Latest news with #NZICPA
NZ Herald
26-05-2025
- Business
- NZ Herald
Whanganui's NZ International Pilot Academy being investigated by CAA after safety complaints
'This action has been taken under Section 314 of the Civil Aviation Act 2023, due to concerns around maintenance practises and the record-keeping processes,' it said. 'The prohibition applies to all flight operations and was deemed necessary to ensure the safety of students, staff, and the public. 'Ground-based training and instructional activities remain unaffected and will continue as scheduled.' Glanville told the Chronicle that the CAA chose to investigate following concerns raised through 'anonymous reporting'. 'There is a general prohibition of using our aircraft while they [CAA] determine if there's a safety aspect to it or not. 'We cannot use our current aircraft fleet, but the Part 141 licence we have is not suspended. 'We are not shut down. They are just investigating whether there is a wider problem with the maintenance of our aircraft.' The academy is funded by the Whanganui District Council and operates under the council's financial arm - Whanganui District Holdings. In 2023, the NZICPA signed a deal with Indian airline IndiGo to train 200 new cadets up to December 2026. Ten second-hand planes, costing $2.78 million in total, were added to the fleet last year. Whanganui Mayor Andrew Tripe said he had a meeting scheduled with the NZICPA board and chief executive for this afternoon. 'We are just trying to gather as much information as we can,' he said. 'The wellbeing and safety of students is a priority.' The academy started operating in 2017, with the council as a 100% shareholder. 'It's got its own board and management team, but, as councillors, we are expecting meticulous attention to safety from all our CCOs,' Tripe said. A report from Holdings chair Carolyn van Leuven to the council's council-controlled organisations and economic development committee in April said a twin-engine DA42 had been bought for the academy. 'NZICPA had previously identified the risk associated with operating only one twin-engine trainer, which was realised when our only DA42 was out of action for five weeks during scheduled maintenance and the shortage in New Zealand of rental DA42's,' it said. At that meeting, NZICPA chairman Matthew Doyle said there were 141 students at its accommodation facilities, with 26 instructors. The council is building a $3.6m partial parallel taxiway from the academy's hangar to the main runway to mitigate safety issues such as backtracking (back taxiing). Glanville's letter said no charges would be made to cadets for accommodation or food during the investigation, starting from May 23 'to the date that a cadet resumes flight training'. 'We are also permitted to lease aircraft not included in the prohibition notice,' it said. 'These will operate under the maintenance control of their respective owners until NZICPA's system is rectified and approved.' Mike Tweed is a multimedia journalist at the Whanganui Chronicle
NZ Herald
25-05-2025
- Business
- NZ Herald
Whanganui flight school halted by CAA for ‘aviation-related' issues
A Whanganui pilot academy has been grounded due to 'aviation-related' concerns from the Civil Aviation Authority. The academy, owned by Whanganui District Council, provides training for international and domestic students. The CAA is reviewing the concerns with the academy to determine the next steps. A Whanganui pilot academy has been grounded following 'aviation-related' concerns from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). New Zealand International Commercial Pilot Academy operates out of Whanganui Airport and provides 'aviation education training and assessments to the highest industry standards', according its website. 'The CAA has made the decision to ground aircraft operated by the NZICPA for safety reasons while we address these concerns,' says a CAA spokesperson. NZICPA offers a pilot cadet programme for Indian airline IndiGo as well as catering for international and domestic students.
NZ Herald
22-05-2025
- Business
- NZ Herald
Whanganui council invites public to have say on former St George's School buildings
The buildings at Grey St were bought by Whanganui District Holdings, the council's financial arm, in 2019 in a joint partnership with Te Ngakinga o Whanganui. They were meant to house an aviation training hub through the New Zealand International Pilot Academy (NZICPA), then a homeless hub initiative was 'aborted', Langford said. A retirement village and a petrol station on the corner of the site were potential options in recent years. 'Hotel development has been suggested, as well as student accommodation for NZICPA. 'Based on three-bedroom properties using Kāinga Ora -style social housing designs, you could fit up to 150 units on the site.' The council's preferred option was to seek a long-term lease of the site, but elected members voted against having a preferred option during public consultation. Langford said previous conversations with private developers showed leasing the site would likely mean demolishing the buildings beforehand. His report to the council said demolition would cost $1.255 million, including deconstruction, asbestos removal and soil remediation. 'The City Endowment Fund has cash reserves of $1.5m,' it said. 'This ringfenced fund could be used to fund the deconstruction and remediation rather than debt funding.' Langford told councillors there was one live lease inquiry from a community health provider, which wanted to develop a medical centre and community hub. 'My understanding is their timeframes are becoming increasingly tight. 'I believe they are keen to progress their development and have some urgency because they are in temporary accommodation at the moment.' Advertise with NZME. Councillor Michael Law said he did not agree with going out to consultation because the process would take up a lot of officers' time and there would be little feedback. 'We just need the information in front of us to do what we are paid to do,' he said. 'Please give me a business case and I'll make a decision based on that.' Langford's report said leasing the property long-term would provide a net financial return of $109,000 a year. Refurbishing the buildings was estimated to cost $12m. Demolishing them but keeping them for council use would mean a net annual cost of $180,697, including the loss of revenue from the YMCA, which currently occupied part of the property. Selling the site was not considered viable because of commitments made by the council to the Whanganui Land Settlement Negotiation Trust (WLSNT) in 2018, the report said. They prevented the council from divesting any property while the land treaty settlement process was under way. 'Council officers have engaged with WLSNT, who have confirmed an interest in 125 Grey St, and that they would not support council divesting the property,' it said. 'However, they are supportive of long-term leasing arrangements.' Councillor Rob Vinsen asked how much Holdings bought the buildings for in 2019. The council did not give a figure when asked by the Chronicle last month. Langford said he could not remember the original price, but when the council bought the property back from Holdings in 2023 it paid about $1.2m, with no impact on ratepayers. 'That was sufficient to completely clear the Holdings' financing they used to acquire it,' he said. 'It's got a current book value as an asset, because of the impairments we've applied to the buildings due to their condition, of $2.5m.' His report said the buildings had a seismic new building standard range of 10% to 30%. The earthquake-prone building threshold under the Building Act is 34%. 'The site is confirmed to contain significant levels of asbestos contamination,' it said. 'Based on the level of risk, the main buildings should only be entered with full personal protective equipment.' The original school buildings, built in 1927, have Class C heritage status under the Whanganui District Plan. Whanganui Deputy Mayor Helen Craig said it was a strategic site and the community needed to think about how it could function in the future. 'The existing building, I think, most people would consider to be pretty iconic,' she said. 'If people have real ideas or business opportunities they think could be viable, it would be good to hear about that.' Public consultation runs from May 27 to June 15. Part of the consultation process will include car parking options along Parsons St and Carlton Ave. Mike Tweed is a multimedia journalist at the Whanganui Chronicle. Since starting in March 2020, he has dabbled in everything from sport to music. At present his focus is local government, primarily the Whanganui District Council.
