Flight Training Takes Flight
Sue Brooks November 19th, 2008
I am amazed at some of the comments about the facts relating to the decision by Flight Training Australia not to proceed with their plans to relocate here. While I agree that the proposed flight training school would have brought some economic benefits to our region I understand that a very great percentage of the millions of dollars been touted as entering our community, would have been through fuel sales. I am disappointed that there is so much finger pointing and a ‘blame game’ occurring.
In my opinion Council followed a very responsible and diligent process which was agreed to by Council. No Councillors have formally asked for the negotiation process to be changed. I don’t think the decision to not proceed with the proposal is based primarily on issues relating to Council. I believe that in the current economic climate, FTQ have made a decision based on economic realities. I expect Council will release a media statement today including advice that the information evenings have now been cancelled.
- Council related issues
- Comments(1)
Has anyone thought that the company who proposed the flight training school relies on international students who would have enrolled due to a shortage of pilots.
The shortage of pilots and booming economies created demand for flight schools – those pressures are now gone, airlines are grounding planes and limiting flights on some routes – fewer people willl be able to raise the funds for flight classes!
I think the flight training school pulled out – not because of anything done by FCRC but because it would no longer be a viable business – even if it had been propped up by council as the company hoped!
Any one who hosts international students as many of my friends do, knows that numbers are down because of global economic turmoil – fewer overseas students have the 50K per year to fund english class in Australia – HOW MANY WILL NOW BE ABLE TO PAY TO ATTEND FLIGHT SCHOOL?
People – Stop the blame game and get with the new economic reality – flight schools looked like great business two years ago – much less so now!