On this course you will experience what it’s really like to work in an aeronautical engineering workshop and start exploring the wide range of study and career pathways available in this exciting and fast-growing industry.
This hands-on course brings to life one of the most in-demand fields in New Zealand and around the world. You’ll gain practical skills in a real-world setting - from learning how to work safely in an aviation engineering environment to using the tools and techniques applied by qualified engineers every day.
Delivered by experienced Licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineers (LAMEs), the course guides you through metalwork projects, including the fabrication of a real aircraft component, all within an authentic aviation engineering hangar. You’ll also spend time around actual aircraft, observe maintenance in action, and build a deeper understanding of the industry and where it can take you.
Whether you're considering a future as an aircraft engineer, planning further study in engineering, or simply want to explore the possibilities in aviation — this course will give you the foundation, inspiration, and direction to take your next step.
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You’ll learn how to stay safe in an aviation workshop environment, how to identify and safely use key tools and equipment found within the engineering workshop and build practical skills while working on basic metalwork projects. You'll also discover whether aeronautical engineering is a pathway you’d like to pursue and what your next steps could be.
You will be a year 11-13 secondary school student on the course start date and a NZ Citizen or permanent NZ resident.
Please connect with your school’s Career Advisor or Gateway Coordinator to ensure you meet your schools requirements to attend off-site training courses.
Students provide their own Chromebook or Laptop to complete online learning and assessments via Moodle.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) will be provided whilst attending the course. Learners are to wear own covered shoes and long hair must be tied back.
Becoming an aeronautical engineer in New Zealand involves a combination of formal education, practical training, and relevant qualifications. The pathway typically starts with a Level 3 certificate, followed by further qualifications and hands-on experience in the aviation industry.
This micro-credential contains 22 credits of the 130 credits that makes up the New Zealand Certificate in Aeronautical Engineering Level 3 (pre-employment skills). This Level 3 certificate is the equivalent of a pre-industry trade qualification that would lead into an aeronautical engineering apprenticeship role. You can then progress into training in specific areas of aeronautical and aerospace engineering as well as avionics (the electronics and communication systems used in aviation).
JNPAT is now approved to deliver the level 3 certificate to tertiary learners starting in July 2026.
The level 3 Certificate is also available at NMIT.
28032 Apply aeronautical engineering work and safety practices LEVEL 3 (10 CREDITS)
3896 Select, use maintain aeronautical engineering tools and equipment LEVEL 3 (12 CREDITS)
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By taking this course this could get you on the path some of these careers within the aviation industry.
Aerospace engineers focus on designing, developing, testing, and producing aircraft, spacecraft, and related systems and equipment.
A LAME is the person officially licensed by a national aviation authority (like NZCAA) to certify that an aircraft is safe and fit to fly after maintenance has been performed.
