Leon becomes NZ’s youngest pilot

Leon Fenemor can fly anyone anywhere in New Zealand, but he can’t yet drive himself to the airport.

The learner driver has become the youngest pilot in the country after achieving his private pilot licence last week.

The 17-year-old is no stranger to the spotlight, after hitting national headlines with his painting of one of Alan Beck’s helicopters fighting the Pigeon Valley Fires in 2019. The then 11-year-old Broadgreen Intermediate student already knew he wanted to be a pilot, although he’s not sure what first sparked the dream.

“There’s no one in my family who’s ever been a pilot or interested. So, maybe because I live pretty close to the airport, Mum used to always take me around the airport in the pram, so who knows if that kind of sparked it.”

Celebrating his 17th birthday on September 28, the first thing on the Nayland College Year 12 student’s to-do list was submitting his private pilot licence application, with 17 being the minimum age required.

Having already sat all of his exams prior to turning 17, his licence was issued last Monday and he celebrated with taking his dad up for a flight around Māpua.

When he offered to take Nelson Weekly up for a flight in a Cessna 172, it’s clear to see it comes almost as second-nature to the aviation enthusiast.

Having piloted his first training flight it 2017, he has been able to fly by himself since he was 16, again, submitting the application on the minimum age-required birthday, and completing the required exams when he was just 15.

“It’s a bit surreal taking passengers, but I went to Mot with my friends today for lunch which was pretty cool.”

He claims the bakery at the aerodrome is top notch so there was no worries of the food making an unwanted return on the flight home.

Leon’s goal is to be a commercial pilot, and although it will be a challenge, with a small issue with one of his eyes, it’s one he’s determined to overcome.

“I want to be a commercial pilot,” he says.

“To do that, you need 200 hours flying time, I’ve got about 65 now.”

You have to be 18 to apply for a commercial licence so, of course, Leon has already started studying for his exams, which he hopes will be all wrapped up well before 28 September next year.

His determination is admirable, working 15 hours each week at McDonalds in Richmond, more in the school holidays, with every dollar going into his flying account. He somehow manages to balance it with school work, flight study, and time in the air. When asked if he sleeps he quips “unfortunately, yes”.

With a plane rented from his Nelson Aero Club costing around $300 an hour, he says he will slowly build up the required time in the air, as his bank account allows.

When asked if he thinks he’ll ever get sick of flying, the question is barely out when Leon answers a resounding ‘No’.

While still wanting to rack up as many hours in the air as possible, he will now turn his attention to practicing for his restricted driver’s licence, which he is booked to sit next month so he can finally drive himself to the airport.