CareersAudience: women considering a career as a pilot or aircraft maintenance engineer. Built from findings R1 + R2 ← F2, F3, T1, T2. Stage-by-stage layout with FAQ instead of a single overview infographic (P03).
CareersPick a career, then work through it one stage at a time: what happens, what you need, and what to do next. Questions people have asked us are answered further down.
Each stage shows three things: what happens, what you need, and your next step.
These came from conversations with people thinking about applying.
WINGs (Women Inspiring the Next Generation) is a network of our women pilots and engineers. It is not a training programme, so there's nothing to apply for. Members run events and talk with people who are curious about aviation careers. You can come along wherever you live.
From AustraliaYou can go to WINGs events and apply for roles that are open to people with the right to work in New Zealand. The Mangōpare Pilot Cadetship is currently open only to New Zealand citizens, so check eligibility on each listing.
Part-time and reduced rosters depend on your fleet, your base and the pilots' employment agreement, and they're usually available once you've finished line training. Each pilot role listing will say what applies to it. If you'd like to talk it through first, our recruitment team can explain the current options before you apply.
We use it for two separate things, and each role listing will say which one it means:
Roster flexibilityWhen you work, for example, shift swaps, part-time patterns and planned leave.
Role flexibilityWhat you work on, for example engineering trainees rotating between workshops, hangars and line maintenance, or moving into training or planning roles later on.
StudyAcademic qualifications can be assessed by NZQA (New Zealand Qualifications Authority) and compared with NZ levels.
LicencesPilot and engineering licences from another country have to be validated or converted by the Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand (CAA) before you can use them here. The CAA will tell you which exams or flight checks you still need.
Lots of our people trained or grew up somewhere else. Here's what's different for you, step by step.
Talk to our recruitment teamAustralian citizens can live and work in New Zealand under the Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement. Other applicants need a visa that allows them to work here. Each listing says who is eligible.
Ask NZQA to assess your qualifications, so you know how they compare with NZ levels before you apply.
Contact the CAA early about pilot or engineering licence conversion. It often involves exams and can take a while.
We use some te reo Māori at work, such as kia ora (hello) and whānau (family, our team), and some aviation abbreviations. The glossary below covers the abbreviations.
The abbreviations you'll see in job listings and training information.