CTC Aviation Hamilton on exciting growth curve with new business

The latest agreement to be signed boosting training activity at the Hamilton training centre, is a long-term contract with Royal Brunei Airlines (RBA) to train all their new pilots. The agreement follows new business from British Airways and Monarch Airlines in the last few months.

Chief Executive Officer of CTC Aviation Training (NZ) Limited, Captain Ian Calvert says the relationship with RBA is an exciting new phase for CTC.

"Royal Brunei Airlines has long been held as a premier airline in the South East Asian region and we are honoured to be able to train their next generation of pilots. The selection of CTC as RBA's chosen training provider is another demonstration of the growing recognition among the world's airlines of the quality training provided by our company."

In recent weeks CTC has spent considerable time in China and India where there are further opportunities for business growth.

Last month, Monarch Airlines - one of the UK's largest operators - and CTC Aviation announced a new partnership to deliver Multi-crew Pilot Licence (MPL) training together. Monarch and CTC have a long-standing relationship and almost one quarter of Monarch's current pilot workforce are graduates of CTC's cadet training programme, "CTC Wings". Monarch has selected CTC to exclusively supply all their future cadet pilots under a newly launched cadet training programme - "Monarch Wings." The new Monarch pilots will complete their initial MPL training in Hamilton.

"Our reputation for providing the highest quality of training for both airlines and aspiring pilots is well known across the globe - the challenge for us now is to ensure we have the number of airline pilots coming through our system to meet this ever increasing demand. If ever there was a time for young men and women to consider a career as an airline pilot it is now," says Captain Calvert.

In August this year, CTC signed a prestigious long-term agreement with British Airways to manage the whole of the airline's new 'Future Pilot Programme'. Cadets selected by CTC and British Airways will undergo training at CTC's United Kingdom and New Zealand training centres, each spending approximately 8 months at the Hamilton facility.

Also in August, CTC Hamilton took delivery of four additional training aircraft. Inspection visits by Qatar Airways, Oman Air, Dragon Air and a proposed visit in late November by ANA of Japan all indicate strong desire by these airlines to have CTC involved in their pilot selection and training to support their planned growth.

Captain Calvert says if the business growth continues as expected for CTC's operation, there will be a need to consider an expansion of facilities.

"We don't wish to get too far ahead of ourselves, but it is likely we will need to consider additional facilities here in New Zealand and possibly also further afield."