The chief instructor of Bendigo's existing flying school has welcomed the expansion of RMIT University's flight training school to Bendigo, saying it may lift the profile of the airport.
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RMIT announced plans to expand its flight school to Bendigo Airport on Friday.
Bendigo Flying School's chief flying instructor Linda Beilharz said the existing school offered recreational qualifications, but couldn't offer pilots training for a commercial qualification.
Read more: Flight school expands to Bendigo
Ms Beilharz said she was delighted to hear that RMIT would be recruiting pilots from the area, rather than moving students up from Melbourne.
RMIT stated it would offer students from a "diverse backgrounds" the opportunity to become qualified pilots.
"RMIT will bring an opportunity for local people to learn to fly and join the aviation industry. That I think is a really big benefit for Bendigo," Ms Beilharz said.
"I think it’ll actually help us by increasing interest and understanding that Bendigo’s got something to offer."
Ms Beilharz said that the Bendigo Airport had completely transformed within living memory.
The expansion of the flight school might mean more planes on the circuit, but Bendigo has space for more aircraft to run, Ms Beilharz said.
She hoped to see the growth in some aviation related businesses.
For example, Ms Beilharz saw the opportunity for helicopter training, further maintenance, avionics and pilot supplies or freight businesses.
"There’s room at this airport and the council is willing to work with people for that, so getting those up and going is quite possible," Ms Beilharz said.
"There are members of the Bendigo Flying Club who remember the airport being a country strip in a paddock. Within living memory it’s gone from that sort of facility to something that’s a professional commercial entity.
"People who fly for fun will still be able to fly for fun in Bendigo or the neighbouring area."
Read more: Sky is the limit for Bendigo Airport
Chief engineer and owner of Bendigo Aircraft Maintenance Rod Shearer said it was "great" to hear RMIT planned to expand its flight school to Bendigo.
His business services about 100 light aircraft, mostly privately owned.
"The more aeroplanes in the air the better, the more people who fly the better," Mr Shearer said.
"It’s like any industry, you’ve got to have a base of people to sustain it. Unless you have new people coming through, you don’t get that base."
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