Training unit not flying yet

Plans for a flying school at Alexandra have stalled but Mainland Air still hopes the venture will get off the ground.

Earlier this year, the company announced it was planning to expand its aviation college operation by setting up a flying school based at the Alexandra airport.

The company's chief executive, Chris Kelliher, said this week the plans were on hold because of a "disappointing response" in Central Otago to the call for registrations.

The Mainland Aviation College was part of the Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology training network and students could study for a diploma in aviation science of management and for their private or commercial pilot's licence.

"It's a great scheme and the training typically takes about 18 months for the flying part," Mr Kelliher said.

The same training was offered in Dunedin and proved popular with local and international students.

"To be able to expand to Alexandra we'd need at least two or three full-time students based in Central Otago to start with to make it worthwhile, basing three or four aircraft in Alexandra, as well as a couple of instructors.

"I still believe it will work and we certainly haven't abandoned our plans.

However, we need to recruit local students, who are based here, and that's going a little slower than we hoped."

The company was focusing on school leavers, who were interested in a career in aviation.

lynda.van.kempen@odt.co.nz

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