"Today's about informing really, because people don't know a lot about it ... they have a goal to become a pilot but they don't quite know how or how much it's going to cost.
"We think it's affordable for people. The student loan system in New Zealand is very good."
The academy offers a number of pathways to becoming a pilot and they cost between $80,000 and $95,000.
Bedford said New Zealand citizens were eligible to take up to $70,000 of that out on a student loan.
He said becoming a pilot was achievable for anyone willing to work for it.
"People who have the right work ethic can become pilots.
"It's probably more about hard work than it is about being academically gifted which is often the misconception.
"We're just trying to expose young folk today to the options that are available to them for their career as pilots."
The students getting a tour of the academy were told to make paper planes and the one that flew the furthest won a free flight.
Oscar Anderson and Finn Kennedy from New Plymouth Boys High School were contenders in that race.
"I came here to experience learning flight and to see how I could get an education in flight," said Finn.
He was also interested in becoming an engineer.
"I'm interested in mechanics and engines and how you can make a plane fly," he said.
"I've just seen a person pulling apart a plane which was interesting."
Oscar Anderson was adamant he would become a pilot after the tour.
"I've just always liked planes pretty much. I just saw the advert at school ... I'm here and I'm checking it out and it's pretty cool."
The academy is funded for 16 New Zealand students and has a roll of 61 at the moment.
Bedford said they would take in 10 new domestic students next year.
Whanganui District Council Holdings bought the flight school in 2015 for $800,000 and moved it from the Feilding Aerodrome to the Whanganui Airport.
It began operating in July last year and Bedford said he hoped there would be an official opening later this year.
