It all happened this week
Regional Express (Rex) and Mangalore Airport Pty Limited (MAPL) announced on 1 November that they have signed an MOU for a Joint Venture to create a new Professional Pilot Academy to be named the Civil Aviation Training Academy (CATA). This Academy will be situated at Mangalore Airport, Victoria, one and a half hours from Melbourne CBD, and is expected to receive its first batch of 20 students on 10 December 2007.
Giving details of the training, Jim Davis, Rex Chief of Staff, said “Under our intensive live-in training program, we expect the students to graduate with a Commercial Pilot Licence, a Multi Engine Rating and a Command Instrument Rating within 32 weeks.
CATA has purchased an initial batch of 5 new Piper Warrior III aircraft with state of the art “glass” cockpits for the first training course, as well as a new twin-engine Piper Seminole for multi-engine and Instrument training. The Academy intends to accept up to 80 pilots in the first year but has plans to grow the intake to 350 a year by the third or fourth year of operations. We intend to be the premier institute for training professional pilots in Australia.”
The full press release is on the REX and MAPL web site. Whilst this is exciting news we want to assure our loyal clients that the introduction of more activities will be carefully managed so as to cause the least interruption to current training and recreational flying.
2007 Agreements and Insurance
New Agreements were posted to all clients who occupy airport owned hangars but several are still to be executed. If you still have to sign and return your documents please do so as soon as possible.
MAPL lawyers are assessing the legal ramifications of using the facilities without a signed Agreement.
Each Licensee that store planes in Airport owned hangars is obligated to have a Public Liability Insurance of AUD$5 million.
Some clients have been advised details of a company that can supply the requisite cover and anyone else who wants the details only has to ask.
ALSO all private hangars are required to have a Fire Extinguisher installed and suitable for purpose.
Relocation of some buildings
In order to construct new facilities for CATA negotiations have taken place with some clients and some buildings on the western will be removed.
The training centre will be constructed in this area and new tarmac will be laid to allow access to runway 05/23
The students attending CATA will all be accommodated on site so more living quarters will also be constructed beyond those already completed or under final fit out.
Safety concerns
As the airport becomes busier there is also a need for each of us to be vigilant about our own and other’s safety. The ABC of safety is ALWAYS BE CAREFUL. Or put another way YOUR SAFETY IS OUR SAFETY!
CATA intake
As noted above, the first intake of students will be on Monday 10 December 2007. Mr Lim Kim Hai Executive Chairman of Rex will travel from Singapore and be at Mangalore to “ring the bell and say good morning class”.
Feeding the population!
The canteen will be staffed by a couple especially selected by Colin Rees and will provide all meals for the CATA students. It is intended that the facilities will be available for visitors and other clients but the initial task is to have CATA participants fed and watered.
Hangar and Accommodation availability
We have limited accommodation available for clients or casual visitors. There is also some spare capacity in hangars for shared or solo occupancy.
Construction obstructions
With all the construction required we trust that the contractors will not cause anyone annoyance. This of course is a “two way street” so please be vigilant and do not leave vehicles in other than approved parking areas.
We welcome feedback!
Should you have anything that you would like to address all you need to do is contact Greg Salan and the matter will receive attention.
