Commercial Pilot Employment Opportunities
Your employment opportunities as a commercial pilot are diverse in the aviation industry. Right now, pilots are in demand more than ever, as commercial airlines return to normal schedules. There’s never been a better time to gain your pilot licence and launch a rewarding career.
Contact us to begin your journey.
Careers in aviation
Once you gain your Diploma in Aviation, there are many career pathways to explore in the industry. Pilots earn good pay and get the opportunity to travel the world.
Instruction
Use your training to teach more people how to fly.
Tourism operations
Take passengers on scenic flights, skydiving trips and more.
Specialist aviation activities
Pilots are needed for services such as top dressing, aerial surveying and photography.
Air charter
Charter flights include private passengers and freight.
Medical flight and aeromedic
Transport patients around the country for specialist medical care.
International, National and Link airlines
Fly passengers around the country or the world as a commercial pilot.
General aviation
Your qualification and training also opens pathways to careers in the civil aviation industry, including airline operations and management, corporate aviation, airport management and government aviation operations.
Part 121 Airline Operations
Entry Level
Animal Tracking
- CPL
- E.g. Fish finding, Bird tracking, Mustering
Fire Spotting
- CPL
Coast Guard
- CPL
- Volunteer Only
Scenic Flights (Small)
- CPL
- 5 hours on type (VFR)
Glider Towing (Recreation)
- PPL
- Glider tow rating
- 100 PIC
PPL/CPL Flight Instructing
- CPL
- Flight instructor rating
Agricultural Pilot
- CPL
- Agricultural rating
Skydive Pilot (Piston)
- CPL
- Parachute drop rating
- 150 hours PIC
Float Plane (Small) Scenic/Charter
- CPL
- Float plane rating
Glider Towing (Part 115)
- CPL
- Glider tow rating
- 200 hours PIC
- 50 hours on type
IFR / Aerobatics / Multi-engine Instructing
Aerial Surveying / Aerial Photography
- CPL
- Multi-engine experience
Skydive Pilot (Turbine)
- CPL
- Parachute drop rating
- Tailwheel experience
- 500 - 1000 hours ideal
Part 135 (Small) Air Operations
- CPL
- MEIR
- IFR: 750 hours
Flight Examiner
- CPL
- Flight examiner rating
Air Ambulance
- CPL
- MEIR with IFR experience
- Industry experience
Part 125 (Medium) Air Operations
- CPL
- IFR: 1200 hours
- Industry experience
Experienced
Internship pathways to employment
Some of our graduates who enrolled in the Internship Programmes have logged over 400 hours, putting them close to the 500 needed to work as a commercial pilot and enhancing their career opportunities.
The New Zealand Pilot Licence you gain from completing your studies is recognised internationally and many of our graduates now fly for airlines around the globe.
Improving career outcomes
Te whakapai ake i ngā hua ō ngā kōwhiringa ā-mahi
How to find a new job or choose a new career.