Conference Presentation

ASPA Conference, Nadi, Fiji, 23 May 2008
John Nicholson, Chief Executive, Aviation NZ.

It is great to be in the South Pacific, to be in Fiji. I lived in Suva for three years in the late 1980s and was a frequent visitor to the South Pacific from 2002 to 2006

The warmth of greetings in Fiji, Samoa, Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia, French Polynesia and many other South Pacific countries will be with me forever. The strong friendships established with people throughout the region, will also remain for ever.

I am going to talk about the New Zealand aviation industry, and John Jones of CTC Aviation, and one of my directors, will talk about pilot training.

New Zealand has a long and constructive relationship with the South Pacific. That relationship goes back over two centuries. Many of our countries and companies are inextricably linked. But we should never take these relationships for granted. They need to be treasured, and nurtured. Our commercial relationships could be much stronger.

As you know, a New Zealand aviation fair is being run alongside the ASPA conference. This is the first time we’ve undertaken such an activity with ASPA. It’s the first time such a group of New Zealand aviation companies has been in Fiji together. We are grateful that through the ASPA relationship, we are able to participate in your conference. Richard Gates, an old friend of mine, is sorry he cannot be part of the New Zealand group, and sends his best wishes to you.

Already there are a number of connections between us:

• Nicole Domett of the Aviation Travel and Training Group tells me that 35% of her graduates are of Pacific Island origin
• Fieldair Engineering does engineering work for Sun Air and pacific island Float Plane
• Air New Zealand services Air Pacific’s 737s
• Airways New Zealand provides navigation aids and calibration services throughout the region

These companies are part of a New Zealand aviation industry which earns around NZ$800 million in exports each year. The industry is committed to see that figure rise to NZ$2.0b by 2020.

There are a lot of internationally competitive aviation companies in New Zealand. But we don’t try to compete internationally on price. What makes us unique is our innovative way of approaching things. Some examples, starting with real history:

• Richard Pearse flew a plane at about the same time as the Wright Brothers in the United States. The Pearse plane had a tricycle undercarriage; it had ailerons to control direction. Pearse didn’t think he had proper control on his first flight so he didn’t claim it as a flight. He also thought achieving flight was no big deal. He didn’t tell the local newspapers about it for around 10 years!!!!
• New Zealand was among the pioneers in recognising the possibilities of using aviation in the agriculture, forestry and tourism industries
• New Zealand’s proven marine composites technology is being incorporated in the aircraft interior fit-out industry
• Nine of the top 10 United States aerospace and defence companies use 3D product graphic management systems designed by New Zealand software company Right Hemisphere.
• Airways International has just secured a contract to implement its ‘Flight-Yield’ automated aviation billing system for the Civil Aviation Administration of China. Once operational, the Flight-Yield system will collect and process China’s aviation data from its five regional air traffic management bureaus, over 40 air traffic control centres, 150 domestic airports and billing some 300 airlines

As we know, aviation internationally is a highly regulated industry:

• the Civil Aviation Authority in New Zealand is viewed, by its peers, as an outstanding regulator
• a number of our companies have approvals from international bodies such as the FAA (United States), and EASA (Europe)
• several component companies are currently going through a process to become accredited suppliers to EADS – several have already done this with Boeing

You will also see from the New Zealand display, that there are a number of innovative companies right here now, wanting to build relationships with you. These are companies with products and services ideally suited to the Pacific. Many of those products and services are already being sold in Australia, and further afield. We know they work.

If you haven’t had a chance so far, spend time getting to meet the New Zealanders and spend time talking to them about their products and services.

There is a very competent industry in New Zealand. It is very internationally competitive. But as I said before, we are not the cheapest in doing a number of these things.

Research last year in the UK, the United States, China, Japan and Australia provided overwhelming evidence that New Zealand is a good country to do business with. According to business people in these countries, New Zealanders have:

• an openness and directness which while unusual in international business, makes dealing with New Zealanders straightforward
• a refreshing honesty which engenders rapid trust
• resourcefulness, creativity and flexibility
• respect for other cultures, the land and environment
• the success of the family and importance of family life

This probably won’t surprise you in the Pacific. You recognise many of these attributes about New Zealanders already. You also know that these are attributes that are highly regarded in the Pacific.

So, New Zealand has world class aviation technology. There is a highly trained workforce. Our companies are not constrained by `old’ or `very traditional’ ways of doing things. They are innovative, have new ideas and new ways of doing things. We are good to do business with. John Jones from CTC Aviation will give you much more specific information on the innovative way his company is tackling pilot training.

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