We are passionate about aviation
Our instructors are not only pilots in their own right, but have thousands of hours as practiced flight instructors. We are committed to the ideals of seamless pilot training to provide you with the skills that airlines recognise and give you the competitive edge. Our team is with you every step of the way to help you achieve your pilot licence.
Irene King
Chief Executive
Irene is the General Manager of Ardmore Flying School and is responsible for the overall operation of the School and managing its strategic relationships. Irene has a long history working in aviation and is well known and connected throughout the industry. She is committed to and lives the values of the School as a leader of diversity and inclusion – ‘’we are a family of many cultures and peoples.”
Joining Ardmore Flying School in 2021 at the end of a four month plus Covid enforced lock down she brought a wealth of experience in running businesses with complex and multiple accountabilities in the aviation and education regulatory space.
Irene holds an MBA from Brunel University in the UK and a MA in Economics from Otago.
Her personal time is committed to looking after her three grandchildren and working in the voluntary women’s advocacy space as part of Zonta International and supporting the family violence court in Auckland.
Irene King
Chief Executive
Shitong Liu
Chief Flying Instructor
Shitong (or Tiger as he is commonly known) is Ardmore Flying schools Chief Flying Instructor (CFI) as well as Head of Training. Through these two roles, Tiger ensures that the training carried out within the school is kept to a high standard. Tiger’s journey at AFS started in 2010 when he carried out his PPL, CPL, Instrument Rating and C Category Instructor’s rating. Tiger joined the AFS Instructor team in 2013. During this time, he gained his B Category Instructor rating and later his A Category Instructor rating and GA Examiner rating in 2020. Since his journey he has acquired over 3000 plus hours, and has gained a wealth of experience within the aviation training environment. Tiger is readily available to answer any students queries and questions regarding their individual training programme. As the CFI, he looks after all students and instructors, helping them to achieve their aviation goals.
Shitong Liu
Chief Flying
Instructor
Kim Jenkins
Finance Manager
Kim joined the Ardmore Flying School team as Finance Manager in 2012. Kim has had a wide range of finance rolls during her career ranging from small business to corporate across different aspects of the New Zealand industry. Kim likes to have an open door policy so all students feel free to discuss any financial queries or concerns that they may have. Ardmore Flying School takes pride in making all financial transactions as simple and transparent as possible.
Kim Jenkins
Finance
Manager
Uria George-Temanu
Deputy Chief Flying Instructor
Uria is Ardmore Flying School’s Deputy Chief Flying Instructor. Her role is to assist our Chief Flying Instructor and Head of Training. Her duties as a B Cat Instructor are to improve our learners’ quality of training through checks, fault analysis and trouble shooting. Updates from Instructors assist her role in managing our learners’ practical progression and increasing productivity. Once these learners meet the NZ flight test standards along with internal assessments, Uria communicates with our stakeholders to organise flight tests for them.
Uria has been instructing with Ardmore Flying School since 2013 and has had a few breaks in between starting her family with two beautiful daughters. Uria originates from the Cook Islands; and with aviation and her culture as her passion, she encourages our Māori and Pacific community to consider and to take up aviation as a career path.
Uria George-Temanu
Deputy Chief
Flying Instructor
Warren Sattler
A-Cat Examiner
Warren Sattler is one of our two A-Category Instructors, and also one of our Flight Examiners. Warren is well known throughout the industry both here in New Zealand and globally. He is one of the most experienced Flight Instructors in New Zealand, with over 35,000 hours training pilots. Hundreds of pilots will have been given their Private Pilot’s Licence by Warren or have flown with Warren during some point of their career. He has flown many different types of aircraft, and was the first person in New Zealand qualified to fly Garmin G1000 equipped aircraft after completing a course with Garmin in the USA before we received our first Garmin G1000 equipped Cessna 172. Warren has high standards, and a wealth of knowledge that he likes to share, even if you only get to fly with him once you always gain something that will help you be a better pilot.
Warren Sattler
A-Cat Examiner
Geoff Paterson
Head of Multi-crew Training
Geoff initially completed a 5 year Avionics apprenticeship with Air New Zealand. During this time, he followed his real passion of flying by obtaining a PPL, CPL, Instrument Rating and C Category Instructors rating through the Canterbury Aero Club while completing ATPL subjects. Having completed his apprenticeship Geoff spent 2 years in Flight Simulator Maintenance before being accepted for Air New Zealand Pilot training. After 25 years as an Airline Pilot with the company, including 14 years Jet Command, an 18-month secondment with Gulf Air operating B737 based out of Bahrain, he brings over 13,000 hours of multi crew flying into the Ardmore Flying Schools “Multi Crew Integration Course” where he enjoys passing on that experience to the young pilots of today.
The Multi Crew Integration Course (MCIC) consists of 1 week classroom study covering the non-technical and management skills applicable to working in a multi crew environment followed by 9 Flight Simulator Training details in an Airbus A320 Flight Simulator.
Geoff’s commitment to his students is to ensure they reach a high standard of personal development in the areas required for the safe and professional operation of a modern multi crew flight deck.
Geoff Paterson
Head of
Multi-crew
Training
Hannelie Welman
Programme Coordinator
Hannelie’s journey into aviation began in 2008 when she pursued flying as a hobby on the weekends while managing her business during the week. She quickly realised that she wanted to study towards gaining a Private Pilot’s Licence, Commercial Pilot’s Licence and C Category Instructor rating. In 2018, she worked full-time as a flight instructor in South Africa. After deciding to relocate to New Zealand, she earned a New Zealand Diploma in Aviation Level 5 (Aeroplane) by converting her South African training experience and sitting a flight test with an NZ CAA flight examiner.
She started an administration role at Ardmore Flying School in 2019 and is now the Programme Coordinator. Hannelie’s duties include overseeing the various NZQA-approved programmes we offer at Ardmore Flying School and ensuring that the School and its students comply with immigration, TEC, and NZQA requirements. She also manages the Ground School and oversees the Programme Schedule. With her instructing knowledge she is able to use her experience to help the learners exceed in the ground course phases of their training.
Hannelie Welman
Programme Coordinator
Stephanie Harris
Manager Marketing & Events
Stephanie started her role as Internal Communications and Event Manager at Ardmore Flying School in April of 2022. She thoroughly enjoys supporting students at the very beginning of their flying journey, having spent so many years supporting crew who’ve reached their destination.
Stephanie has a long background in commercial aviation, including working for Air New Zealand in various departments. Her roles involved communication support to pilots, managing crew administration teams, event planning and premium customer service.
In Stephanie’s role at Ardmore Flying School, she oversees the co-ordination of the front office/operations area including the School’s facilities, along with internal communications, special events, social media and flight charging. In any spare time she has, she loves baking for the students and staff. Stephanie is currently upskilling by working towards her Bachelor of Business.
Stephanie Harris
Manager Marketing
& Events
Tom Parker
International Sales Director
Tom is very passionate about Education and seeing students achieve their career aspirations. For over 12 years, he has been involved in the New Zealand vocational sector and International Student industry in a wide variety of roles from Teacher to Principal, International Director to Executive Development Manager and now as Ardmore Flying School’s International Sales Director.
Tom travels the world, meeting students and selling New Zealand and Ardmore Flying School as the number 1 place for aspiring pilots to study at. He also supports international students fully throughout their entire journey at Ardmore Flying School.
Tom Parker
International Sales Director
Reha Gabriel
Enrolment Coordinator & Flight Instructor
Reha began his journey with Ardmore Flying School in 2019, completing his Diploma in Aviation and obtaining his CPL in 2021. He then joined the Auckland Aero Club, where he flew recreationally for two and a half years to build his hours and experience, while also working for Airways New Zealand. In October 2023, Reha returned to Ardmore to complete his Flight Instructor course, earning his second Diploma in Aviation. With a deep passion for aviation and a commitment to continuous improvement, Reha is dedicated to enriching his knowledge and skills in the field.
Reha is an expert in all things enrolment-related and is happy to assist with any enquiries regarding enrolment, SMART administration, or general student queries. You can reach him at reha.gabriel@ardmore.co.nz.
Reha Gabriel
Enrolment Coordinator & Flight Instructor
Irene King
Chief Executive
Irene is the General Manager of Ardmore Flying School and is responsible for the overall operation of the School and managing its strategic relationships. Irene has a long history working in aviation and is well known and connected throughout the industry. She is committed to and lives the values of the School as a leader of diversity and inclusion – ‘’we are a family of many cultures and peoples.”
Joining Ardmore Flying School in 2021 at the end of a four month plus Covid enforced lock down she brought a wealth of experience in running businesses with complex and multiple accountabilities in the aviation and education regulatory space.
Irene holds an MBA from Brunel University in the UK and a MA in Economics from Otago.
Her personal time is committed to looking after her three grandchildren and working in the voluntary women’s advocacy space as part of Zonta International and supporting the family violence court in Auckland.
Shitong Liu
Chief Flying Instructor
Shitong (or Tiger as he is commonly known) is Ardmore Flying schools Chief Flying Instructor (CFI) as well as Head of Training. Through these two roles, Tiger ensures that the training carried out within the school is kept to a high standard. Tiger’s journey at AFS started in 2010 when he carried out his PPL, CPL, Instrument Rating and C Category Instructor’s rating. Tiger joined the AFS Instructor team in 2013. During this time, he gained his B Category Instructor rating and later his A Category Instructor rating and GA Examiner rating in 2020. Since his journey he has acquired over 3000 plus hours, and has gained a wealth of experience within the aviation training environment. Tiger is readily available to answer any students queries and questions regarding their individual training programme. As the CFI, he looks after all students and instructors, helping them to achieve their aviation goals.
Kim Jenkins
Finance Manager
Kim joined the Ardmore Flying School team as Finance Manager in 2012. Kim has had a wide range of finance rolls during her career ranging from small business to corporate across different aspects of the New Zealand industry. Kim likes to have an open door policy so all students feel free to discuss any financial queries or concerns that they may have. Ardmore Flying School takes pride in making all financial transactions as simple and transparent as possible.
Uria George-Temanu
Deputy Chief Flying Instructor
Uria is Ardmore Flying School’s Deputy Chief Flying Instructor. Her role is to assist our Chief Flying Instructor and Head of Training. Her duties as a B Cat Instructor are to improve our learners’ quality of training through checks, fault analysis and trouble shooting. Updates from Instructors assist her role in managing our learners’ practical progression and increasing productivity. Once these learners meet the NZ flight test standards along with internal assessments, Uria communicates with our stakeholders to organise flight tests for them.
Uria has been instructing with Ardmore Flying School since 2013 and has had a few breaks in between starting her family with two beautiful daughters. Uria originates from the Cook Islands; and with aviation and her culture as her passion, she encourages our Māori and Pacific community to consider and to take up aviation as a career path.
Warren Sattler
A-Cat Examiner
Warren Sattler is one of our two A-Category Instructors, and also one of our Flight Examiners. Warren is well known throughout the industry both here in New Zealand and globally. He is one of the most experienced Flight Instructors in New Zealand, with over 35,000 hours training pilots. Hundreds of pilots will have been given their Private Pilot’s Licence by Warren or have flown with Warren during some point of their career. He has flown many different types of aircraft, and was the first person in New Zealand qualified to fly Garmin G1000 equipped aircraft after completing a course with Garmin in the USA before we received our first Garmin G1000 equipped Cessna 172. Warren has high standards, and a wealth of knowledge that he likes to share, even if you only get to fly with him once you always gain something that will help you be a better pilot.
Geoff Paterson
Head of Multi-crew Training
Geoff initially completed a 5 year Avionics apprenticeship with Air New Zealand. During this time, he followed his real passion of flying by obtaining a PPL, CPL, Instrument Rating and C Category Instructors rating through the Canterbury Aero Club while completing ATPL subjects. Having completed his apprenticeship Geoff spent 2 years in Flight Simulator Maintenance before being accepted for Air New Zealand Pilot training. After 25 years as an Airline Pilot with the company, including 14 years Jet Command, an 18-month secondment with Gulf Air operating B737 based out of Bahrain, he brings over 13,000 hours of multi crew flying into the Ardmore Flying Schools “Multi Crew Integration Course” where he enjoys passing on that experience to the young pilots of today.
The Multi Crew Integration Course (MCIC) consists of 1 week classroom study covering the non-technical and management skills applicable to working in a multi crew environment followed by 9 Flight Simulator Training details in an Airbus A320 Flight Simulator.
Geoff’s commitment to his students is to ensure they reach a high standard of personal development in the areas required for the safe and professional operation of a modern multi crew flight deck.
Hannelie Welman
Programme Coordinator
Hannelie’s journey into aviation began in 2008 when she pursued flying as a hobby on the weekends while managing her business during the week. She quickly realised that she wanted to study towards gaining a Private Pilot’s Licence, Commercial Pilot’s Licence and C Category Instructor rating. In 2018, she worked full-time as a flight instructor in South Africa. After deciding to relocate to New Zealand, she earned a New Zealand Diploma in Aviation Level 5 (Aeroplane) by converting her South African training experience and sitting a flight test with an NZ CAA flight examiner.
She started an administration role at Ardmore Flying School in 2019 and is now the Programme Coordinator. Hannelie’s duties include overseeing the various NZQA-approved programmes we offer at Ardmore Flying School and ensuring that the School and its students comply with immigration, TEC, and NZQA requirements. She also manages the Ground School and oversees the Programme Schedule. With her instructing knowledge she is able to use her experience to help the learners exceed in the ground course phases of their training.
Stephanie Harris
Manager Marketing & Events
Stephanie started her role as Internal Communications and Event Manager at Ardmore Flying School in April of 2022. She thoroughly enjoys supporting students at the very beginning of their flying journey, having spent so many years supporting crew who’ve reached their destination.
Stephanie has a long background in commercial aviation, including working for Air New Zealand in various departments. Her roles involved communication support to pilots, managing crew administration teams, event planning and premium customer service.
In Stephanie’s role at Ardmore Flying School, she oversees the co-ordination of the front office/operations area including the School’s facilities, along with internal communications, special events, social media and flight charging. In any spare time she has, she loves baking for the students and staff. Stephanie is currently upskilling by working towards her Bachelor of Business.
Tom Parker
International Sales Director
Tom is very passionate about Education and seeing students achieve their career aspirations. For over 12 years, he has been involved in the New Zealand vocational sector and International Student industry in a wide variety of roles from Teacher to Principal, International Director to Executive Development Manager and now as Ardmore Flying School’s International Sales Director.
Tom travels the world, meeting students and selling New Zealand and Ardmore Flying School as the number 1 place for aspiring pilots to study at. He also supports international students fully throughout their entire journey at Ardmore Flying School.
Reha Gabriel
Enrolment Coordinator & Flight Instructor
Reha began his journey with Ardmore Flying School in 2019, completing his Diploma in Aviation and obtaining his CPL in 2021. He then joined the Auckland Aero Club, where he flew recreationally for two and a half years to build his hours and experience, while also working for Airways New Zealand. In October 2023, Reha returned to Ardmore to complete his Flight Instructor course, earning his second Diploma in Aviation. With a deep passion for aviation and a commitment to continuous improvement, Reha is dedicated to enriching his knowledge and skills in the field.
Reha is an expert in all things enrolment-related and is happy to assist with any enquiries regarding enrolment, SMART administration, or general student queries. You can reach him at reha.gabriel@ardmore.co.nz.
Reha Gabriel
Enrolment Coordinator & Flight Instructor
