Company History
AN ILLUSTRIOUS HISTORY
Southern Wings is built on a heritage of seventy-five years of flight training. It is one of New Zealand’s original aviation colleges, operated by people who are passionate about flying and assisting others to become pilots. The grand heritage of Southern Wings, the spectacular local landscape and the gracious Southland lifestyle has helped us attract and retain some of New Zealand’s finest instructors. The college is superbly equipped with modern aircraft and comfortable teaching facilities. It operates a varied, well-maintained fleet suitable for all training purposes. The college’s main base is located at Invercargill Airport. A secondary base was established in 2009 and is located at Manapouri, 100 kilometres north-west of Invercargill on the edge of Fiordland National Park. Southland represents the largest uncontrolled airspace in New Zealand, with Invercargill Airport providing experience with Air Traffic Control in controlled procedural airspace. The airspace is uncluttered but varied.
A CURRENT VIEW
Southern Wings proud heritage, the spectacular local landscape and the sought after slower paced Southland lifestyle have proven to be attractive to both students and instructing staff. But make no mistake, Southern Wings is a modern aviation college committed to excellence. This has been borne out by the recent announcement that Southern Wings has been selected as a flight training partner with Air New Zealand’s Aviation Institute. This builds on Southern Wings NZQA accreditation gained in 1996 and the establishment of one of New Zealand’s earliest Diploma in Aviation courses established in 1999. Southern Wings enters a new era with the establishment of integrated flight training in partnership with New Zealand’s national carrier.
Southern Wings has ensured it is equipped with modern aircraft which will prepare students for a technologically advancing industry and with comfortable classroom facilities which are regularly assessed and upgraded with the latest technology and teaching aids. We operate a varied, well-maintained fleet suitable for all training purposes. Sightseeing, photography and passenger and night freight operations are regularly carried out and the fleet is operated to air transport standards across the whole fleet including training aircraft.
Southern Wings investment in new technology extends to the installation of a state of the art simulator in 2008 which boasts 210° real view visuals and digital instruments. This is shortly to be upgraded to include “glass cockpit” components. Instrument training aircraft are also equipped with GPS navigation technology and are shortly to be upgraded to include glass cockpit components as well.
