Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Investment in NZ flying school being considered

Updated at 3:13 pm on 3 October 2011

A Hawaiian-based New Zealand businessman is eyeing opportunities here for investing in a flying school.

Michael Burgess has worked in finance in London, Geneva, Zurich, Dubai and New York.

He's here for the Rugby World Cup but is also exploring investment opportunities, including a flying school with Mauna Loa Helicopters, one of the biggest helicopter training schools in the United States, where he is the business development manager.

Mr Burgess says many trainee pilots in the US come from other countries, particularly emerging economies such as India and China where there is a demand for aviation but no local flight programme.

But he says there is a security concern around foreigners coming into the US to learn to fly, particularly after the September 11 terrorist attacks.

Mr Burgess says they would like to expand to New Zealand in case the US rules change preventing foreign pilot students from studying there.

He says at this stage they are trying to establish whether to set up a business from scratch, or to buy and develop an established business.

Mr Burgess says setting up a school from scratch, including bringing training helicopters from the United States, would cost more than $3 million.

He's in talks with existing schools and airports about expanding the industry.

A recent Trade and Enterprise report says training makes up $54 million of the $9.7 billion industry. That's forecast to rise to $70 to $100 million by 2015.

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