Flight training centre gets new funds
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Oct 30th, 2007
Flight training centre gets new funds
Quentin Casey
Telegraph-Journal
Published Tuesday October 30th, 2007
Appeared on page A2
FREDERICTON - The provincial government is providing an additional infusion of financial support to CanLink Aviation Inc. to fund their new flight training centre in Fredericton.
In July the government announced a $1-million repayable loan to help CANLink with the purchase of aircraft, the building of a student residence and initial start-up costs.
Through its Workforce Expansion program, the government is now providing CanLink with $625,000 to help create 63 full-time positions.
The new funds, which do not have to be repaid, will go toward training new employees, like flight instructors and engineers.
"It’s a solid investment. Fredericton will be positioned to be one of the largest training centres in the country," said Business New Brunswick Minister Greg Byrne. "This will really transform (local) training"¦ It is a tremendous opportunity."
The Fredericton operation is capitalizing on a growing need to train foreign pilots, most notably from China.
Officials hope to have 60 full-time students enrolled by end of the year and aims for future enrollment to hit 200 students annually.
The Moncton Flight College has long instructed Chinese recruits, but officials at CANLink quickly saw room for expansion.
The result is the Fredericton centre, called MFC Fredericton and located at the city’s airport, which will use the Flight College’s programming and oversight.
The school’s two-year, $13 million contract with the Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics is expected to grow to $60 million over the next five years.
Back in July, CANLink president Mike Tilley said the amount of foreign contracts secured by the Fredericton campus, within just six months, meant it was already one of the largest flight training centres in Canada.
At the time he estimated the school will reach its maximum capacity within 18 months. "The opportunity is truly out there in global markets," he said. "We know the potential and demand is there."
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