CTC becomes 1st flight training organisation in NZ approved to issue Singapore Pilots' Licences
Thursday 9 February 2012, 3:25PM
By HMC Communications
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World leading airline pilot training provider, CTC Aviation Group plc (CTC), has gained approval by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) to train airline pilots for the country’s airlines.
CTC is the first Flight Training Organisation (FTO) in New Zealand to gain such approval.
“CTC announced our partnership with Jetstar Asia in May 2011to train Singaporean nationals for employment as first officers with the international airline. This partnership was the impetus for starting the process of gaining CAAS approval.
“Over the past few months we have established a collaborative relationship with the Singaporean regulator and underwent several exhaustive audits to get to this point.
“CTC’s international reputation as a safe, high quality FTO played a major role in attaining this industry achievement,” said Ian Calvert, CEO of Hamilton-based CTC Aviation Training (NZ) Limited.
In order for CTC to gain the approval, three of CTC’s 50 New Zealand instructors obtained their Singaporean Commercial Pilot’s Licences (CPL) as part of the CAAS process.
CTC and CAAS are now working together to finalise the approval process for the company’s Type Rating Training Organisation (TRTO) division based in the United Kingdom, which will enable Singaporean pilots to complete their Airbus or Boeing type rating training with CTC.
When gained, this additional approval will allow CTC to deliver a full range of mandatory programmes for qualified and experienced pilots, instructors and examiners in addition to new entrant pilot training.
In 2011 CTC began recruiting in Singapore for the Jetstar Asia training programme. The first trainees arrived to start their flight training at CTC’s crew training centre in Hamilton during the week of 16 January.
CTC has trained pilots for Jetstar Pacific (Vietnam) for nearly four years and for Jetstar Australia/NZ for almost two years. By securing Jetstar Asia, CTC became the sole FTO supplying pilots to all three divisions of the Jetstar Group.
Mr Calvert says gaining CAAS approval enables CTC to deliver pilot training for all Singapore-based airlines.
“At CTC we are continually looking to establish partnerships with airlines around the world. Gaining approval to issue CAAS licences provides us with the opportunity to approach additional Singaporean airlines to assist them in meeting their airline pilot training requirements,” he explained.
CTC established its fourth crew training centre by building a facility in Hamilton, New Zealand in 2005. This year, CTC will train around 220 pilots at the Hamilton centre to supply its airline partners in the UK, Europe, Asia and Australia.
In addition to training overseas pilots from nearly every region of the world, CTC has also trained 50 New Zealand airline pilots since 2006. New Zealand graduates are now flying as first officers with Jetstar Australia/NZ as well as other national and international airlines.
Visit www.ctcaviation.com or www.ctcwings.com.