Air NZ tells students it is a good time to graduate

The latest cohort of students at Massey University’s School of Aviation were awarded with their Wings brevet last week, marking a quarter of a century of producing aviators with a difference.

The event’s guest speaker Warren Larsen, Air New Zealand director and safety committee chairman, told the students they had good timing.

“Through our Aviation Institute partnership programme with Massey we are looking to this institute to train a large number of our future pilots,” he said.

“You are graduating at the right time – Air New Zealand hopes to hire 80 pilots this year, and we know airlines like Etihad and Emirates like New Zealand-trained pilots too.”

Mr Larsen also encouraged the students to complete their degrees because the “soft skills” they learn as part of their academic study will be as useful as their flying skills.

“Technology is so good these days, it does a better job of flying a plane than a person. There will be a demand for people who know how a plane operates, but who also have the soft skills that keep airlines safe,” he said.

“Airlines also need people for key operational, safety, and management jobs – don’t ignore those job opportunities.”

School of Aviation chief executive Ashok Poduval said Wings ceremonies are always special, but 2012 was even more so because the school is celebrating its silver jubilee.

“It’s a milestone year for the school, and I am enormously proud of its record,” he said.

“Today our students have the benefit of graduating with a relevant degree when they complete their studies. That’s what’s unique about Massey’s programme – our students get a university education, not just vocational training.”

Students working towards the Bachelor of Aviation – Air Transport Pilot receive their Wings once they have completed the practical and academic requirements to become a professional pilot. The Wings ceremony means more to the students their graduation ceremony, which won’t take place until the following year.

Singapore-based international student Luc Valleteau de Moulliac was awarded the school’s Outstanding Student Award for the best overall performance in both the academic and practical aspects of the programme.

Mr Valletau de Moulliac, whose proud family travelled to Palmerston North for the ceremony, said his dream of becoming a pilot actually began while he was on holiday in New Zealand as a 10 year old.

“I went up for a flight at Milford Sound, and the pilot let me have a go at flying. From then on, I’ve always walked with my eyes turned skyward,” he said.

The other special awards made at the ceremony included: the Air New Zealand Flying Award, which went to Hamish Watchman; the Airways Corporation Academic Award, won by Ming Song Hie; the Palmerston North International Airport Professional Attributes Award, won by Faizalillahi Anwardeen; the Fieldair Engineering Aviation Systems Award, which went to Jeremy Moskovitz; and the Navigation Award, won by Timothy Pickerill.

The Wings ceremony also saw the rarely-awarded Skywards Award for Outstanding Airmanship presented to graduate flight instructor Ben Rae. In January Mr Rae successfully landed an aircraft experiencing problems with its ailerons, the hinged flaps attached to a plane’s wings that help control an aircraft in roll.

He had been conducting a lesson on aileron rolls when student Sam Henderson noticed the ailerons seemed stiff. Mr Rae took control of the plane and handled the potentially dangerous situation calmly and professionally, landing the aircraft safely.

“It’s probably one of those times when you’re not really thinking about it. You just focus on what you have to do,” said a laid-back Mr Rae. “I managed to track back to the airport and the fire crew was on standby – it was only after I landed I thought ‘Oh, that was a bit exciting’.”