The Missionary Aviation Fellowship has entered a joint venture with Aviation Australia and relocated its training base to Mareeba in Queensland.
The new partnership was officially launched at the new MAF Training Centre on 26 March. Previously, MAF conducted training at Coldstream in Victoria's Yarra Valley.
William Nicol, Aviation Director for MAF International outlined the benefits of the new joint venture.
“Mission Aviation Fellowship is pleased to be entering a joint venture with Aviation Australia offering quality flight training on their behalf," he said.
"MAF is proud of the quality and dedication of its training staff and we believe that it is this level of experience, professionalism and dedication to developing individuals that sets MAF apart. As part of this new training opportunity with Aviation Australia we will also be able to focus on enhancing skills for remote area flying operations so that the pilots we train are broadly skilled for some of the most difficult and remote terrains that many mission aviators operate in.
"While we hope that many of the pilots that undertake our training programme will feel inspired to join MAF and serve on the mission field at some point in their aviation career, we also have a genuine desire to be able to pass on our knowledge and skills that we have developed throughout our organisation over the last 75 years and to be part of developing pilots whoever they desire to fly for.”
"This is an exciting outcome," said Aviation Australia CEO Bill Horrocks, "and I am very proud that we have been able to establish this partnership to share the expertise that our organisation provides to developing countries and their local airlines and aviation companies globally since the Queensland Government established Aviation Australia in 2001.”
The training programme will cover the CASA syllabus and instrument rating, certified as an Australian Cert IV with Commercial Pilot’s Licence and a Diploma with Instrument Rating and Advanced Operational Flying.
Aviation Australia and MAF expect the centre to be ready for the first students at the end of April.