Bharatwiki Socrates: Created page with "{{Short description|New Zealand aviation company}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2026}} {{Infobox airline | airline = Mainland Air | image = | image_size = | alt = | caption = | IATA = MD | ICAO = MLD | callsign = Mainland | founded = {{Start date and age|1991}} | ceased = | aoc = | bases = Dunedin International Airport, Dunedin, New Zealand | hubs =..."

2026-10-06T16:42:43Z

Created page with "{{Short description|New Zealand aviation company}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2026}} {{Infobox airline | airline = Mainland Air | image = | image_size = | alt = | caption = | IATA = MD | ICAO = MLD | callsign = Mainland | founded = {{Start date and age|1991}} | ceased = | aoc = | bases = Dunedin International Airport, Dunedin, New Zealand | hubs =..."

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{{Short description|New Zealand aviation company}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2026}}
{{Infobox airline
| airline = Mainland Air
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| IATA = MD
| ICAO = MLD
| callsign = Mainland
| founded = {{Start date and age|1991}}
| ceased =
| aoc =
| bases = [[Dunedin International Airport]], [[Dunedin]], New Zealand
| hubs =
| secondary_hubs =
| focus_cities =
| frequent_flyer =
| lounge =
| alliance =
| subsidiaries = Mainland Aviation College
| fleet_size = 19
| destinations = 2 (scheduled)
| parent = Enfield Holdings Ltd
| headquarters = [[Dunedin]], New Zealand
| key_people = Phillip & Shirley Kean (Owners & Managers)
| revenue =
| operating_income =
| net_income =
| profit =
| assets =
| equity =
| employees =
| website = {{URL|https://www.mainlandair.com}}
}}

'''Mainland Air''' is a [[general aviation]], flight training and [[air charter]] company operating out of [[Dunedin International Airport]] in New Zealand.<ref name="AboutUs">{{cite web |title=About Us |url=https://mainlandair.com/about-us |website=Mainland Air |access-date=6 October 2026}}</ref><ref name="ODTKean">{{cite web |title=Airline's owners aiming high |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/business/airlines-owners-aiming-high-b2lwif1s |website=Otago Daily Times |date=26 November 2013 |access-date=6 October 2026}}</ref> Founded in 1991 by Tim and Bronwyn Fleming, the company has grown to become one of New Zealand's top aviation colleges, offering a range of flight training programmes through its subsidiary, '''Mainland Aviation College'''.<ref name="AboutUs"/> The company also provides charter services, air ambulance operations, and scenic flights.<ref name="AboutUs"/><ref name="ODTKean"/>

== History ==

=== Founding and early years ===

Mainland Air was established in 1991 by Tim and Bronwyn Fleming, who started the company as a charter and flight training school with two [[Piper Seneca]] aircraft and three Cessna trainer planes.<ref name="AboutUs"/> Not long after founding, Tim and Bronwyn Fleming moved on to other ventures, and Jeff and Holly McMillan purchased the company.<ref name="AboutUs"/>

In the same year the McMillans bought the company, Mainland Air secured a contract with [[New Zealand Post]]. From 1995 to 2006, the airline operated courier flights between [[Dunedin]] and [[Christchurch]].<ref name="AboutUs"/><ref name="FreeDict">{{cite web |title=Mainland Air |url=https://wwwencyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/Mainland+Air |website=TheFreeDictionary |access-date=6 October 2026}}</ref>

=== Ownership changes ===

In 2000, Chris Kelliher and Jason Jackson became the third owners of Mainland Air. Along with acquiring the business, they began a contract with the Southern District Health Board to carry out [[air ambulance]] patient transfers. This contract lasted for 20 years.<ref name="AboutUs"/>

In 2005, Mainland Air gained NZQA accreditation for Level 5 Diplomas in Aviation and was the first aviation school in New Zealand to install a CAA-approved flight simulator.<ref name="AboutUs"/> In 2007, Phil Kean joined Mainland as a pilot, and the first international students arrived.<ref name="AboutUs"/> The airline also started a thrice-weekly Dunedin to [[Alexandra, New Zealand|Alexandra]] and [[Queenstown, New Zealand|Queenstown]] service using a ten-seater [[Piper PA-31 Navajo|Piper Chieftain]]. In March 2008, Mainland started a thrice-weekly Dunedin to [[Invercargill]] service also using its Piper Chieftain aircraft.<ref name="FreeDict"/>

In 2010, after 10 years of running Mainland Air, Chris and Jason sold the company to the Paterson family, who owned Mainland's major maintenance provider, South Air Limited. One of the first acts the Patersons made was to buy a new [[Tecnam P2006T]] for twin-engine flight training.<ref name="AboutUs"/>

=== Kean ownership ===

In 2013, the Patersons were looking to sell the business, and their chief pilot at the time, Phil Kean, had always dreamed of owning an airline business. Phil and Shirley Kean became the new owners of Mainland Air.<ref name="AboutUs"/><ref name="ODTKean"/> The Keans had both worked with Mainland for six years prior to the purchase.<ref name="ODTKean"/> At the time of the purchase, Mainland Air operated eight aircraft, four for air charters and four for air training, and had eight staff.<ref name="ODTKean"/>

In 2014, a second Piper Chieftain was added to the fleet, and in 2018 a G1000 simulator was installed. In 2019, the Tecnam and Cessna 172 were upgraded with G1000 setups, making them Technically Enhanced Aircraft (TEA). Phil and Shirley's son, Jordan, became the youngest pilot in New Zealand to gain an A-Category Instructor's Rating.<ref name="AboutUs"/>

== Fleet ==

The Mainland Air fleet consists of the following aircraft as of 2026:<ref name="Fleet">{{cite web |title=Mainland Air - Fleet |url=https://www.mainlandair.com/fleet |website=Mainland Air |access-date=6 October 2026}}</ref><ref name="Aeroportpro">{{cite web |title=Mainland Air |url=https://aeroportpro.ru/ |website=Aeroportpro |access-date=6 October 2026}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Aircraft
! In service
! Notes
|-
| [[Cessna 152]]
| 14
| Flying school training aircraft
|-
| [[Cessna 172]]
| 1
| Flying school training aircraft
|-
| [[Piper PA-31 Navajo|Piper PA-31-350 Chieftain]]
| 1
| Charter and air ambulance duties
|-
| [[Piper PA-34 Seneca|Piper PA-34 Seneca III]]
| 1
| Charter and multi-engine instrument training
|-
| [[Tecnam P2006T]]
| 1
| Twin-engine pilot training
|-
| Socata TB-10 Tobago
| 1
| Flying school training aircraft
|-
! Total
! 19
!
|}

The company also operates a CAA-approved flight simulator, which was the first installed at an aviation school in New Zealand.<ref name="AboutUs"/>

== Services ==

=== Flight training ===

Mainland Aviation College, a division of Mainland Air, is an NZQA-approved flight training establishment delivering a range of aviation training to both domestic and international students.<ref name="NZQA2025">{{cite web |title=External Evaluation and Review Report |url=https://www.nzqa.govt.nz/bin/providers/download/provider-reports/7187-2025.pdf |website=NZQA |date=4 March 2025 |access-date=6 October 2026}}</ref> The college offers the NZQA-approved Level 5 Diploma in Aviation, as well as CAA-approved [[Private Pilot Licence]] (PPL) and [[Commercial Pilot Licence]] (CPL) qualifications.<ref name="NZQA2025"/><ref name="Diploma">{{cite web |title=NZ Diploma in Aviation |url=https://www.mainlandair.com/nz-diploma-in-aviation |website=Mainland Air |access-date=6 October 2026}}</ref>

Training programmes include:<ref name="Courses">{{cite web |title=Courses |url=https://www.mainlandair.com/courses | website=Mainland Air |access-date=6 October 2026}}</ref>

* Private Pilot Licence (PPL)
* Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL)
* Multi-Engine Instrument Rating
* Flight Instructor (C Category)
* Diploma in Aviation Science (Flight Instructing)
* Diploma in Aviation Science (Air Transport – ATPL)

The CPL syllabus is largely covered in the [[Fiordland]] region, specifically [[Milford Sound]].<ref name="Courses"/> International students typically spend 12–16 months at the college and pay up to NZ$70,000 to gain commercial airline, multi-engine instrument ratings, and instrument flying experience.<ref name="ODT2008">{{cite web |title=Otago flight school takes off |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/otago-flight-school-takes |website=Otago Daily Times |date=24 September 2008 |access-date=6 October 2026}}</ref> As of 2014, Mainland had been operating since 1991, having had about 270 students over the years.<ref name="ODT2014">{{cite web |title=Student pilots land here after Heli-Pro collapse |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/student-pilots-land-here-after-heli-pro-collapse |website=Otago Daily Times |date=29 November 2014 |access-date=6 October 2026}}</ref>

=== Charter services ===

Mainland Air provides air charter services, including scenic flights over the [[Otago]] region. The company offers a 45-minute flight over [[Macraes, New Zealand|Macraes]], [[Lawrence, New Zealand|Lawrence]], and along the coast.<ref name="ODTKean"/> Regular flights operate from the company's base at Dunedin International Airport to [[Invercargill]] and [[Alexandra, New Zealand|Alexandra]].<ref name="ODTKean"/> The company also operates courier flights, air ambulance services, and charter flights for the cruise-ship market.<ref name="AboutUs"/><ref name="ODTKean"/>

=== Air ambulance ===

Mainland Air has provided air ambulance patient transfer services under contract with the Southern District Health Board. This contract, which began in 2000, lasted for 20 years.<ref name="AboutUs"/> As well as operating air ambulance transfer flights, Mainland Air provides charter flights for medical specialists from Dunedin to Invercargill and Alexandra several times per week on behalf of the Southern District Health Board.<ref name="LibraryKiwix">{{cite web |title=Mainland Air |url=https://library.kiwix.org/ |website=Kiwix Library |access-date=6 October 2026}}</ref>

== Accreditations ==

Mainland Aviation College is accredited by the [[New Zealand Qualifications Authority]] (NZQA) and certified by the [[Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand]] (CAA) as a Part 141 training organisation.<ref name="NZQA2025"/><ref name="NZQA2023">{{cite web |title=External Evaluation and Review Report |url=https://www.nzqa.govt.nz/nqfdocs/provider-reports/7187-2023.pdf |website=NZQA |date=1 February 2023 |access-date=6 October 2026}}</ref> The college is also a signatory to the Ministry of Education's Pastoral Care Code and is a member of the New Zealand Aviation Industry Association.<ref name="Baidu">{{cite web |title=Mainland Aviation College |url=https://baike.baidu.com/ |website=Baidu Baike |date=24 February 2026 |access-date=6 October 2026}}</ref>

In its 2025 External Evaluation and Review (EER), NZQA found Mainland Aviation College to be "Confident in educational performance" and "Confident in capability in self-assessment."<ref name="NZQA2025"/>

== Locations ==

Mainland Air is based at [[Dunedin International Airport]], located adjacent to the village of Momona on the [[Taieri Plains]], approximately 22 kilometres south-west of the Dunedin CBD.<ref name="AboutUs"/> The company operates from a hangar next to the terminal building.<ref name="FreeDict"/> The college also has a campus located at Airport Drive, Waihola, Dunedin.<ref name="NZQA2025"/>

== Notable people ==

=== Phillip Kean ===

Phillip "Phil" Kean is the Chief Executive and co-owner of Mainland Air, along with his wife Shirley Kean.<ref name="AboutUs"/><ref name="ODTKean"/> Kean joined Mainland Air as a pilot in 2007 and became Chief Pilot before purchasing the company in 2013. He had previously worked as a pilot based in [[Invercargill]], flying to [[Milford Sound]], and spent 20 years with [[Stewart Island Flights]].<ref name="ODTKean"/>

In 2026, Kean gained international media attention when it was revealed that [[Smit Machchhar]], the captain of [[Flydubai Flight 1073]] who foiled an attempted hijacking, had trained at Mainland Air in 2008 and 2009.<ref name="RNZ">{{cite web |title=Pilot stabbed by colleague mid-flight was trained in NZ |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/checkpoint/audio/2019054189/pilot-stabbed-by-colleague-mid-flight-was-trained-in-nz |website=Radio New Zealand |date=1 October 2026 |access-date=6 October 2026}}</ref><ref name="1News">{{cite web |title=NZ-trained pilot stabbed on Israel-bound flight 'stood out' as student |url=https://tvnz-1-news-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/2026/10/01/nz-trained-pilot-stabbed-on-israel-bound-flight-stood-out-as-student/ |website=1News |date=1 October 2026 |access-date=6 October 2026}}</ref> Kean described Machchhar as a capable student who successfully completed the demanding process required of pilots.<ref name="NewsNation">{{cite web |title=Trainer of FlyDubai hero pilot: 'He did a great job' |url=https://www.newsnationnow.com/vargasreports/trainer-of-flydubai-hero-pilot-he-did-a-great-job/ |website=NewsNation |date=3 October 2026 |access-date=6 October 2026}}</ref> Kean said he was "stunned" to learn that his former student was at the centre of the incident and praised Machchhar's "presence of mind and bravery."<ref name="NDTVKean">{{cite web |title='Focused Then, Hero Now': Smit Machchhar's Flight School CEO Speaks Out |url=https://www.ndtv.com/ |website=NDTV |date=1 October 2026 |access-date=6 October 2026}}</ref> Kean told ''1News'' that Machchhar "stood out" among those training at the school and "did well" with his studies, describing him as "a leading type student, out in front."<ref name="1News"/> Machchhar had remained in contact with the Dunedin school over the 18 years since and also helped Mainland Air with recruitment in India.<ref name="1News"/>

=== Shirley Kean ===

Shirley Kean is the co-owner of Mainland Air and serves as the company's contact person for NZQA purposes.<ref name="NZQA2025"/> She has been involved in the business alongside her husband since they worked as employees prior to purchasing the company in 2013.<ref name="ODTKean"/>

=== Jordan Kean ===

Jordan Kean, the son of Phil and Shirley Kean, became the youngest pilot in New Zealand to gain an A-Category Instructor's Rating in 2019.<ref name="AboutUs"/>

== Awards and recognition ==

Mainland Air has been recognised for its contributions to aviation training in New Zealand. The company describes itself as one of the top aviation colleges in New Zealand, with skilled instructors, an excellent fleet, a supportive environment, and a strong culture.<ref name="AboutUs"/> NZQA evaluations have noted that Mainland Aviation College produces "capable, certified, safety-conscious pilots" who are prepared for airline or aviation work.<ref name="NZQA2023"/>

== See also ==

* [[Dunedin International Airport]]
* [[Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand]]
* [[New Zealand Qualifications Authority]]
* [[Flight training]]
* [[Smit Machchhar]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{Official website|https://www.mainlandair.com}}

[[Category:Aviation companies of New Zealand]]
[[Category:Companies established in 1991]]
[[Category:Companies based in Dunedin]]
[[Category:Flight training organisations]]
[[Category:1991 establishments in New Zealand]]
[[Category:General aviation airlines]]
[[Category:Charter airlines of New Zealand]]

Mainland Air - Revision history