Associate Minister for Transport, James Meager. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
The government wants to reduce the time it takes to become a pilot and bring training timeframes in line with international programmes.
The Associate Minister for Transport, James Meager, has laid out a series of steps that he hoped would address challenges in the aviation sector - including an ageing workforce and shortages - and boost its expansion.
He said programmes in the United States saw pilots and engineers qualify in just over a year, compared to the 18-20 months it took in New Zealand.
"We've got the infrastructure, we've got the people who can train, but is our qualification framework set up for that?
"And that's one of the recommendations is to look at whether or not we can speed up that process and match ourselves internationally and compete in that pilot and engineering training space."
The "25 actions" in the 'Aviation Action Plan' also included a review of industry funding after airlines raised concerns about significantly increasing costs.
Meager said fees and levies were currently set in silos, creating cumulative cost burden on airlines.
"MPI will set theirs, and Customs will set theirs, and Civil Aviation will set theirs, then you've got Airways out to the side and then you've got the airports.
"So one of the things that we are keen on, is working together so that we all have an idea of what each other's fees look like over the next three, six, nine years."
The plan showed all costs borne by the sector were expected to be documented by the end of the year, with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and Airways (an air navigation service provider) to undertake specfic funding and pricing reviews by the end of 2027.
Recommendations to make it easier for drone experimentation and operation were already underway, Meager said.
He said the 'sandbox' approach would allow drone techonology companies to go to the CAA with just a proposal first.
"They'll certify you from from the start, and then if you make little tweaks and changes here and there you can continue operating until you ... propose to commercialise it."
Meager said the government had also designated areas for drone experimentation, such as Tāwhaki on Banks Peninsula.
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