Massey buys 14 new planes for $8 million

Massey University's aviation school will replace its fleet with 12 single-engine Diamond Aircraft 40 (pictured) and two twin-engine Diamond Aircraft 42 aeroplanes.

Massey University has spent $8m buying 14 new planes - two high-performance twin-engine Diamond Aircraft 42 and 12 single-engine Diamond Aircraft 40 - to replace the aviation school's fleet of Piper Warrior single engine and Piper Seneca twin-engine aircraft.

The school, which flies out of the Milson Flight Systems Centre at Palmerston North Airport, offers degrees in aviation with professional pilot training incorporated.

School general manager Ashok Poduval said Massey would be the first flight training organisation in New Zealand with an entire fleet of training aircraft which had state-of-the-art Garmin 1000 cockpit display systems, which enhanced safety and improved training quality.

"Flying an aircraft today is not merely about 'stick and rudder' skills - it is about managing a technologically advanced machine," Mr Poduval said.

"We are investing resources to keep our students ahead of the rest."

Advanced aviation students at Massey, Brandon James Gedge and Dae Jin Hwang, died when their planes collided at an altitude of 472m near Opiki, southwest of Palmerston North, in February 2006.

The Civil Aviation Authority said the pilots had been unable to see each other because of the planes' inherent blind spots and because for much of the time one was climbing, it was headed directly towards the sun.

The school said the new aircraft would be fitted with Spidertracks, a real time tracking device developed with the aid of Massey University mechatronics graduate James McCarthy.

The device enhanced the safety of students, Mr McCarthy said.

"The trainers can follow the students in real-time and know where they are, wherever they are."

Massey vice-chancellor Steve Maharey said the purchase of the new aircraft reflected the university's major commitment to the school.

"We're looking forward to great things in terms of the programmes we can provide for aviation students both here and around the world."

Four of the aircraft were expected to be delivered at the end of May with the entire new fleet in place by the end of the year.

The planes were manufactured by Diamond Aircraft Industries in Ontario, Canada and distributed by Hawker Pacific.

Senior instructors at the school would undergo training at Diamond Aircraft's factory in Canada over the next three months.

- NZPA