Burrows said many pilots were furloughed or retired during Covid.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re now in the boom again,\u201d he said today.<\/p>\n
The single-engine, fully aerobatic, piston-engine aircraft was designed in 1972. The CT-4 still has the same airframe and structure, but new models have updated technology.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve got in-cockpit cameras that are very small and capable of streaming data back to base.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Hamilton-made aircraft have a unit price of about US$1.8 million ($3.02m).<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve definitely got a competitive aircraft.\u201d<\/p>\n
Burrows said major export markets would likely be Southeast Asia and Australia initially, then Europe.<\/p>\n
The Airtrainer could be used for both military and civilian pilot training.<\/p>\n
Further details on the new agreement are expected this afternoon.<\/p>\n
It is expected to broaden aviation co-operation between New Zealand and Thailand across areas including maintenance expertise, personnel development and training, technical support, and long-term planning for spare parts and engines.<\/p>\n
The NZAero CT-4 Airtrainer aircraft, made in Hamilton. The Kiwi company is now eyeing up export markets as demand for pilot training grows. Photo \/ NZAero<\/p>\n
NZAero has already begun building five new CT-4s and said the agreement could generate tens of millions of dollars in export revenue over the next three years.<\/p>\n
Burrows said a combination of expanding pilot demand, a limited number of competing aircraft, and new technology in the CT-4 created a chance for the Kiwi company to secure international market share.<\/p>\n
NZAero said the Royal Thai Air Force currently operated 25 CT-4 aircraft, including 19 CT-4Es which the company was in discussions to modernise.<\/p>\n
NZAero said about 70 New Zealand-manufactured aircraft had been exported to Thailand over the decades.<\/p>\n
The Hamilton-based company also makes the SuperPac 750XL-II, designed for extremely short takeoff and landing. The five-seater E-350 is also in production.<\/p>\n
NZAero said Southeast Asia alone was forecast to require around 62,000 new commercial pilots by 2044.<\/p>\n
Burrows said that would increase demand for specialist training aircraft needed to develop pilots before they moved to more sophisticated platforms.<\/p>\n
The company was also investigating partnerships with NZ technology firms to incorporate AI analysis of flight and cockpit data into a new-generation pilot training system.<\/p>\n
The CT-4 Airtrainer aircraft is a fully acrobatic piston-engined aircraft. Photo \/ NZAero<\/p>\n
Burrows previously told the Herald NZAero made its aircraft almost entirely in-house<\/a>, from hand-shaping metal parts to the final paint job.<\/p>\n Private investors acquired it in 2021 after the company, then called Pacific Aerospace, entered liquidation.<\/p>\n The company originated with a desire the Government had in the post-war era to build viable agricultural aviation aircraft.<\/p>\n The Thai PM was today expected to witness demonstrations of the CT-4 Airtrainer and 750XL, as well as a showcase of the E-350 Expedition.<\/p>\n Luxon said the agreement reflected the growing depth of New Zealand\u2019s relationship with Thailand and the opportunities for Kiwi exporters.<\/p>\n \u201cNew Zealand has world-class advanced manufacturing and aerospace capability, and this is exactly the kind of high-value sector where we want to see Kiwi businesses competing and succeeding internationally,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n The two countries are marking 70 years of diplomatic ties.<\/p>\n Luxon and Charnvirakul formally launched the broader New Zealand-Thailand Strategic Partnership in Auckland earlier today.<\/p>\n The leaders said they wanted to triple two-way trade to $13.5 billion by 2045. <\/p>\n Both countries said they would support efforts to resume direct flights. <\/p>\n Luxon\u2019s office said both leaders welcomed Thai Airways\u2019 planned resumption of direct flights \u201cin the coming year\u201d but it was still not clear exactly when Bangkok-Auckland flights will return. <\/p>\nThe Waikato-based company hopes to start making more aircraft for export. Photo \/ NZAero<\/p>\n