Pilot training taking off

Dunedin, New Zealand: Trainee pilots flocking from the northern hemisphere are expected to earn their wings in Southern skies next year as Mainland Air Services helps fill a predicted void in the number of airline pilots.
Mainland owner Mark Paterson said the downturn in international travel created by 9/11 and the global economic crisis had caused airlines to stop training pilots.
International travel was now starting to pick up again, airlines were placing large orders for new aircraft, and did not have enough pilots to fly them, he said.
“There’s a massive shortage of pilots worldwide.
“Each plane needs large numbers of pilots to fly them because they run 24/7.
“So, we’re finding there’s a lot of demand for pilot training at the moment. It’s a growth industry in New Zealand, because we are regarded around the world as a safe place to fly, with high-quality instruction.”
Mr Paterson said the company had trained about 40 pilots since it began teaching international pilots eight years ago.
Many were from India, Korea and Singapore, and were now pilots for domestic airlines back in their homelands.
23/11/11 John Lewis/Otago Daily Times