Kiwi Regional Airlines chief executive Ewan Wilson announced Peter Ashford, a former Royal Air Force instrument maintenance electrical engineer and Civil Aviation Authority airworthiness inspector,
had joined the airline's executive. In February, Kiwi Regional Airlines announced its plans to start a service with regional routes across New Zealand.
Mr Wilson, who was behind the failed Kiwi Air which collapsed in 1996 after intense competition, said the latest venture would own its planes, and take advantage of routes Air New Zealand was pulling out of.
Yesterday, he said the initiative was making steady progress and he was still confident his planes would be taking off from New Zealand runways soon.
''Absolutely.
''We would certainly not be going through the process of appointing our senior staff if we were not expecting to get airborne by the end of this year, or early next year.''
The airline had been recruiting senior staff, with Mr Ashford the first public confirmation.
''We're about to announce the maintenance controller, then we will announce the flight operations manager, then that is our senior executive team, with me included.''
That team would meet regulators at a pre-certification meeting on May 27.
Usually, the regulatory process to get an air operating certificate took up to four months.
''The money's there in terms of the certification - and we're progressing forward.
''None of these things are rushed.
''The recruitment process - because these roles for senior persons are subject to CAA approval - we just have to make sure we get the right people in.''
Mr Ashford has been appointed the airline's quality assurance and safety management systems manager.
Mr Ashford would be responsible for all safety and quality assurance procedures, and fulfilling safety-related legal requirements for the airline.
He had extensive airline management experience in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific, and an aviation employment history spanning more than 30 years.
