A Dreamer Aiming for the Skies
To achieve his goal of getting his pilot's licence by the time he turns 16, Luca needs to do a total of 60 hours of flying.
Year 10 Tikipunga High School student and Dreamer, Luca Kotze, has set his sights higher than most teenagers his age, quite literally. While many young people are thinking about getting their driver’s licence at 16, Luca plans to already be soaring above the clouds with his pilot’s licence in hand.
It is an ambitious goal, but Luca has already taken his first steps by joining the Whangārei Flying Club and completing his first discovery flight with instructor Neil Foreman. You can begin flight training at any age, although you must be 16 to fly solo. After demonstrating the basic operation of the aircraft, Neil handed most of the flying over to Luca, giving him an unforgettable introduction to aviation. The club’s instructors are all volunteers, making it one of the most affordable places in the country to learn.
Right now, Luca’s school subjects do not directly support aviation requirements, but next year he will be able to take physics, maths and geography, all essential for future pilots.
His next milestone is a medical examination, which every pilot must pass before they can begin logging official flying hours. Because he is under 17, Luca only needs to complete one hour of flying per month, compared to the five hours required for adults. It is a small advantage, but one that helps make his dream more achievable.
To complete his pilot’s licence, Luca needs to do a total of 60 hours of flying and raise $10,000.
The long term pathway toward a commercial licence is even more demanding, around 200 hours of flying and an estimated $150,000, but Luca is not letting that intimidate him. For now, the focus is clear: get his pilot’s licence by his 16th birthday on 14 December 2027.
Once he has his licence, he will head to Auckland for a flight simulation assessment and, if successful, begin the journey toward becoming a regional officer and eventually a commercial pilot.
Luca’s ultimate dream is to fly for Emirates, but he would also be proud to work for Air New Zealand or United Airlines. And if aviation does not work out for any reason, he has a backup plan that is just as impressive, becoming a surgeon.
This is a young man with vision, determination and the courage to chase something extraordinary.
To reach his first major milestone, the pilot’s licence, Luca needed financial support and set up a Givealittle page to help cover the cost of flying hours, medical checks and training.
After the Northern Advocate covered his story and we shared it on our social media platforms, a generous member of the public stepped forward to fund Luca’s flights while wishing to remain anonymous. This incredible gesture has not only made the year for Luca and his mother, Navigator Lucia, but it also beautifully reaffirms what we at I Have a Dream already knew: our world is full of kind, considerate people ready to support our rangatahi in achieving their dreams.
