Grant Newman Aviation Tutor

Grant began his career in aircraft maintenance with Safe Air where he maintained military aircrafts for the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) at Woodbourne Airbase —also the home of NMIT’s Aviation Engineering programme. He later applied his skills at Christchurch Airport in Air New Zealand’s Hangar One, before moving on to work as a Light and Line Maintenance Engineer with Air Nelson.

Most recently, Grant helped prepare a former RNZAF Lockheed C-130 aircraft for its next life with Coulson Aviation in the United States.

In addition to his technical expertise, Grant has a longstanding interest in aviation history and has been researching and writing about aviation for over 25 years. Grant spent eight years working as a research coordinator in museums throughout the United Kingdom. 

Today his lifelong interest takes him to airshows across New Zealand and abroad, which he photographs and writes about for a variety of aviation publications, including the National Business Review. 

Grant is enthusiastic about sharing both his industry experience and his love of aviation with NMIT students. He is committed to creating a hands-on learning environment for learners as they prepare for a career in this in-demand field. 

“NMIT is the perfect setting to learn about aircraft maintenance,” says Grant. “The new hangar on the Nelson Campus has four full-sized aircraft for students experience firsthand. From my experience with Air Safe in Nelson and my time at the Woodbourne base, I know what an excellent reputation NMIT has in the aviation space. It’s what inspired me to come on board as a tutor for the next generation of aviation engineers.”