The success story of
Tim Marshall
CURRENT POSITION
General Aviation Flight Examiner, ‘A’ Category Instructor
and Instructional Techniques Course Presenter
COMPLETED COURSES
Commercial Pilot License (CPL), Multi-Engine Instrument
Rating (MEIR), and C-Category Instructor Rating
I have been involved in NSAC (AIPA’s parent) for many years. My passion for aviation was nurtured by my father, who was also a very keen aviator, who regular took my brother and I flying when we were children.
I had a break from aviation while I pursued my first career, as a Scuba Diving Instructor, but aviation was always in the back of my mind and something I wanted to get back into.
In 2004 I moved back to New Zealand and threw myself into flight training with NSAC/AIPA, completing a Commercial Pilots Licence, a ‘C’ Category Instructor Rating and a Multi Engine Instrument Rating. The team and facilities were so impressive, that I made it a goal to join the instructing team and started working as an instructor in 2007.
NSAC/AIPA was an excellent place to develop as an instructor and I was able to become qualified to teach at Night Flying, Basic Mountain Flying, Multi Engine Ratings and Aerobatics’ (one of my favourite things to do). I was also able to become qualified to teach under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) and become a ‘B’ Category Instructor.
As importantly, NSAC/AIPA gave me the opportunity to gain valuable experience and flight hours which allowed me to gain employment in Australia with the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) in 2019
This was an amazing experience, flying a Pilatus PC12, on both Charter Flights and providing Aeromedical services to remote communities in the Norther Territory and South Australia
The PC12 was an awesome machine to fly. Being pressurised and quick (+200kts) it was perfect for the task-at-hand and I learnt a lot about operating around remote desert airstrips and tropical weather.
It was also great being able to help those people who were living very remotely and they really appreciated it when you flew in to assist them.
After COVID and the world returning to some resemblance of normality, I returned to a fulltime instructor position at NSAC/AIPA and took on the role of Safety Manager for both NSAC/AIPA, and North Shore Airport.
One of the best things about this career is the amazing people you meet and the wonderful opportunities it presents. Many years ago, I was granted approval from the NZCAA to run Instructional Techniques Courses (ITC’s) for Flight Instructors. This course has become very popular with other many organizations choosing to have their instructors attend the NSAC/AIPA Instructional Techniques Course, and its great watching new Instructors hone their skills and become the instructors of the future.
NSAC/AIPA has been pivotal in allowing me to have an amazing career in aviation, and the opportunities are still ongoing. I can not recommend it highly enough.
Tim Marshall's Advice for future students:
“While it’s good to have a plan, it’s also important to have the right attitude and the courage to seize opportunities as they present.”