Wentworth airport: Fight to stop Aero Dynamic Flight Academy plans to leave Mildura Airport

Plans to move a major fight training school that teaches many foreign students to get their wings to a Murray River border town has attracted plenty of turbulence.

Wentworth locals have opposed Aero Dynamic Flight Academy moving to the town over safety fears,

A Murray River border town fears that plans to move a flying academy to its aerodrome will fill the skies with inexperienced students, many of them with limited English, performing hours of noisy circuit training.

Aero Dynamic Flight Academy (ADFA), which operates out of the much larger Mildura Airport, wants to move to Wentworth, 30km to the northwest and on the NSW border.

The academy boasts a fleet of more than 50 aircraft – all smaller piston engines such as the single engine Cessna – and runs courses for recreational, private and commercial pilot licences.

But Wentworth locals have started a change.org petition asking for the potential move to be grounded over safety fears with an increase in planes using the Wentworth aerodrome, the language barrier facing many international students, and noise pollution.

Ian Hazeldene, who helped organise the petition, said the academy would impact business in the town of 1500 and the Sunraysia Sport Aircraft Club that operates out of Wentworth.

Bryce Walshe and Ian Hazeldene are leading the charge to stop a fly school take over half of there local airport

“We are board members of the Sunraysia aero club that operates out there and we have grave concerns that the international flying school requested two of the four spots,” he said.

“We have over 50 members in our aero club plus the general public that fly into the Wentworth airport, why should they get such a percentage of what’s available?”.

Mr Hazeldene said proposed flight school had already impacted Wentworth businesses

“I own a motel at Wentworth and we get a lot of grey nomads flying through that stop and get fuel, they don’t go to Mildura because of how busy the airport is and how many safety incidents the flying school have a had,” he said.

“Since this was tabled a few weeks we’ve noticed a big decline in the grey nomads coming here.”

Bryce Walshe, who also helped start the petition, said more than 500 people had thrown their support behind fight.

“The petition is basically to oppose the proposal that’s been put in front of council, between Ian and I if we didn’t do it no one was going to, so we started the petition to let the community know,” he said.

“It’s been great to see the community come together over the petition.”

Among those who signed the petition were Elizabeth Hawthorne, who said: Circuit training is relentless and dangerous for smaller airports, especially when pilots have language issues”. while Ian Bailey said: “I believe that the proposed flying school will have a detrimental impact on the township of Wentworth and surrounding areas If it was detrimental to Mildura, which is a controlled airport, it will definitely be a serious hazard, noise and public safety, to Wentworth.

Andrew Manson, who runs fight school Ramair, said he put $1.5m into a possible move to Wentworth but that had stalled.

“Over the Covid period we’ve purchased a block of land at Wentworth to use as base, but as a result of this proposal to the Wentworth council we’ve put the development on hold to see where is goes,” he said.

“We specialise in not only flying training but also but emergency services work as well, and all of that will be put at risk by this proposal,” he said.

Wentworth Aerodrome underwent a $9.12m upgrade in 2020/21.

According to the Wentworth Shire Council website, the aerodrome underwent a major $9.12m upgrade in 2020/21, which included lengthening the runway and sealing the surface.

A spokesperson for Wentworth Council said there would be meetings with submission makers

involving the use of Wentworth Aerodrome for circuit training of cadet pilots.

The discussion between associated parties will be held on a date that is yet to be set,’’ they said.

“Following recent public conjecture regarding the proposal, Wentworth

Shire Council will further discuss with submission makers individually, giving the opportunity to present their positions on the matter.

“This process will evaluate all sides of the proposal, to determine (the) benefits for the Wentworth community and sustainability of Wentworth Aerodrome operations, local tourism attraction impacts and opportunities.”

The academy was contacted for comment but did not respond.