Aspeq sponsors two new A-Category flight instructors

This category is the most advanced civil instructor certification in New Zealand, and is awarded to individuals with extensive flying experience, instructional expertise, and the exceptional level of dedication needed to complete the demanding training and examination regimen.

“The A Cat is the pinnacle achievement for general aviation flight instructors and is probably one of the most challenging tests of their aviation knowledge and instructional ability they will ever experience in their aviation careers,” says Gordon Alexander, Aspeq’s Aviation Manager.

The achievement is significant for individuals both personally and professionally, but it’s also important for New Zealand: A-Category flight instructors play a crucial role in training the next generation of professional pilots and championing safety and innovation within the aviation industry.

New Zealand’s newest A-Cat instructors, Stu and Mike, were recipients of Aspeq’s “A-Cat Sponsorship”, which supports exceptional individuals to gain their A-Category Flight Instructor Rating by granting them the cost of their flight test.

Stu and Mike are staff members of the Royal NZ Air Force (RNZAF) Central Flying School at RNZAF Base Ohakea, the Air Force unit responsible for training flight instructors and maintaining flight instructional standards across the RNZAF.

They are extremely experienced flight instructors, both holding military A-Category instructor and flight examiner endorsements, but wanted to achieve an equivalent rating in the civil aviation space. To do so, they needed to demonstrate their ability to cross over into the civilian environment, where standards are governed by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

Stu’s and Mike’s rigorous two days of flight and ground examinations were carried out by Aspeq’s flight examiners Dave Brown and Paul Kearney in the T-6C Texan II aircraft.

It’s clear that, for Stu and Mike, flying isn’t just a career but a passion. Outside of their day jobs, they both fly heritage aircraft like the Spitfire, Avenger and Harvard at the Biggin Hill Historic Aircraft Centre at Ohakea.

Gordon adds, “We’ll be excited to welcome Stu and Mike to the Aspeq team as flight examiners in the near future.”