// Pilot Training Squadron

Military pilot training in New Zealand extends back to the days of the New Zealand Permanent Air Force formed in June 1923. Then student pilots and those undergoing refresher training were taught on old WWI Bristol Fighters and Avro 504K biplanes. During the late 1920s and early 1930s Hawker Tomtits and Avro 626 trainers took over most of the training.

With the establishment of the RNZAF in 1937 and expansion programmes immediately prior to WWII, flying training was a priority with a Flying Training School established at Wigram and others under construction at Taieri, and Woodbourne at the outbreak of WWII. To meet the RNZAF's requirement to train pilots for the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan and for local defence purposes, additional flying schools were established around the country.

Following WWII, ab-initio flying training was concentrated at Taieri until 1956, then at No.1 Flying Training School (No.1 FTS) at Wigram. In August 1966 No.1FTS was renamed Pilot Training Squadron (PTS). The Squadron remained at Wigram until 1993 when all flying training was concentrated at RNZAF Base Ohakea.

Air Force flying training aircraft through the years have included - Avro 504K, Bristol Fighter, Hawker Tomtit, Vickers Vildebeest, Fairey Gordon, de Havilland Moth, Tiger Moth, North American Harvard, Auster, Airspeed Oxford, de Havilland Devon, AESL Airtourer, BAC Strikemaster, PACL CT-4B Airtrainers and Macchi MB339CB. The current basic flying training aircraft for pilots is on the CT-4E Airtrainer.

The Pilot Training Squadron Crest incorporates the motto 'AB OVO USQUE', which means 'from the egg' or 'from the beginning'. The task of PTS is to provide primary (ab initio) flying training to service pilots. This is currently carried out using the CT-4E Airtrainer.

Course Syllabus

Training at PTS comprises classroom work and flying instruction on the CT-4E Airtrainer. The Airtrainer phase is 34 weeks of lectures and flying, including 108 hours dual instruction and 38 hours solo consolidation. During the Airtrainer phase students learn basic flying techniques and are taught general handling, aerobatics, spinning, instrument flying, night flying, formation flying and medium/low level (250ft above the ground) navigation. The formation phase also includes a flying training camp 'WISE OWL' conducted at an airfield away from Ohakea.

Having successfully passed the Airtrainer phase, students continue training on the Beechcraft King Air B200 of No.42 Squadron flying a further 80 hours. On completion of the King Air phase, successful graduates receive the coveted Pilots Brevet (wings) and continue their career as an operational pilot in the RNZAF.

Pilot Training Squadron is also responsible for ab initio training for Royal New Zealand Navy pilots, and occasionally provides pilot training for the Royal Malaysian and the Republic of Singapore Air Forces as part of the New Zealand Defence Mutual Assistance Programme.

PTS and CFS share the 13 CT-4E Airtrainers at Ohakea. The combined annual flying hours allocated to these units is 6,800.

For Pilot Career information check out the Airforce Careers section.