Clear skies for aero club

Recent years have seen changes in legislation that have significantly increased the costs of operating a flying school, and in fact lead to many flying school closures.

IN VICTORIA, very few aero clubs have been able to sustain operations, although the Ballarat aero club is bucking this trend.

The club has recently undertaken a significant investment in order to future proof itself and is ready to take the next step.

Glen Buckley, CEO of the Australian Pilot Training Alliance (APTA) – an umbrella organisation oversighting a number of flight training organisations including Ballarat Aero Club, said the Ballarat aero club now holds what is referred to as a Part 141 and 142 approval.

“This is the highest category of approval available to a flying school and in fact the aero club is one of a very small number of rural based organisations offering such capability,” he said.

“Most people wishing to undertake professional flying training will gravitate to the city schools but the Ballarat aero club is now able to offer what is referred to as the Integrated 150 hour CPL as opposed to the industry norm 200 hour course.

“This results in significant savings for pilot trainees. The aero club is also now able to offer a Diploma in Aviation which has previously only been available in the bigger city schools.”

Ballarat Aero Club Vice President Keith Jeffs added that the club has around 130 members, but not all of these are flying and there are probably about 40 social members.

“We were at the bottom and now are at the top, we restructured completely and we went under this APTA group,” Mr Jeffs said.

“They provide the overhead management, which CASA required, and we just provide instructors, club house and students.”

While the aero club does pay a management fee to APTA, it is nowhere near their previous expenses, which included payments to head of operations and maintenance.

“This (arrangement) has only been going close to 6 months but we are already well on the way,” Mr Jeffs said.

“The public can come in to learn to fly, we have the social side of it, which anyone can join – we have a barbeque here on a Thursday night, we do flyaways to different aero clubs, have different functions and anyone is welcome to join as a member.

“Currently we have about 20 people learning to fly.”