Secondary School rangatahi from Gisborne Boys High, Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Nga Uri a Maui and Campion College took part in the JNP Aviation Training Introduction to aviation ground operations (level 3) micro-credential – held for 2 weeks at Gisborne Airport.

This meant our Instructor travelled and staying in Gisborne,with all our teaching equipment, and were lucky enough to be able to set up and teach out of the Tairawhiti Aviation Museum.

This micro-credential not only covered 20 NCEA credits and level 2 and 3, it provided a valuable insight into the opportunities within the aviation industry – control tower, emergency services, ground handling (airport services), airport management, flying, engineering and more. This course could not have been run without the foresight and organisational skills from Sara Evans and Gisborne Boys High and the support of Airport Manager Murray Bell and Gisborne Airport, the JNP Aviation ground ops team at Gisborne Airport, and the Trust Tairawhiti.

The learners’ feedback said it all:

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What did you like most?

“Firstly I liked how we all bonded with each other and coming out of our comfort zone when doing these activity's and learning new stuff. what I liked the most was being out there and being active”

“Very cool experience, would love to see myself around the aviation environment one day“

“I appreciate the experience and it was a lot of fun”

“This was a really cool course”

“My personal favourite would be the ATR aircraft”

“I enjoyed all of the outdoor activities,especially the ones at the airport. The baggage trolley task was cool and I enjoyed doing marshalling”

“What i liked most was the control tower and the rescue fire, we got to see how the tower worked and for the rescue fire we got to have a look inside”

“First of all the people that we met were very welcoming and nice to all of the boys. I enjoyed the baggage handling, it was cool and good to learn for a possible future”

“Control tower, rescue fire, and baggage”

“Working in back of house to see how everything is done cause you don't get that experience that in your everyday life”.

‘Learning “

“I loved all of it”