ARDMORE FLYING SCHOOL - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Head of Multi - Crew Training
Geoff initially completed a 5 year Avionics apprenticeship with Air New Zealand. During this time, he followed his real passion of flying by obtaining a PPL, CPL, Instrument Rating and C Category Instructors rating through the Canterbury Aero Club while completing ATPL subjects. Having completed his apprenticeship Geoff spent 2 years in Flight Simulator Maintenance before being accepted for Air New Zealand Pilot training. After 25 years as an Airline Pilot with the company, including 14 years Jet Command, an 18-month secondment with Gulf Air operating B737 based out of Bahrain, he brings over 13,000 hours of multi crew flying into the Ardmore Flying Schools "Multi Crew Integration Course" where he enjoys passing on that experience to the young pilots of today.
Hannelie's journey into aviation began in 2008 when she pursued flying as a hobby on the weekends while managing her business during the week. She quickly realised that she wanted to study towards gaining a Private Pilot's Licence, Commercial Pilot's Licence and C Category Instructor rating. In 2018, she worked full-time as a flight instructor in South Africa. After deciding to relocate to New Zealand, she earned a New Zealand Diploma in Aviation Level 5 (Aeroplane) by converting her South African training experience and sitting a flight test with an NZ CAA flight examiner.
She started an administration role at Ardmore Flying School in 2019 and is now the Programme Coordinator. Hannelie's duties include overseeing the various NZQA-approved programmes we offer at Ardmore Flying School and ensuring that the School and its students comply with immigration, TEC, and NZQA requirements. She also manages the Ground School and oversees the Programme Schedule. With her instructing knowledge she is able to use her experience to help the learners exceed in the ground course phases of their training.
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive
- General Manager
Irene is the General Manager of Ardmore Flying School and is responsible for the overall operation of the School and managing its strategic relationships. Irene has a long history working in aviation and is well known and connected throughout the industry. She is committed to and lives the values of the School as a leader of diversity and inclusion - ‘'we are a family of many cultures and peoples."
Joining Ardmore Flying School in 2021 at the end of a four month plus Covid enforced lock down she brought a wealth of experience in running businesses with complex and multiple accountabilities in the aviation and education regulatory space.
Irene holds an MBA from Brunel University in the UK and a MA in Economics from Otago.
Her personal time is committed to looking after her three grandchildren and working in the voluntary women's advocacy space as part of Zonta International and supporting the family violence court in Auckland.
Kim joined the Ardmore Flying School team as Finance Manager in 2012. Kim has had a wide range of finance rolls during her career ranging from small business to corporate across different aspects of the New Zealand industry. Kim likes to have an open door policy so all students feel free to discuss any financial queries or concerns that they may have. Ardmore Flying School takes pride in making all financial transactions as simple and transparent as possible.
Pete Upton is the Ardmore Flying School's Safety Manager, and has responsibility for AFS's Safety Management System, he is assisted by two Safety Coordinators who take care of the day by day operation. Pete trained at Ardmore Flying School in the mid 2000s, and was a flight instructor then became the Safety Coordinator and later Manager of Operations and Safety. In 2012, he left Ardmore Flying School to embark on a career in Aviation Safety at an airline level. Pete completed additional training in Safety Management Systems, Aviation Human Factors, and Aviation Safety Investigation at the Singapore Aviation Academy, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau and Embry Riddle University. While not looking after the Safety Management of Ardmore Flying School, he continues to work in Airline Safety Training. Outside of work he enjoys flying recreationally as well as skiing in winter and travelling the world.
Rahul joined the Ardmore Flying School team as the Enrolment Manager in 2020 . He is the School's first point of contact for any person wanting to learn to fly, become a professional pilot or upskill in any flight training area. Rahul also works to build and maintain profitable relationships with key customers by scheduling regular meetings as an opportunity to provide feedback to ensure they are satisfied with our services. Rahul's qualifications include a Bachelor of Business and he is also currently studying for his Masters in Accounting. This gives him the tools to aid all students in the processes of enrolling, including student loan funding, visa and insurance for international students, and any other concerns related to study for both prospective students and current students.
Shitong (or Tiger as he is commonly known) is Ardmore Flying schools Chief Flying Instructor (CFI) as well as Head of Training. Through these two roles, Tiger ensures that the training carried out within the school is kept to a high standard. Tiger's journey at AFS started in 2010 when he carried out his PPL, CPL, Instrument Rating and C Category Instructor's rating. Tiger joined the AFS Instructor team in 2013. During this time, he gained his B Category Instructor rating and later his A Category Instructor rating and GA Examiner rating in 2020. Since his journey he has acquired over 3000 plus hours, and has gained a wealth of experience within the aviation training environment. Tiger is readily available to answer any students queries and questions regarding their individual training programme. As the CFI, he looks after all students and instructors, helping them to achieve their aviation goals.
Job Titles:
- Manager Marketing & Events
Stephanie started her role as Internal Communications and Event Manager at Ardmore Flying School in April of 2022. She thoroughly enjoys supporting students at the very beginning of their flying journey, having spent so many years supporting crew who've reached their destination.
Stephanie has a long background in commercial aviation, including working for Air New Zealand in various departments. Her roles involved communication support to pilots, managing crew administration teams, event planning and premium customer service.
In Stephanie's role at Ardmore Flying School, she oversees the co-ordination of the front office/operations area including the School's facilities, along with internal communications, special events, social media and flight charging. In any spare time she has, she loves baking for the students and staff. Stephanie is currently upskilling by working towards her Bachelor of Business.
Job Titles:
- International Sales Director
Tom is very passionate about Education and seeing students achieve their career aspirations. For over 12 years, he has been involved in the New Zealand vocational sector and International Student industry in a wide variety of roles from Teacher to Principal, International Director to Executive Development Manager and now as Ardmore Flying School's International Sales Director.
Tom travels the world, meeting students and selling New Zealand and Ardmore Flying School as the number 1 place for aspiring pilots to study at. He also supports international students fully throughout their entire journey at Ardmore Flying School.
Job Titles:
- Deputy Chief
- Deputy Chief Flying Instructor
Uria is Ardmore Flying School's Deputy Chief Flying Instructor. Her role is to assist our Chief Flying Instructor and Head of Training. Her duties as a B Cat Instructor are to improve our learners' quality of training through checks, fault analysis and trouble shooting. Updates from Instructors assist her role in managing our learners' practical progression and increasing productivity. Once these learners meet the NZ flight test standards along with internal assessments, Uria communicates with our stakeholders to organise flight tests for them.
Uria has been instructing with Ardmore Flying School since 2013 and has had a few breaks in between starting her family with two beautiful daughters. Uria originates from the Cook Islands; and with aviation and her culture as her passion, she encourages our Māori and Pacific community to consider and to take up aviation as a career path.
Warren Sattler is one of our two A-Category Instructors, and also one of our Flight Examiners. Warren is well known throughout the industry both here in New Zealand and globally. He is one of the most experienced Flight Instructors in New Zealand, with over 35,000 hours training pilots. Hundreds of pilots will have been given their Private Pilot's Licence by Warren or have flown with Warren during some point of their career. He has flown many different types of aircraft, and was the first person in New Zealand qualified to fly Garmin G1000 equipped aircraft after completing a course with Garmin in the USA before we received our first Garmin G1000 equipped Cessna 172. Warren has high standards, and a wealth of knowledge that he likes to share, even if you only get to fly with him once you always gain something that will help you be a better pilot.