAANZ Instructional Techniques

Short course

Instilling knowledge in others requires a specific skill set. This course shows you how to use the flight experience you gained whilst working a commercial pilot to teach others to fly. The course will demonstrate the knowledge, skills and techniques to help you to become a good flight instructor.

You need to pass this course to apply for the Civil Aviation Authority New Zealand (CAANZ) Category D and C initial instructor rating.

Take this course if you:

  • have a commercial pilot’s licence
  • are training to be a flight instructor.

Email us on aviation@massey.ac.nz

Contract flight training

Short course

Massey offers contract flight training for airlines and international aviation training institutions that require group training for prospective pilots. Choose from:

  • Basic training – airline cadet (69 weeks)
  • Advanced training – airline bridging course, equivalent to European Union Aviation Safety Agency Multi Crew Co-operation course (2 weeks)
  • King Air type rating (3 weeks)

Contact Anke Smith

Training articulation agreements

The school has articulation arrangements with the following institutions and organisations whose graduates will be eligible to be awarded credits into the Bachelor of Aviation Management.

  • Singapore Polytechnics (Republic Polytechnic, Nanyang Polytechnic, Singapore Polytechnic and Temasek Polytechnic
  • Sri Lanka Airport and Aviation Academy)
  • Kuala Lumpa Malaysian Institute of Aviation Technology
  • New Zealand Defence Force and Royal New Zealand Air Force
  • Airways New Zealand

Who we are

Our people make us who we are. Meet senior leaders in the School of Aviation.

Accreditations

Telarc

The Bachelor of Aviation Massey is ISO-9001-2015 certified.

Learn more

Royal Aeronautical Society accreditation

The Royal Aeronautical Society accredits all aviation qualifications at Massey University, certifying that they meet the RAeS's international professional standards.

Learn more

Singapore Aviation Academy

Massey's School of Aviation offers the Bachelor of Aviation Management and Master of Aviation via distance learning to international students through a partnership with Singapore Aviation Academy. The academy is an ICAO TRAINAIR PLUS Full Member, ICAO endorsed Government Safety Inspector Training Centre and ICAO Aviation Security Training Centre.

New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)

The Bachelor of Aviation has equivalence approval from the New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority.

Learn more

Logo showing koru symbol and words AIR NEW ZEALAND ACADEMY OF LEARNING.

Air New Zealand

The School of Aviation is the only Air New Zealand Preferred Flight Training Organisation (PFTO) that offers an integrated aviation degree, and one of only four PFTOs selected by the institute to provide airline-informed ab-initio flight training.

Learn more

Meet our graduates

“Massey staff and lecturers were always extremely helpful and keen for me to do well and to achieve my goal to increase my personal knowledge.”
Captain Andrew Sturrock

Master of Aviation

“Massey has been a big contributing factor in the opportunities that I have come across. The wide variety of papers that are on offer really give you a broad understanding of the aviation industry as a whole and I would not have wanted to study anywhere else!”
Charlotte Fuller

Bachelor of Aviation (Air Transport Pilot)

“The support network and resources for postgrads is really very good. I had two children along the way and the support I got during those times was excellent.”
Tahlia Fisher

Senior Safety Specialist, Air New Zealand

PhD (Aviation)

Internship and work placements

Bachelor of Aviation Management students may have the opportunity to work in industry in their final year as part of their study. This gives students invaluable real-world experience and provides industry with access to fresh new thinking.

If you are interested in working with a student, contact us.

Explore work integrated learning opportunities at Massey

“The Ministry of Primary Industries internship provided hands-on experience and insight on border working. I developed essential skills, such as communication, risk assessment and dealing with diversity. Observing communication techniques used by Quarantine Officers was a highlight.”
Anna Liu
Anna Liu

Internship at Ministry of Primary Industries – Anna rotated through various MPI departments including border security.

Bachelor of Aviation Management

“The internship opportunity made my transition from university to the industry seamless. I came to Massey University, BAvMan programme hoping to start a career in aviation after three years – I am already in the industry having commenced my career even before the three years was up!”
Sadie Kim
Sadie Kim

Internship at Tasman Cargo Airlines

Bachelor of Aviation Management

“The internship helped improve my knowledge of front line / airline operations and also helped me make valuable contacts within the wider aviation industry.”
Sam Rawlings
Sam Rawlings

Internship at Tasman Cargo Airlines

Bachelor of Aviation Management

Research

The School of Aviation’s researchers conduct and supervise research in many different areas of the aviation sector.

Our staff and postgraduate students are leading the way in their areas of expertise, presenting their findings at domestic and international conferences and publishing articles in leading journals.

See examples of research areas we explore.

Airport and airline performance

The dynamics of the air transport industry and the tourism industry, including air transport regulatory environments, airline and airport productivity and efficiency, aviation demand forecasting, future tourism activities and trends and its relationship with air transport industry.

Contact Kan Tsui

Alternative fuels and sustainable options

Research into alternative fuels and sustainability, for example applications of biodiesel on a general aviation diesel engine and a micro-turbo jet engine.

Contact Rose Davies

Aviation decision making

Decision making in aviation; particularly those decisions which might affect safety in general aviation.

We also have special interests in the fields of statistics, safety and psychology/human factors.

Contact Andrew Gilbey

Sustainable aviation growth

Sustainable development in aviation, for example how environmental friendly and customer-oriented practices can lead to sustainable growth in aviation.

Contact Thanh Ngo

UAVs and simulators

Our research is investigating developing low-cost simulators and apps to aid pilot decision making.

We are also actively researching UAV developments and simulators. For example we work on mathematical models of force feed-back on the control column of a low cost simulator.

Contact Savern Reweti

Aviation and tourism

Our research established connections among aviation, tourism, economic development, and wellbeing in New Zealand and internationally. We examined LCC development and entry patterns, aviation subsidy, airline and airport efficiencies, airport service standard, the COVID-19 impact on aviation and tourism demand, and key determinants of cross-border tourism.

Contact Kan Tsui

Contact the School of Aviation

School of Aviation

Location

Physical address
Massey University Aviation Centre
47 Airport Drive
Milson
Palmerston North

Find us on Google Maps.

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