Airways Training

We’re delighted to welcome a new cohort of students to the Airways Training Centre!

This intake includes four flight service trainees and four air traffic control trainees, who have now started their ICAO 051 Licensing Subjects training in Christchurch after completing four weeks of self-directed study online. They will be guided by Peter McCrostie as their instructor, as they begin their classroom and practical learning in the sims. We look forward to supporting them throughout their training, and wish them every success with their learning!

𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐋𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒!

Applications for our air traffic control training course starting in April 2026 close at 𝟓𝐩𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝟐𝟕 𝐅𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲.

Did you miss our virtual info session all about the training? We recorded the session for those who weren’t able to join - have a watch at the link below to learn about the training programme, and the application and selection process.

𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠: https://shorturl.at/VZBE0

𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠: https://shorturl.at/Q02ta

𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠: https://shorturl.at/0iIr1

Please note: If you apply for the training programme after 27 February, your application will be considered for a course starting later this year.

Air traffic control training for NZ students Airways International, the accredited training provider for Airways New Zealand, opens its air traffic services training programme for applications around twice a year.

Last week we said a very fond farewell to an absolute stalwart of our organisation, known and loved by air traffic controllers all over the world… Airways Training instructor Alan Gilchrist has retired after an incredible 40-year career with Airways!

Alan joined our Training Centre in 2001, following 15 years as an air traffic controller for Airways – starting in 1986 at Nelson Tower. For more than 25 years he's been the instructor that students remember. Calm, patient, encouraging, and genuinely invested in every student's success, Alan created a learning environment where controllers could thrive.

His impact extends far beyond our shores. Alan has taught hundreds of air traffic control students both here in New Zealand and overseas, and his influence can be felt in control towers and centres across the globe.

What makes Alan truly special is his genuine kindness and the way he cares about people. He's been a mentor, a steady presence, and someone who strengthened our culture every day. Thank you for your long service Alan – you’ve left an incredible legacy, and we wish you all the very best in your well-deserved retirement!

Are you an ATC who undertook training with Alan? We'd love to hear your stories and memories in the comments!

🙌 It gave us great pleasure to watch this group of Pacific Islands students, one from Samoa and two from the Cook Islands, graduate from the Airways Training Academy today.

They initially completed their ICAO 051 Licensing Subjects studies with Peter McCrostie, before going on to complete ICAO 052 Aerodrome Control and ICAO 053 Approach Control Procedural instructed by Hoani Kershaw.

It's always a great honour to celebrate the achievements of our students at a graduation ceremony – and this one was particularly moving, with Hoani performing a haka for the students.

To our three Pacific students, we wish you all the very best for your future careers, as you head back home to your trainee tower roles!

At just 11 and 13 years old, Caleb and Joshua are already demonstrating air traffic control knowledge that would impress seasoned professionals.

The pair were recently invited into our TotalControl Tower simulator, after astounding our team at the NZ Careers expo with reciting the phonetic alphabet in record time and showing an unprecedented understanding of ATC for their age.

What followed shocked our tower sim team – jaws dropped in disbelief as Caleb and Joshua proved what they’ve learned after regularly tuning into Christchurch Tower from a radio, and immersing themselves in maps, charts and procedures.

See them in action in the simulator below!

Read our article here: https://shorturl.at/NyXb6

How does learning how to stone carve help air traffic controllers/flight service officers in their journey to become on-job training instructors? In teaching our attendees about the various instructional skills and techniques they will need to be effective OJTIs, the students embark on a project they’re unfamiliar with – a stone carving workshop.

For this we call on experienced stone carver Shaugn Briggs who has no formal training or experience in instructional techniques, but is very enthusiastic and proficient at it.

By stepping into the shoes of a learner through stone carving, these future instructors gain insights into how to guide trainees through unfamiliar procedures, offer clear and timely feedback, and build confidence.

Our cohort of six air traffic control trainees from Airservices Australia have been in the Airways Training academy in Christchurch for a month now, and are currently studying ICAO 052 Aerodrome Control training in the TotalControl simulator with instructor Richard Lange. We were keen to hear their thoughts about their experience with us so far - here’s what they had to say…

You know what day it is.. It’s 𝗙𝗹𝗮𝘀𝗵𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆! 📸

Today we’re looking back to 2016 when the TotalControl simulator in the Airways Training Centre looked like this – with the sim visuals powered by projectors on the ceiling. Scotty Herbert is seen here teaching an ab initio trainee the ropes – if you trained in this sim drop us a comment, we’d love to hear some of your memories!

Oh how the technology has evolved… from projectors on the ceiling then, to our highly advanced TrueView graphics visualisation tech now, bringing a simulation experience almost indistinguishable from the real thing. Learn more here: https://shorturl.at/2kzsI

It’s with great pleasure that we welcome our newest cohort of students from Airservices Australia who have started with us in the Training Centre in Christchurch this week. Having completed 051 Licensing Subjects studies with Clive Richardson online, they now begin ICAO 052 Aerodrome Control training in the TotalControl simulator with Richard Lange, before starting their ICAO 053 Approach Control Procedural studies.

We would like to wish this group of students all the best with their training here in New Zealand.

Our latest Pacific cohort, made up of students from Samoa and Rarotonga are progressing through their training in the Airways Training Centre, having recently completed their ICAO 051 Licensing Subjects studies with Pete McCrostie. These students are now in the TotalControl simulator completing ICAO 052 Aerodrome Control training, to start their ICAO 053 Approach Control Procedural training in August, both courses instructed by Hoani Kershaw.

To our Pacific cohort, all the very best for the remainder of your studies with us!

We love following the progress of our students in the Training Centre.

Congratulations to our latest cohort who have just graduated from the Airways Training academy in Christchurch!

Back in October 2024, 13 trainees — 10 in air traffic control and three in flight service — joined us in Christchurch to begin their in-person training with instructor Alan Gilchrist, following four weeks of online study to complete their ICAO 051 Licensing Subjects.

They will now commence their on-job training in Airways New Zealand units around the country. Our team has loved supporting you through your training journey, and we wish you all the best of luck with your career.

The Airways New Zealand team has had an exciting and impactful couple of weeks in Auckland, attending both the NZ Careers Expo (17-18 June) and the Tāmaki Makaurau regional Careers Expo for South Auckland schools (24-25 June).

Across both events, members of our Airways Training team, the Airways People team, and a number of our air traffic controllers were on hand to speak with students and attendees about the wide range of career opportunities at Airways. From air traffic control to engineering, technology, and operational support, there’s something for everyone with a passion for aviation and innovation.

A huge thank you to all Airways team members who supported and attended these events – your time, energy, and enthusiasm are what make these events such a success!

Learn more about air traffic control training and careers here: https://shorturl.at/649yR

Learn more about the range of Airways careers here: https://shorturl.at/3tFAi