Winner of the AOPA NZ Trust PPL Scholarship ($5000), is Nelson school pupil, Charlie Bryce, who works part-time to pay for his flying. Involved with the Motueka Aero Club Young Eagles, he was taken on a few flights with other Aeroclub members. Soon after being awarded his scholarship, Charlie met with a flight instructor and an Air New Zealand pilot for career advice and mentoring.
His referees stated that “Charlie consistently demonstrates a strong work ethic and seeks to be a positive role model to his peers. Charlie has many of the attributes needed to be a good pilot and the motivation to achieve this goal. Charlie is what I call a ‘thinking pilot.’ He uses his head to make clear judgements and is always critiquing his flying, trying to set a high standard.”
For the AOPA NZ February 2026 AGM, Charlie sent us through this video update of is progress – things are going well with another 10 hours of flying since his scholarship award.
He’s planning to start at Nelson Aero College at the end of August, for a Diploma in Aviation, with a focus on flight instruction.
The Trust has linked Charlie up with an Aviation mentor – which is proving a great opportunity for trusted guidance and encouragement along the way.
In March 2026, Charlie let us know that he’s also received a scholarship through his local Aeroclub at Motueka.