Study
Undergraduate
Postgraduate programmes
Doctorates
Professional development
Professional programmes
Short course - Remote piloted aircraft system (RPAS)
Massey provides a professional two day course introducing RPAS operators to aviation legislation and safety processes. This course gives you a good understanding of the regulations around unmanned aerial vehicles and other remotely controlled aviation craft. It will prepare you for your CAA PART 102 certification application.
SHORT COURSE - CAANZ INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNIQUES COURSE
This course is for those training to be a flight instructor. It is a prerequisite for the CAANZ Category D and C initial instructor rating, and is a mandatory requirement before attempting a relevant flight test. You must have a commercial pilots licence to undertake this course. It will provide you with the knowledge, attitudes, skills and techniques to aid you in instructing within the aviation environment.
Research
We conduct and supervise research in many different areas of aviation. Our staff and postgraduate students’ topics include airport and airline performance, alternative fuels, UAVs, simulators and communications.
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)
My study helped me realise the critical role pilots play in strategic management, including in incident prevention, flight training and managing human factors.
Jeffrey Ang
Bachelor of Aviation Management
Where most university students would do a bachelor's degree alone in the standard three years, I combined my bachelor’s with actual flying!
Luc Valleteau De Moulliac
Bachelor of Aviation
My passion for the industry is centred around utilising aviation to provide a service, such as medical, police or fire aircraft operations.
Matthew Browne
Bachelor of Aviation Management
The solid base of industry knowledge I gained through my aviation studies at Massey University has been invaluable throughout every stage of my career.
Nick Ashley
Master of Aviation
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)
With ever-increasing education inflation, a master’s degree would help me stand out from the crowd and give me a longer-term investment in myself.
Tim Graham
Master of Aviation
Choosing to study for a BAvMan at Massey enabled me to turn a life-long interest in aviation into a fantastic career.
Tobias Flatley
Bachelor of Aviation Management
I chose aviation because it was a very practical degree and everything you learnt in the classroom can be applied to flying practically the next day.
Vanessa Brill-Holland
Bachelor of Aviation
Massey is the only provider of the Bachelor of Aviation Management in New Zealand. It has a more approachable vibe than other unis and as the classes I took were smaller, I was able to get a great deal of interaction with the lecturers.
Woody Andrew
Bachelor of Aviation Management
Accreditation and partnerships
The Bachelor of Aviation programme at Massey is ISO-9001-2015 certified and holds the unique distinction of holding an Equivalence Approval from the New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority.
The School of Aviation is an Air NZ Preferred Flight Training Organisation. After a rigorous selection process Air New Zealand chose four Preferred FTOs (PFTO) to provide airline-informed ab-initio flight training. Massey University is the only PFTO provider offering an integrated aviation degree.
The Royal Aeronautical Society is the world's only professional body dedicated to the aerospace community. The group accredit all aviation programmes at Massey University, underlining that they meet the RAeS's international professional standards.
Massey University School of Aviation offers the Bachelor of Aviation Management and Master of Aviation via distance learning to international students enrolled via the Massey-Singapore Aviation Academy partnership. SAA is an ICAO TRAINAIR PLUS Full Member, ICAO endorsed Government Safety Inspector Training Centre and ICAO Aviation Security Training Centre.
Facilities
Diamond DA-42 flight simulator
This state-of-the-art flight simulator has a 220-degree wraparound screen, taking the visuals to right round to behind the wing. It can be positioned at any airport in the world and the scenery outside will match the location. Massey University's School of Aviation was the first pilot training facility in New Zealand to install this new-generation simulator, worth nearly $700,000.
Diamond DA40 Single-Engine Trainer
Massey owns twelve single-engine trainers. Their top speed is 178 knots with a cruising speed of 110kts and operating altitude of 13,000 feet (maximum ceiling of 16,400 feet). Rate of climb is 1,120 feet per minute and they have a range of 720nm. These 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 airplanes for use as part of the air transport pilot programme at Massey. These are fitted with Garmin 1000 cockpit displays incorporating digital moving map displays and terrain awareness warning systems. Top speed is 194 knots and a cruising speed of 140kts. Maximum operating altitude is 13,000 feet, with ceiling altitude at 18,000 feet.
Flight systems and airstrip
The Massey University airstrip is located next to Palmerston North airport adjacent to the Massey University Aviation Centre. During their training Bachelor of Aviation students work alongside a busy commercial airfield with full Air Traffic Control services. Aviation Management students’ classes are also mostly taught here so they experience flight operations and airport operations at close hand. MUAC houses the latest Diamond Aircraft fleet, and flight simulators. A roomy state-of-the-art hangar on-site houses the School’s maintenance facility.
New aviation complex
Massey University School of Aviation was completed in mid-2019. The $5 million, 2200 square-metre aviation complex is one of a kind in New Zealand. Located at Palmerston North Airport, all aviation staff are based here. Aviation students can enjoy the outlook from the soaring atrium overlooking the apron and airport runways during their breaks. Includes six roomy classrooms plus numerous briefing rooms, a board room, separate offices for staff, a busy flight operations area.
Aviation Centre video tour
Take a tour through our 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.
Student internships
In their final year students may have the opportunity to work in industry as part of their study. This gives students invaluable real-world experience and gives industry access to the fresh new thinking our students can bring to your business. Contact us if you are interested in working with a student.
The internship provided hands-on experience and valuable insight on working at the border. This allowed me to develop essential skills, such as communication, risk assessment and dealing with diversity. A key highlight for me was observing communication techniques employed by Quarantine Officers when delivering biosecurity knowledge to passengers of various cultures.
Anna Liu
Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) - 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
Tasman Cargo
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
Tasman Cargo Airlines
Bachelor of Aviation Management