AVIATION BUSINESSES FLYING HIGH
Wagga Wagga Airport and the Wagga Wagga aviation industry will be promoted at the nation's largest and most comprehensive aviation, aerospace and defence expo from 1-6 March, 2011. This is the Avalon 2011 Australian International Airshow, now in its tenth year.
The Wagga Wagga City Council will have an exhibit at the Industry & Investment NSW stand along with 11 other NSW public and private sector organisations.
Wagga Wagga Airport received the Australian Airports Association Award for Regional Airport of the Year at the 2010 Australian Airports National Convention last October.
This award recognised the substantial development of the airport and aviation sector in Wagga Wagga including the Airport Master Plan, the $6 million runway pavement upgrade project, the collaboration with Airservices Australia and Regional Express for the purchase, installation and operation of an Instrument Landing System (ILS), the development of the Australian Airline Pilot Academy and the completion of the Aviation Capability Profile for the area.
There are some fascinating and vibrant aviation businesses located at the airport.
Take for example Encore Aviation, which was established by Mark Wallace in 2001 in an old hangar he purchased from Don Kendall of Kendell Airlines fame. Encore Aviation is a specialist sheet metal and component repair and maintenance facility for Class A and B aircraft. Mark worked with Kendell Airlines and Don Kendell, and in an interesting link to this relationship, Don Kendell's son Guy has commissioned Encore Aviation to restore a Ryan STM2 (Sports Trainer Military) previously owned by his father (see picture).
This aircraft has a colourful history. It is an ex-Dutch East Indies plane, vintage 1939, which was imported by the RAAF to Australia after WWII. It was never used in service, and Don Kendall bought it from a farmer and had it restored. Guy, his son, inherited the plane and unfortunately crashed in it, fortunately however without serious injury. Hence the need for a further restoration!
Wagga Air Centre is a diverse aviation business established in 1996 by Wagga born and bred Chris and Jenny Cabot. The business provides night "time critical" freight logistic services to and from 20 airports in NSW, flight training, aircraft charter and prisoner transfer.
Wagga Air Centre operates a number of aircraft manufactured by Tecnam, and two years ago became the NSW and ACT base for Tecnam aircraft sales. Tecnam aircraft are Light Sport Aircraft (LSA), designed for recreational flying. Light Sport Aircraft are taking-off (pardon the pun) as they offer a more affordable means of flying, both in terms of their upfront cost and ongoing costs. They are particularly fuel efficient compared to more conventional aircraft.
Avgas has become more difficult to procure as the major airlines use jet fuel, and Tecnam have developed an aircraft that operates using premium unleaded fuel. In fact, Wagga Air Centre is operating a Twin Engine Tecnam 4 seater which is the first commercially operated aircraft in Australia that uses premium unleaded fuel!
Wagga Air Centre will have a stand at the Avalon Airshow to promote Tecnam aircraft.
