On this New Zealand Certificate in Aeronautical Engineering, 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 learn to safely apply the fundamental knowledge and principles of aircraft and systems construction and maintenance, and how to carry out aircraft and system maintenance in a real aviation workshop environment.
Delivered by experienced Licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineers (LAMEs), the course guides you through a comprehensive base of core aeronautical engineering skills and knowledge. This qualification is intended for learners who are planning to embark on a career in the aviation industry as an aeronautical engineer. Graduates of this programme will be able to work safely in an aeronautical engineering workshop and to carry out engineering tasks under direct supervision.
You’ll spend a lot of your time working with actual aircraft - our graduates will be ‘employment – ready’ and highly capable to begin a workplace apprenticeship (New Zealand Certificate in Aeronautical Engineering(Applied Skills) (level 4).
Don McCracken, President of the Aircraft Engineering Association of New Zealand (AEANZ) supports JNP Aviation Training (JNPAT) all the way and we look forward to inviting him to speak to our first group of students ....
JNPAT [has] a clear commitment to producing work-ready graduates for the aviation maintenance industry. AEANZ and AlANZ are strongly aligned with initiatives that address the growing skills shortage in aeronautical engineering across Aotearoa. The development and delivery of industry-aligned, foundational programmes like this one are both timely and essential.
JNPAT’s successful delivery of the Introduction to Aeronautical Engineering micro-credential is already demonstrating their ability to engage learners and deliver quality, industry-relevant training. Their partnership with Classic Flyers and the integration of practical, workplace-aligned content-alongside the use of high-quality online learning resources places them in a unique and highly advantageous position to provide pre-employment training that meets current industry needs.
Starts: July 2026
Full time study : 4 days a week / 40 weeks (with study breaks)
Delivery: Face to face, Workshop practical and Online learning
Level 3, 130 credits
Location: Classic Flyers Engineering Workshop, Mount Maunganui
School leavers and adult students: Domestic students only
All other details to be provided withe arrival of new website October 31st. Please email us on info@jnpat.ac.nz with any questions you may have.
The purpose of this programme is to provide the aeronautical engineering industry with graduates equipped with a comprehensive base of core aeronautical engineering skills and knowledge. This qualification is intended for learners who are planning to embark on a career in the aviation industry as an aeronautical engineer. Graduates of this programme will be able to work safely in an aeronautical engineering context, to carry out engineering tasks under direct supervision.
Graduates of this qualification will be able to:
o Select and use appropriate aircraft maintenance documentation to complete maintenance tasks.
o Select and use aeronautical engineering tools and equipment inline with current aeronautical engineering practices.
o Apply safe work practices in an aeronautical engineering environment.
o Apply knowledge of human behaviour and performance to ensure effective engineering and team dynamics.
o Maintain, repair and overhaul aircraft by integrating the fundamental principles of aircraft construction and maintenance, including the application of aeronautical publications and aircraft maintenance documentation.
o Apply the fundamental knowledge and principles of aircraft construction and maintenance, and aircraft systems and system maintenance to carry out aircraft and system maintenance.
The Level 3 pre-employment Certificate is viewed by industry as being essential for preparing new apprentices for the workplace. The overall programme outcome is to provide the aviation engineering industry with graduates who are ‘employment – ready’ and capable to begin their workplace apprenticeship (New Zealand Certificate in Aeronautical Engineering (Applied Skills) (level 4).
"There are currently 3,000 working in New Zealand, which is 300 to 500 short to meet demand. Looking forward to 2034, it’s estimated we’re going to need 4,500 and unless a number of things happen, we’re going to continue to have a shortage"
https://www.engineeringnz.org/news-insights/elevating-avation-engineering/
New Zealand Citizen or Resident: 17+ years
JNPAT will provide a placement interview and short test. The testing may include assessments on Literacy & Numeracy, Maths & Physics (NCEA L2-based), English Comprehension (depending on prior marks and achievements)
Successful applicants will be offered a place on completion of placement interview.
A school leaver that has completed JNPATs Introduction to Aeronautical Engineering (micro-credential) level 3 will gain entry, however they will be required to take part in Course One to revise Health and Safety in the Workshop. They will be given an alternative project to work on during this Course. (See Credit recognition and transfer policies in Student Hub on this website) In addition, these students will still complete an Interview and placement test to ensure they are ready for the Courses 2-4within the programme.
July 2026 First Intake
New Zealand Certificate in Aeronautical Engineering (Applied Skills) level 4
July 2026 (exact date tbd, pending nzqa approval)
40 weeks (4 weeks study break)
Tauranga, Classic Flyers Aviation Workshop Hangar 3.
4d/week
3
Face to face Workshop practical Online learning Integration of Practical and Work-based components
Online theory and practical assessments
t.b.d (pending NZQA approval)
t.b.d (pending NZQA approval)
130 credits, level 3
n/a
New Zealand Certificate
If you're interested in taking part in this course we'd love to hear from you.
For more detailed information about the course download our PDF.
