WHILE the aviation industry faces an ongoing crisis thanks to COVID-19, it's been a different story for Bathurst based Learn 2 Fly which has seen an opportunity and grabbed it with both hands.
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Just before COVID hit the business purchased two new planes, including a state of the art Bristell, which boasts some of the best safety features available in any plane.
While COVID has hit the aviation sector hard, pilot at Learn 2 Fly, Ben Surawski, said the new planes turned out to be a draw card for new students who travel to Bathurst from across the state learning how to fly.
So much so the company has employed pilots, stood down from Qantas, who are now part of Learn 2 Fly's pilot training syllabus.
Mr Surawski said when COVID hit in March things were pretty quiet but "once it settled things picked up".
"We had already invested in two new planes when COVID hit, including a brand new Bristell, a European aircraft, with incredible safety features, a ballistic parachute, auto pilot, touch screen glass in the cockpit.
"It's more advanced than most airlines, and has lots and lots of safety features."
Being so safe, Mr Surawski said it was the perfect plane to learn to fly in, which is why people are coming to Bathurst to learn how to fly.
He said when young people start out learning to fly, parents are looking for the best safety features available, but find most flight schools are teaching students in 1970s planes.
"People are investigating flying schools and what they have and (as a result) they are coming to us here in Bathurst," he said.
Mr Surawski said Learn 2 Fly "want to be the leaders in aviation."
"We've got five airline pilots all travelling from Sydney bringing their kids up to Bathurst to learn to fly here.
"We've employed two Qantas pilots who were stood down during (COVID), and they've advanced our syllabus here.
Mr Surawski said another thing that sets the Bathurst based business apart is his instructors also have real life experience.
Five airline pilots ... from Sydney bringing their kids up to Bathurst to learn to fly here.
- Learn 2 Fly CEO Ben Surawski
"This summer alone I flew 200 hours fire fighting. Other flight schools, their training pilots have 300 hours training all up.
"That's the difference, our instructors have real life experience which they bring back into their flight training."
Despite the uncertain times, Mr Surawski said the plan is to continue to expand operations.
"We've got the best gear and we're definitely looking to grow. We want to see Bathurst as a hub for technology, aviation, and grow jobs," he said.
"The government just spent $4 million here (at the airport), we need to create more jobs around that investment. This airport, is the only thing that saved Lithgow during last seasons bush fires. It's the closest airport to Portland and Lithgow, there's no others around.
"Over the years the whole of the Blue Mountains have been saved by fire fighting aircraft using this airport [to refuel and reload water to fight fires].
"Bathurst is critical to the operation of emergency services.
"The potential is here and we are definitely looking to grow."
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