Insight for Sunday 7 December 2008

The country's witnessing an aviation boom as it becomes a training ground for overseas pilots - which is putting a squeeze on training places for New Zealanders.

It's a great trend for the small towns around the country that are reaping the rewards and fighting off Australian training schools to grab the business.

But aviation industry bodies are complaining they're seeing increasing problems in communication, navigation, radio skills and airmanship.

Gareth Thomas looks at the training boom, the dive in instructor experience, and what it means for the budding New Zealand pilot.