Last year, the club purchased its third aircraft to address a growing number of people wanting to learn to fly.
Chief flying instructor Joe Calder said the club had bought a Tecnam P92 MkII aircraft in February.
"We waited for it to be manufactured in Italy ... it was basically assembled and then we waited about four months for it to be shipped from Europe," he said.
"We decided we may as well because the demand’s there."
The plane arrived in late November and had already racked up nearly 60 hours in the air.
"Straight into it — first day it was here, it was working."
Tecnam planes handled beautifully and were "purpose-built trainers", he said.
"Tecnam now is becoming one of the most popular training aircraft in the world ... they’re a good machine.
"It’s been many years of saving money that’s allowed us to do this."
The plane had cost around $420,000 — an investment in the club’s future, Mr Calder said.
"The popularity’s there, especially with young people ... but it all comes down to the economy, there’s no doubt about that."
He said people aged between 14-21 were particularly interested in getting their private licence.
Young people were seeing a future in aviation amid a global pilot shortage, he said.
"Everyone that’s coming through wants their private licence.
"That’s pretty much our job, to introduce flying to people, and the locals.
"A lot of people don’t realise we still exist."
Mr Calder said the club’s goal was to get more people into flying.
"They don’t necessarily have to fly for a living, it’s not about that.
"It’s about getting people interested in flying for fun."
