Bucking a worrying recent trend, airfreight/air charter operator Vortex Air is set to open a new pilot training academy at Moorabbin Airport.
Vortex Air, its parent company Tasfast Airfreight, and the new Vortex Air – Elite Training Academy are all family owned and operated businesses, with Tasfast established in 1992 and in operation for nearly two decades.
Vortex operates charter flights throughout Victoria and Tasmania, as well as joyflights and aerobatic flights primarily in Chieftains and Barons. Tasfast specialises in overnight door to door parcel freight between Moorabbin and Tasmania, piloting their own aircraft across Bass Strait nightly.
Vortex Air General Manager Colin Tucker says the type of flying the company does offers a fitting stepping stone for young pilots looking to get those critical flying hours to get into the airlines.
“With our new school we are going to be able to offer a cadetship to be able to take pilots through every step of becoming a pilot, then get vital ICUS time flying twins across Bass Strait, then progress into Pilot In Command, before getting enough hours to move onto the next phase,” Tucker explains.
“Our 12-month all inclusive Pro-Course will be starting next January and we are looking to start theory courses and initial flight training over the next few months.”
The 12-month all inclusive Pro-Course will initially take up to eight students per year. The course will take students from zero flying hours through to CPL with multi-engine and instrument ratings and then onto a Chieftain endorsement. There is also second option at the completion of the course to go straight onto the Chieftains and an instructor rating or MCC course. Students can then start ICUS (In command under supervision) on Chieftains the following January (up to 50 hours) before being checked to line and given 50+ hours in command.
Vortex Air – Elite Training Academy hopes to gain its AOC in October and be operational as of 2011. In the meantime, the school is holding an open day at its Moorabbin base on Sunday August 8. For more information about the new school click here.
With a number of flying schools having sadly been forced to close their
doors in the last 12 months, the move to set up Vortex Air – Elite
Training Academy couldn’t come at a better time for the pilot training
sector. The more flying schools we have in operation around the country the better it’ll be for both the training sector and the GA industry as a whole. Bankstown Airport, for one, could definitely benefit from the start up of a new flying school or two.