Commercial pilot flying school, Australia Asia Flight Training (AAFT), plans to open in September now that it has received support from the New South Wales Government,
"The NSW Government has been working closely with AAFT to secure this investment and will offset the cost of establishing the facility and fund payroll tax rebates," says the NSW minister for regional development Phil Costa.
Costa says the flying school is a A$13.5 million ($12.4 million) investment, will create 88 jobs for the local community and train up to 400 students per annum.
Construction of AAFT's flying school, in the NSW town of Gunnedah, is due to commence in March and the school will open in September, says AAFT director Neil Hansford.
AAFT plans to buy Diamond DA20/40/42s and have a fleet of 44 aircraft, he says.
Hansford says Gunnedah was chosen because the local council is supportive.
AAFT has secured from the council a 30-year lease to operate the airport with an option for another 30 years, he says, adding that Gunnedah airport has a 1,600m-long (5,250ft) sealed runway and in the past had scheduled passenger services.
Gunnedah Airport is also close to Tamworth Airport so AAFT's students can land at Tamworth Airport to practice using that airport's instrument landing systems (ILS) and air traffic control, he adds.
Pilot attrition rates in Australia have fallen dramatically this year - as the economic downturn set in - but Hansford predicts that at the end of 2010 pilot recruitment will pick up significantly.
He says AAFT will be catering to Australian students as well as students from overseas places such as China, Malaysia and the Middle East.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
