Bay Flight International is joining hands with the Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology for increasing the number of pilots it trains every year in New Zealand. Aviation experts admit that the Government regulations have ensured that there is a mismatch between the supply and demand.

CEO of Bay Flight Laurence Barnett also confirmed that New Zealand is going to face a shortage of pilots in the future. He reveals that a pilot has to work for almost two to three years or a flying experience of almost 1000 hours to qualify as a commercial pilot and get a job with an airline.

Most of the pilots in New Zealand work as flight instructors and aviation pilots and some of them also go outside the country.

Laurence also feels that pilot training is like apprenticeship. He confirmed that pilots have to work hard, but they have a great future ahead of them. He praised the pilots of New Zealand and that they are in demand overseas.

But, aviation experts are concerned that if the Government policies do not change, New Zealand may be forced to hire pilots from foreign countries. Aviation experts across the world have already raised concerns that there will be a global shortage of pilots in the future.

The aviation training industry contributed $237 million to the economy of New Zealand in the last year.