Built from official New Zealand government data.
Home/ Tertiary/ Private Training Establishments/ New Zealand Aviation Academy Limited

New Zealand Aviation Academy Limited, Nelson Airport (Nelson)

Private Training Establishments · Nelson Airport, Nelson

A private aviation training institution based at Nelson Airport, offering flight training programmes including diplomas that qualify graduates for post-study work visas.

Last checked 24 October 2026

Jump to: About · Programmes · Courses · Campuses · Entry requirements · International students · Accommodation

At a glance

TypePrivate Training Establishments
LocationNelson
RegionNelson Region
Provider informationKuraData curated
Ministry ID6688

About New Zealand Aviation Academy Limited

New Zealand Aviation Academy Limited (NZAvAc) is a NZQA-registered Tertiary Education Organisation and a Flight Training Organization (FTO) operating under Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand (CAANZ) Part 141. This regulatory status authorises it to deliver the Diploma in Aviation and flight licensing training across all licence levels.

The academy operates under the Education and Training Act 2020 and has agreed to be bound by the Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners) Code of Practice 2021. Its safety policies and operational manuals are maintained in compliance with the CAANZ Part 141 standard.

Programmes and Qualifications

New Zealand Aviation Academy offers the following named programmes and qualifications:

  • New Zealand Diploma in Aviation (General Aviation) (Aeroplane) (Level 5) — NZQA-recognised diploma — includes Private Pilot License, Commercial Pilot License, and Multi-Engine Instrument Rating
  • New Zealand Diploma in Aviation (Level 6) with a strand in Aeroplane Flight Instruction — NZQA-recognised diploma — includes C-Category Flight Instructor Rating
  • New Zealand Diploma in Aviation (Airline Preparation) (Level 6) — pending approval

The academy also delivers the following standalone licence and rating courses as components of, or alongside, its diploma programmes:

  • Commercial Pilot License (CPL) — minimum 200 hours flight training (approximately 209 hours standard), covering Principles of Flight and Performance, Law, Human Factors, Meteorology, Navigation and Flight Planning, and Aircraft Technical Knowledge
  • Instrument Rating — Single & Multi Engine (MEIR) — minimum 40 hours, including at least 20 hours simulator and 22 hours instrument flight training
  • Instructor Rating (C-Cat) — minimum 26 hours dual flight instructor training, covering Instructional Technical Course, Law, Principles of Flight, and Briefing Techniques

Qualifications issued by New Zealand Aviation Academy are recognised by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority and by other WTO countries.

Training Programmes

New Zealand Aviation Academy Limited offers the following named programmes, all delivered under Part 141 of New Zealand aviation regulations:

  • Private Pilot License (PPL) — minimum 50 hours (approximately 60 hours standard)
  • Commercial Pilot License (CPL) — minimum 200 hours (approximately 209 hours standard)
  • Instrument Rating – Single & Multi Engine (MEIR) — minimum 40 hours, including at least 20 hours simulator and 22 hours instrument flight training
  • Instructor Rating (C-Cat) — minimum 26 hours dual flight instructor training
  • Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL – Frozen) — theoretical component only; full licence requires 1,500 hours total experience
  • Basic Gas Turbine Knowledge (BGT) — examination-based endorsement required for pilots of jet and turbo-propelled aircraft
  • Multi Crew Integration (MCI)

Address

Where New Zealand Aviation Academy Limited is based, taken directly from the Ministry of Education's own address record for this provider.

  • StreetAirport House
  • SuburbNelson Airport
  • CityNelson
  • Territorial authorityNelson City
  • RegionNelson Region

No coordinates are published for tertiary providers in this dataset, so no map is shown here.

Contact New Zealand Aviation Academy Limited

Find the published contact details for New Zealand Aviation Academy Limited, including its phone number, website and other available contact information.

Facebook

Contact details combine official Ministry of Education records with information published on New Zealand Aviation Academy Limited's own website, reviewed by the KuraData team on 24 October 2026.

Other providers in Nelson

Explore other tertiary providers based in Nelson, near New Zealand Aviation Academy Limited.

Explore more

View all private training establishments in New Zealand All tertiary providers in Nelson

Nelson Airport Campus

New Zealand Aviation Academy is based at Nelson Airport (IATA: NSN, ICAO: NZNS), located 6 km south-west of central Nelson in the upper South Island. The airport handles approximately 1.2 million passenger movements annually, making it an active commercial airfield rather than a dedicated training facility.

Nelson averages around 2,500 sunshine hours per year, which the academy notes results in few weather-related interruptions to flight training programmes. Nelson city has a population of approximately 50,000 and is situated on the shore of Tasman Bay.

Entry Requirements

All applicants must meet the following criteria to be considered for entry:

  • Be at least 18 years of age
  • Hold a minimum of 3 years secondary school, NCEA Level 3 equivalence, or passes in PPL theory subjects
  • Hold a current Class 1 Medical Certificate
  • Meet the 'Fit and Proper Persons' requirements of CAANZ
  • Achieve IELTS 5.5 or demonstrate English language competence to ICAO Level 4
  • Complete a compulsory selection interview and a psychometric test

Offers are made subject to the availability of places.

International Students

New Zealand Aviation Academy Limited (NZAvAc) accepts applications from international students. The following programmes are available for selection on the international application form:

  • New Zealand Diploma in Aviation (General Aviation) (Aeroplane) (Level 5)
  • Diploma in Aviation (Flight Instructor) Level 6
  • Private & Commercial Pilots Licence Theory (Training Scheme) (Level 5)
  • DGCA Course
  • Private Pilot License Course (Part 61)
  • Commercial Pilot License Course (Part 61)
  • Flight Instructors Course (Part 61)
  • MIC Course (Part 61)

International applicants whose first language is not English must provide results from an IELTS (academic), TOEFL, or Pearson Test of English test completed within the previous two years, or documentary evidence that English was the medium of instruction in their prior study.

The international application form also asks applicants to disclose existing aviation qualifications, current aviation medical certificates, long-term health conditions, and fit and proper person details including any prior refusal, suspension, or revocation of an aviation document.

Accommodation

New Zealand Aviation Academy arranges shared housing in the local area, where students live together with other Academy students. A complimentary shuttle bus operates between the accommodation and the Academy.

Curated by the KuraData team from New Zealand Aviation Academy Limited's own website, reviewed 24 October 2026.

Data source