New Zealand's NZAero Restarts CT-4 Trainer Aircraft Export Production, Signs Aviation Cooperation Agreement with Thailand

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On August 21, New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and visiting Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul jointly witnessed the signing of a new aviation cooperation agreement at Ardmore Airport in Auckland. On the day of the signing, the two countries formally elevated their bilateral relationship to a strategic partnership. As the core element of the agreement, NZAero, New Zealand's only aircraft manufacturer headquartered in Waikato, announced it wouldresume export production of the CT-4 "Airtrainer" light trainer aircraft after a 14-year hiatus.

NZAero signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Thai aviation company Top Flying Limited. Under the MOU, NZAero will providecomprehensive support for the Royal Thai Air Force's active CT-4 fleet, covering maintenance, engineering upgrades, spare parts management, and knowledge exchange and training. NZAero CEO Stephen Burrows stated thatthe company has commenced construction of five new CT-4 aircraft, and the agreement is expected to generatetens of millions of dollars in export revenue over the next three years. The unit price of the CT-4 trainer is approximatelyUS$1.8 million (about NZ$3.02 million).

This cooperation is an extension of the maintenance agreement signed by the two countries in 2024. The backdrop for resuming export production is the rapid growth in global demand for pilots. Burrows noted that a large number of pilots were grounded or retired during the COVID-19 pandemic, and "we are now in a boom period". According to data cited by NZAero, Southeast Asia alone is expected to require approximately62,000 new commercial pilots by 2044. NZAero plans to initially focus on theSoutheast Asian and Australian markets, before expanding toEurope.

The CT-4 is a single-engine, fully aerobatic piston aircraft thatcompleted its design and maiden flight in 1972. While retaining the same airframe and structure, the new modelfeatures updated avionics technology and cockpit cameras capable of transmitting data to the ground in real time. Thailand has been a long-time user of the CT-4—in service since 1973, it has trained over 3,500 pilots over more than 50 years. The Royal Thai Air Force currently operates25 CT-4 aircraft, including 19 CT-4E models, and NZAero is in discussions with Thailand regarding modernization upgrades for these aircraft. Over the past decades, approximately70 aircraft manufactured in New Zealand have been exported to Thailand.

NZAero's predecessor, Pacific Aerospace, entered liquidation in 2021 before being acquired by private investors. In addition to the CT-4, the company also produces models such as theSuper PAC 750XL-II (designed specifically for extreme short takeoff and landing) and the five-seatE-350 Expedition. The company is exploring collaboration with New Zealand technology firms to integrateAI analysis of flight and cockpit data into next-generation pilot training systems.