The town, about 180 kilometres from the metropolitan hub of Port Elizabeth (Nelson Mandela Bay Metropole), was granted the funding for the runway through the Special Municipal Infrastructure Grant (SMIF) on the advice of Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC) regional head Ken Bern, which is involved in several projects in and around the town.

The academy, established in March this year, will ultimately host approximately 100 trainee pilots, sourced from the local high school Gill College as well as other local and international students and the operational training commenced in March 2008.

ECDC regional head Ken Bern is excited about prospects since the flying academy’s establishment earlier this year.

Blue Crane Development Agency project leader Rob Beach explains that there are plans to include charter flights, a light sport aircraft manufacturing venture, an environmentally sensitive light industrial park and aero-park. A further R5 million rand is needed for this part of the project.

To date, developments comprise the local school Gill College offering flying as an extra-curricular activity to pupils who will train on Cessna-152 light training two-seater aircraft.

“There is a growing shortage of commercial pilots around the world. This flying academy will pave the way for these young learners to convert their private pilot licenses, with some training, to commercial licenses,” says Beach.

The academy has the support of the Blue Crane Route Municipality (BCRM) and the Airline Pilot Training Centre (APTRAC) which will conduct the pilot training. Furthermore, the academy has also led to the creation 70 part-time and 10 full-time jobs.

The local economy is also being boosted by APTRAC’s funding of 36 APTRAC pilot students, most of whom live at the Gill College hostel. 

According to Gill College headmaster Steven Zietsman, the academy will undertake its first excursion in May and at the end of July the pupils will be taught theory, called ground school, before they fly.

“The aim of the flying academy is to introduce the learners to aviation and they have shown tremendous interest in flying,” says Beach.

Beach says the agency will collaborate with APTRAC to secure training funding from government and the private sector to facilitate training opportunities for capable indigent learners to undergo pilot training.

To add impetus to the training, BCDA has also facilitated a maths, science and biology club where learners from Cookhouse and Somerset East enjoy extra tutoring every Saturday at no cost at BCDA premises.

The college is now recognised as a maths school of excellence by the provincial department of education and has started an engineering club as well.