View Full Version : No Flying shcool for Armidale
Flightboy1
2nd May 2014, 22:39
I see that yet another flying school has closed its doors. Go-fly aviation's Armidale base has shut the door. Armidale now has NO flight training school as New England Flight Training closed down mid-2013.
The Armidale Council has just announced a $20 million upgrade, and the airport now has both Q-link and Rex both flying direct to Syd.
The New England badly needs a GA Flying school!
Your thoughts
apache
3rd May 2014, 02:23
Sounds like a great business plan, and obviously a money maker.
catseye
3rd May 2014, 02:38
fb1, you fund it and we will come and fly there.......
commercial reality really and very sad.
Snakecharma
3rd May 2014, 02:41
Whatever happened to the big development at Glen Innes? There was going to be some sort airline flying academy there..
TBM-Legend
3rd May 2014, 03:32
...and Gunnedah and Maryborough and....
thorn bird
3rd May 2014, 04:25
Go learn to fly in New Zealand, cheaper and a lot less stressful.
4Greens
3rd May 2014, 08:37
Check out the Uiversity of New South Wales at Bankstown.
Freewheel
3rd May 2014, 09:11
Fleet is still open.
Tinstaafl
3rd May 2014, 18:16
Are the Newbys in Inverell still going? They used to have the school in Armidale, prior to going to Inverell.
Fleet helicopters are still there.
Armidale now has NO flight training
Should read
Armidale now has NO aeroplane flight training
aeromatt
4th May 2014, 17:10
It's a shame to hear New England Flight Training closed down. The guy who owned it did my CPL flight test and seemed like he would have been a great instructor (he even passed me.. :E )
Tinstaafl
4th May 2014, 18:16
'Fraid so, rmcdonal. I finished my UPPL & did a CSU/retract endorsement with Jan Newby/NEATAC in '84 after moving to the New England area.
shcool
.................. :=
Horatio Leafblower
4th May 2014, 22:54
Sounds like a great business plan, and obviously a money maker.
Patchy,
Stew H had a red-hot go at making money from flight training, he had some skills that made him fairly unique (LL Endorsements etc) and a great manner.
I don't know if economic viability was a major issue in his decision to close the doors, but we operate a small flying school in a small town too. It has never been much more than a "love" job - all the instructors genuinely enjoy it - but in the last 12 months 50% of our students have moved out of the district to find work.
It is handy for keeping charter pilots out of the pub, but there are other ways for country people to spend their spare cash in 2014. :(
apache
4th May 2014, 23:40
Horatio, old boy..... Please do not misunderstand me. I mean no malice against those who have or do run aviation businesses, but have seen So so sooooo many come and go over the years that I just shake my head nowadays and wonder why people still try to make a buck out of it.
I applaud you for trying to do so! And I also know that you, horatio, do the right thing re wages and conditions and maintenance. Many others do not.
Unfortunately for many, the prospect of being on minimum wage with 24/7 conditions does not appeal so much anymore. The lure of getting into the big shiny jet with conditions dropping faster than a hookers underwear is also losing its appeal to the younger generations. Especially when it means that you may not be able to use your mobile phone for a few hours whilst you actually have to do some work.
MOST of the small business's close for one of two reasons..... Money or CASA. And generally if it is CAsA, it is because they can't afford to stand up to them. So my point about it being a great business idea has nothing to do with the fact that there probably SHOULD be a fixed wing flight school in the area, rather the economic reality of general aviation.
VH-XXX
5th May 2014, 00:10
What happened to "Aircrew Check and Training?" I bought an aircraft off them many moons ago.
Just for the record I was told Stew H shut up shop due to serious health probs. Sad to hear for someone so dedicated. I did a PMI course with him a couple of years ago..........
outnabout
5th May 2014, 01:01
VH - XXX, Gordon Smith of Aircrew Check & Training passed away about 5 years ago (I think). Even on his hospital bed, was planning to write to CASA to tell them where they were going wrong....
Sadly missed.
TBM-Legend
5th May 2014, 02:40
This guy Neil Hansen keeps turning up with big project flight academies etc etc [as well as an expert of MH370] but nothing happens!
Grogmonster
5th May 2014, 09:30
One of the greats in GA aviation instruction. I did many sessions with him. Very knowledgeable as more than one CASA FOI found out and no quarter given to any errant students. I wish there were more like him. Very sad when he passed.
Groggy
Avgas172
5th May 2014, 10:24
This guy Neil Hansen keeps turning up with big project flight academies etc etc [as well as an expert of MH370] but nothing happens!
Neil Hansford?
Flightboy1
8th May 2014, 01:22
DWB50, Stew H had some health issues but now has his full class 1 back. He is working for superair in Armidale doing crop dusting and some endorsement training.
whichstrip
17th May 2014, 05:16
I did a low level course with Stew H in Jan this year, great bloke and exc instructor, he prefers to do specialist training now, running it through Super Air
Aspect
10th Apr 2015, 00:31
Stewart (New England Flight Training) has relocated to Superair Building and Aspect Flight Training Australia will be the new look, still doing PPL & CPL and including low level training. :ok: