Auckland International Pilot Academy (AIPA)

Auckland International Pilot Academy (AIPA) is deeply rooted in a legacy that spans over six decades. Situated at the bustling North Shore Airport, just 20 minutes north of Auckland CBD, AIPA is a leading aviation training institution in New Zealand. Drawing from a rich lineage of aviation excellence, we offer unparalleled pilot training programs to students from all over the world. Our state-of-the-art facilities, coupled with our commitment to high education standards, make us the prime choice for budding aviators with their eyes set on a career in commercial aviation.

Our parent company, NSAC, has been nurturing pilots since 1963, and it’s where our story began. Beyond our impressive pedigree, NSAC proudly owns and operates the historic North Shore Airport, a bastion of aviation that first buzzed with aircraft as early as the late 1950s.

The years have seen us evolve, expanding our fleet, welcoming more aspiring pilots, and broadening our vision. Our growth is not just in numbers, but in dreams, experiences, and the ever-expanding horizons we aim to explore.

Joining AIPA means becoming an integral member of the NSAC family, where the spirit of camaraderie runs deep. Our vibrant community thrives on events, trips, competitions, and outings, perfect for those who value fun as a vital part of their learning journey.

We hold ourselves to the highest educational standards, ensuring both our staff’s continuous professional growth and the meticulous upkeep of our facilities and aircraft. With an eye always on the future, we stay abreast of the latest in aviation technology.

• New Zealand Diploma in Aviation Level 5 (General Aviation)
• New Zealand Diploma in Aviation Level 6 (Aeroplane Flight Instructor)
• DGCA-approved Training Programme

• 5 Robin R2120 (More commonly known as Alpha 120)
• 3 Robin R2160 (Alpha 160)
• 3 Cessna 172 SP
• Beech BE76 Duchess
• Beechcraft Duchess (BE76) simulator
• Beechcraft King Air (B200) simulator

Our Robin 2120 and Alpha 160 aircraft form the basis of our training fleet. They are very popular, modern, and easy to fly aircraft with agile handling and benign staling characteristics.
The R2120 aircraft are powered by a 118BHP Lycoming engine producing around 700fpm rate of climb and 100kts cruise performance whilst the big brother Alpha 160 is powered by a 160BHP Lycoming engine and is fully certified for aerobatics.

Our Cessna 172s are the late model SP versions. The SPs have a 180BHP engine producing good climb performance, 120kt cruise. The Cessna 172 is the most popular aircraft in the world with more

built than any other aircraft. It has very good short-field take-off and landing performance and can comfortably carry 4 people a reasonable distance.

The industry benchmark in IFR multi-engine training aircraft, nothing beats a Duchess. Equipped with all the best avionics, Garmin 430W GPS, Bendix King Nav, Com, ILS & ADF equipment and the stunning S-Tec 65 autopilot, this is the best Duchess in New Zealand. The aircraft is powered by 2 x 180BHP Lycoming engines producing a 1250 fpm rate of climb and 157kts cruise performance.

AIPA operates under NSAC (our parent company), which is a registered PTE and Category 1 Provider. AIPA has a very strong partnership with Barrier Air and Island Aviation. These partners operate from North Shore Airport on a daily basis.

• Be 18 years of age or over;
• Successfully complete the ADAPT Trainee Pilot Pre-screening Test;
• Hold NCEA Level 3, PPL Theory subjects or Equivalent;
• Hold an Aviation Class 1 medical certificate;
• Meet the ‘Fit & Proper Person’ requirements of CAANZ;
• Pass an interview with Chief Flying Instructor (CFI);
• Be competent in spoken English to meet CAANZ requirements:
• International students and students for whom English is a second language must have evidence within two years of enrolment of achieving an IELTS academic score of 6 with no band score lower than 5.5 or meet other requirements under Rule 18 in the NZQF Programme Approval and Accreditation Rules and;
• Have passed the English Language Proficiency Test provided by ASPEQ.