James had a really successful camp attending the Walsh Memorial Flying School in Matamata for 2 weeks in January. For anyone interested in an aviation career, it is a fabulous growth experience for students aged 16-19 years and gives a big advantage for those interested in an aviation career as the students spend two weeks with a multitude of senior Air NZ and Airforce employees.

James was one of the first students on the camp to be sent solo (after only 7 days) by his flying instructor, and he was the first student to complete his second solo flight. Not all students manage to go solo by the end of the camp.

Because he had gone solo early in the camp, James then managed to get in some initial aerobatics training and additional flying hours during week two.

The days on the camp are long with wake-up calls at 5.30am, and flying lessons up to three times a day along with two classroom briefings per day. Students live in their own tent for the duration of the camp which is set up at the airfield itself.

James absolutely loved his time at the camp and has made many new friends from all around NZ and hopes to be accepted back again next January as a return student to continue his flying hours. Second year students get added responsibilities such as being part of the aircraft refuelling team as well as assisting in the Flight Operations office.

Ceremonial dunking after James’ first solo flight

The camp is run through Scouts, however less than 1/3rd of the students were scouts this year. Most students attending are from the North Island.

The camp took 70 students this year from around NZ this year but has significantly more student applicants than they can take each year so it is not easy to get into.

Most amazingly the camp is run solely on volunteer hours. With a fleet of 17 aircrafts, the Walsh school had approx 27 flying instructors (who are mostly employed by Air NZ and the Airforce), large numbers of Air Traffic controllers, Engineers, Maintenance crew, Fire Crew (not to mention all the cooks and administrators); the organisation around the camp is impressive.

Matamata airfield becomes the busiest airfield in NZ for the 2 weeks of the camp with 1100 aircraft movements in a day and with 1400 flights over the total 12 1/2 flying days.

If anyone would like more information on the Walsh flying school have a look at their facebook page:

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