| |||||||
| Founded | 1991 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operating bases | Dunedin International Airport, Dunedin, New Zealand | ||||||
| Subsidiaries | Mainland Aviation College | ||||||
| Fleet size | 19 | ||||||
| Destinations | 2 (scheduled) | ||||||
| Parent company | Enfield Holdings Ltd | ||||||
| Headquarters | Dunedin, New Zealand | ||||||
| Key people | Phillip & Shirley Kean (Owners & Managers) | ||||||
| Website | www | ||||||
Mainland Air is a general aviation, flight training and air charter company operating out of Dunedin International Airport in New Zealand.[1][2] 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.[1] The company also provides charter services, air ambulance operations, and scenic flights.[1][2]
History[edit | edit source]
Founding and early years[edit | edit source]
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.[1] Not long after founding, Tim and Bronwyn Fleming moved on to other ventures, and Jeff and Holly McMillan purchased the company.[1]
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.[1][3]
Ownership changes[edit | edit source]
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.[1]
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.[1] In 2007, Phil Kean joined Mainland as a pilot, and the first international students arrived.[1] The airline also started a thrice-weekly Dunedin to Alexandra and Queenstown service using a ten-seater Piper Chieftain. In March 2008, Mainland started a thrice-weekly Dunedin to Invercargill service also using its Piper Chieftain aircraft.[3]
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.[1]
Kean ownership[edit | edit source]
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.[1][2] The Keans had both worked with Mainland for six years prior to the purchase.[2] At the time of the purchase, Mainland Air operated eight aircraft, four for air charters and four for air training, and had eight staff.[2]
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.[1]
Fleet[edit | edit source]
The Mainland Air fleet consists of the following aircraft as of 2026:[4][5]
| Aircraft | In service | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cessna 152 | 14 | Flying school training aircraft |
| Cessna 172 | 1 | Flying school training aircraft |
| Piper PA-31-350 Chieftain | 1 | Charter and air ambulance duties |
| 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.[1]
Services[edit | edit source]
Flight training[edit | edit source]
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.[6] 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.[6][7]
Training programmes include:[8]
- 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.[8] 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.[9] As of 2014, Mainland had been operating since 1991, having had about 270 students over the years.[10]
Charter services[edit | edit source]
Mainland Air provides air charter services, including scenic flights over the Otago region. The company offers a 45-minute flight over Macraes, Lawrence, and along the coast.[2] Regular flights operate from the company's base at Dunedin International Airport to Invercargill and Alexandra.[2] The company also operates courier flights, air ambulance services, and charter flights for the cruise-ship market.[1][2]
Air ambulance[edit | edit source]
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.[1] 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.[11]
Accreditations[edit | edit source]
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.[6][12] 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.[13]
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."[6]
Locations[edit | edit source]
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.[1] The company operates from a hangar next to the terminal building.[3] The college also has a campus located at Airport Drive, Waihola, Dunedin.[6]
Notable people[edit | edit source]
Phillip Kean[edit | edit source]
Phillip "Phil" Kean is the Chief Executive and co-owner of Mainland Air, along with his wife Shirley Kean.[1][2] 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.[2]
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.[14][15] Kean described Machchhar as a capable student who successfully completed the demanding process required of pilots.[16] 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."[17] 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."[15] Machchhar had remained in contact with the Dunedin school over the 18 years since and also helped Mainland Air with recruitment in India.[15]
Shirley Kean[edit | edit source]
Shirley Kean is the co-owner of Mainland Air and serves as the company's contact person for NZQA purposes.[6] She has been involved in the business alongside her husband since they worked as employees prior to purchasing the company in 2013.[2]
Jordan Kean[edit | edit source]
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.[1]
Awards and recognition[edit | edit source]
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.[1] NZQA evaluations have noted that Mainland Aviation College produces "capable, certified, safety-conscious pilots" who are prepared for airline or aviation work.[12]
See also[edit | edit source]
- Dunedin International Airport
- Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand
- New Zealand Qualifications Authority
- Flight training
- Smit Machchhar
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 "About Us". Mainland Air. Retrieved 6 October 2026.
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 "Airline's owners aiming high". Otago Daily Times. 26 November 2013. Retrieved 6 October 2026.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Mainland Air". TheFreeDictionary. Retrieved 6 October 2026.
- ↑ "Mainland Air - Fleet". Mainland Air. Retrieved 6 October 2026.
- ↑ "Mainland Air". Aeroportpro. Retrieved 6 October 2026.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 "External Evaluation and Review Report" (PDF). NZQA. 4 March 2025. Retrieved 6 October 2026.
- ↑ "NZ Diploma in Aviation". Mainland Air. Retrieved 6 October 2026.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Courses". Mainland Air. Retrieved 6 October 2026.
- ↑ "Otago flight school takes off". Otago Daily Times. 24 September 2008. Retrieved 6 October 2026.
- ↑ "Student pilots land here after Heli-Pro collapse". Otago Daily Times. 29 November 2014. Retrieved 6 October 2026.
- ↑ "Mainland Air". Kiwix Library. Retrieved 6 October 2026.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 "External Evaluation and Review Report" (PDF). NZQA. 1 February 2023. Retrieved 6 October 2026.
- ↑ "Mainland Aviation College". Baidu Baike. 24 February 2026. Retrieved 6 October 2026.
- ↑ "Pilot stabbed by colleague mid-flight was trained in NZ". Radio New Zealand. 1 October 2026. Retrieved 6 October 2026.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 "NZ-trained pilot stabbed on Israel-bound flight 'stood out' as student". 1News. 1 October 2026. Retrieved 6 October 2026.
- ↑ "Trainer of FlyDubai hero pilot: 'He did a great job'". NewsNation. 3 October 2026. Retrieved 6 October 2026.
- ↑ "'Focused Then, Hero Now': Smit Machchhar's Flight School CEO Speaks Out". NDTV. 1 October 2026. Retrieved 6 October 2026.