Pilot training adds $280M to Waikato’s economy

Media Release
29 November 2012

Pilot training organisation adds $280M to Waikato’s economy over eight years

Hamilton, New Zealand – Airline pilot training organisation, CTC Aviation Training (NZ) Limited has paid back a $3M loan it was given by Hamilton City Council in 2004 to help establish a flight training school at Hamilton Airport.

It was this financial support from the Hamilton City Council that landed the New Zealand operation of UK pilot training organisation CTC Aviation Group at Hamilton Airport. Eight years on, CTC’s Hamilton operation regularly turns over more than $12M per year, and estimates it has contributed more than $280M to the Waikato economy.

A ceremony to celebrate the loan repayment and thank the Council for its support was held yesterday (28 November 2012) at CTC’s facilities at Hamilton Airport.

Hamilton City Mayor Julie Hardaker, Deputy Mayor Gordon Chesterman and other guests were given a tour of CTC’s facilities before settling in for a formal presentation and thank you from CTC’s New Zealand managing director Ian Calvert. CTC also introduced a graduate who is now a pilot with Jetstar.

A government sponsored report by Trade and Enterprise New Zealand, states that for every dollar of revenue a company makes, $4.44 is put back into the community. (REFERENCE: http://www.nzte.govt.nz/access-international-networks/Explore-opportunities-in-growth-industries/growth-industries/Documents/New-%20Horizons-Aviation-Report-June-2010.pdf)

In the past eight years, CTC Aviation Training (NZ) Limited turned over more than $63M. Based on the findings of the NZTE report, CTC has contributed more than $280M to the Waikato economy.

Mr Calvert said the Council’s support was critical in securing CTC’s operations in Hamilton, and the event was a celebration of the successful relationship between the two organisations.

“We started in 2005 with a turnover of around $2.5M and approximately 50 cadets. Thankfully the Council had the foresight to recognise the value of having an international organisation like CTC in the region, and this year we turned over more than $12M and trained more than 200 cadets.

“We are very pleased to have paid back the Council’s loan and we are proud to be a significant contributor to the Waikato economy,” said Mr Calvert.

Mayor Hardaker said the development of the aviation cluster had been a success story for the Waikato, which continued to make a significant contribution to the economy.

“The Council made a strategic decision to invest in CTC back in 2004 to get it established and today CTC has paid that investment back to the Council in full. CTC is a big part of the success of the aviation cluster and we congratulate CTC for its contribution to the regional and Hamilton economies.”

CTC currently has 190 cadets in training who are citizens of 15 countries around the world, and provides training in association with 16 international airline partners. CTC has a fleet of 36 aircraft and employs 63 instructors.

-ENDS-

Side bar:

Since launching in 2005, CTC Aviation Training (NZ) Limited has:
• completed approximately 152,820 training flights
• completed 183,384 flying hours
• used 3.5 million litres of fuel
• trained more than 1250 cadets from 28 nations around the world
• employed 244 people
• grown from seven to 63 full-time instructors
• grown its aircraft fleet from seven to 36
• carried out approximately 3,056 aircraft maintenance checks
• received $23.5 million in investment from its parent company CTC Aviation Group.

About CTC Aviation Group Limited

CTC Aviation is a world leading airline training and pilot resource solutions company. As an Approved Training Organisation (TRTO and FTO), the company trains approximately 2,000 aircrew for more than 50 global airlines each year. UK and NZ based Crew Training Centres house Airbus. Boeing and Diamond simulators, hi-tech Computer Based Training facilities and a fleet of the latest, modern technology training aircraft; all supported by one of the most experienced teams of Training Captains and Flight Instructors worldwide.

CTC’s portfolio spans the full spectrum of airline training and resourcing requirements; pilots and cabin crew; ATPL and MPL training, type rating training, command and non-technical skills through to TRE Standardisation; ground school, simulator provision and line training; management and consultancy support; start ups, conversions and recurrent.

Airline clients include Air Malawi, Air Seychelles, British Airways, easyJet, easyJet Switzerland, Flybe, Flydubai, IndiGo, Jet2.com, the Jetstar Group, Monarch Airlines, Oman Air, Qatar Airways, Royal Brunei Airlines, Thomas Cook Airlines and Thomson Airways.

“CTC Wings” is a unique, comprehensive programme of developmental training for tomorrow’s airline pilots. The CTC Wings Cadet route takes individuals with no flying experience all the way to the right hand seat of a commercial airliner in approximately two years.

“CTC TAKEOFF” offers accessible and affordable JAA / EASA modular courses ranging from ME CPL/IR through to MCC and type rating.
“CTC FlexiCrew” is an initiative to provide flexible yet quality resourcing solutions for both the airline industry and qualified pilots, including experienced instructors and examiners.

CTC Aviation Jet Services Limited, the company’s private jet management division offers a personalised service for private jet owners around the world seeking a bespoke and total solution to managing and operating their fleet.

Airline Placement Limited (APL)
The principal activity of APL is that of providing fully trained cadet pilots to the airline industry. APL sponsors cadet pilots throughout their training programme and purchases the required aviation training services from various companies, including CTC Aviation.

Airline Recruitment Limited (ARL)
A company wholly owned by CTC Aviation Group Limited, responsible for overseeing the recruitment and placement of First Officers, Captains, Instructors and Examiners on engagement with CTC's client airlines.

CTC holds UK CAA JAA/EASA TRTO and FTO/ATO Approval and is also recognised by various regulators worldwide.

www.ctcaviation.com or www.ctcwings.com

© Scoop Media