The purpose of this qualification is to provide the Flight Training Schools and Airline sectors of the New Zealand Aviation Industry with individuals who have attained sufficient operational and theoretical knowledge and practical skills to operate as commercial pilots and/or associated support staff in flight planning and aircraft operations.

Graduates will meet the eligibility requirements to operate as commercial pilots under the appropriate New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) rules for flight instruction or air transport operations (e.g. regional, domestic, charter, or international airlines).

Graduates of this qualification will be able to:

- Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding and appropriate application of the CAANZ Commercial Pilot License theory subjects in air law, flight navigation, meteorology, and human factors, for aeroplanes or helicopters, to exercise the privileges and limitations of a commercial pilot licence.

Graduates of the Aeroplane Flight Instruction strand will also be able to:
- Instruct a diverse population of students in ground subjects and the art of flying, from the private through commercial pilot and instrument ratings on single or multi-engine aircraft; to meet the requirements of a CAANZ Category C Flight Instructor Aeroplane, as defined and specified in CAA Rule Part 61 and applicable Advisory Circulars.

Graduates of the Aeroplane Airline Preparation strand will also be able to:
- Safely undertake duties as the pilot-in-command or as the co-pilot of a multi-engine multi-crew aircraft by applying knowledge of the CAANZ Airline Transport Licence rating theory subjects for aeroplanes, in order to ensure effective cockpit and flight crew dynamics, whilst confidently managing automation, complex equipment and technically challenging systems present within airline air transport operations, as defined and specified in CAA Rule Part 61 and applicable Advisory Circulars.

Graduates of the Helicopter Flight Instruction strand will also be able to:
- Instruct a diverse population of students in ground subjects and the art of flying through the application of high-level language and literacy skills to explain complex technical concepts sufficiently to develop and enhance student pilot performance both in the air and in the classroom, from the private through commercial pilot on single-engine helicopters to meet the requirements of a CAANZ Category C Flight Instructor Helicopter, as defined and specified in CAA Rule Part 61 and applicable Advisory Circulars.

Graduates of the Helicopter Airline Preparation strand will also be able to:
- Safely undertake duties as the pilot-in-command or as the co-pilot of a multi-engine multi-crew helicopter by applying knowledge of the CAANZ Airline Transport Licence rating theory subjects for helicopters, in order to ensure effective cockpit and flight crew dynamics, whilst confidently managing automation, complex equipment and technically challenging systems present within airline air transport operations, as defined and specified in CAA Rule Part 61 and applicable Advisory Circulars.

This qualification may build on the New Zealand Diploma in Aviation (General Aviation) with strands in Aeroplane, and Helicopter (Level 5) [Ref: 3688].
Graduates may progress to higher level aviation study.

Evidence of meeting CAA Regulatory requirements, which may include but is not limited to Civil Aviation Rules Part 1, Part 12, Part 61, Part 67, Part 71, Part 91, Part 92, Part 93, Part 119, Part 135, Part 125, Part 121, and Part 137.