Sector truly taking flight
AFTER SOME TOUGH YEARS, THE FAR NORTH’S AVIATION INDUSTRY IS SOARING, WITH CAIRNS’ PROXIMITY TO ASIA SEEN AS A MAJOR DRAWCARD, WRITES HAYDEN SMITH
Chris Pigott (above) spends far more time in the office than the cockpit these days.
After some tough years, the Far North’s aviation sector is soaring and Mr Pigott — business manager of the Cairns Aviation Skills Centre (CASC) — is an exhilarated man. “I travel a fair bit through Asia looking for opportunities and the growth is just unbelievable,” he said. “I think Cairns, over the next 10-20 years, is going to boom aviation wise.”
The growth of CASC since Mr Pigott started with the organisation 11 years ago paints a picture of the broader industry’s increased success.
CHRIS Pigott spends far more time in the office than the cockpit these days.
After some tough years, the Far North’s aviation sector is soaring and Mr Pigott — business manager of the Cairns Aviation Skills Centre (CASC) — is an exhilarated man.
“I travel a fair bit through Asia looking for opportunities and the growth is just unbelievable,” he said.
“I think Cairns, over the next 10-20 years, is going to boom aviation wise.”
The growth of CASC since Mr Pigott started with the or- ganisation 11 years ago paints a picture of the broader industry’s increased success.
The Aeroglen facility has toasted the graduation of nearly 600 apprentices over this time with more and more students now waiting in the wings.
“When I first got into the role, we were looking after students for Far North Queensland,” said Mr Pigott, a qualified aircraft engineer.
“Cairns now looks after all of the Northern Territory apprentice training and we’ve just secured Western Australia as well. We will have funding approvals next Wednesday for that.
“Currently for Queensland and the NT we’re looking after about 80 apprentices — and WA will bring on another 20 or 30, who will all be flying to Cairns for their training.”
Raised in regional NSW, Mr Pigott knows all too well how top-level training can lead to a fulfilling career in aviation.
He started as an apprentice and went on to become director of engineering for several regional airlines.
“You learn a lot of things along the way,” he said.
“Apart from teaching things like engineering, we pass on interview skills, what they should and shouldn’t do — we basically get them ready for a job.”
Mr Pigott, a licensed pilot, said CASC was currently awaiting funding approval for a new indigenous cadetship program.
He said Cairns’ proximity to Asia was a major aviation industry drawcard, citing last month’s announcement that local aircraft sales and support company Hawker Pacific had secured $4.5 million to undertake a major expansion.
“It’s a real game changer that’s going to see aircraft types that normally go overseas to be maintained, now be maintained here in Cairns,” Mr Pigott said.
“And bringing in more air-
THE AEROGLEN FACILITY HAS TOASTED THE GRADUATION OF NEARLY 600 APPRENTICES OVER THIS TIME
craft also brings in more opportunities for exports.
“This is not with narrowbodied aircraft, but wide-bodied. If you bring in a widebodied aircraft here, you can fill it up with fish and it can go home.
“It makes the whole operation very profitable and we can see a lot of growth with that.”
He said Cairns Airport, general aviation operators and other stakeholders needed to maintain a united approach for the industry to reach its potential.
This is being carried out through a series of aviation forums.
“The idea is that we’re all working together,” Mr Pigott said.
“Instead of me travelling to Thailand to talk to a company about training, when I go there I will promote the whole of aviation in the area.”
He said a lack of space remained a headache for some aviation companies.
Earlier this year, expressions of interest were sought for a new dedicated helicopter precinct, flagged for the eastern side of the runway.
“They’re still looking at moving the helicopters, which makes sense,” Mr Pigott said.
“Where they are now, they’ve got to operate over the runway to get to the Reef.
“It’ll be a lot better for them and when we get an increase in traffic, it’s better to keep the runway clear.”
The Kewarra Beach resident, who met his wife Laura on a skydiving adventure, said the aviation sector had given his two children a rich upbringing.
“My eldest daughter had been to more than 21 countries by the time she turned 21,” he said.
“It’s such an exciting industry and one that’s always changing.”
INSTEAD OF ME TRAVELLING TO THAILAND TO TALK TO A COMPANY ABOUT TRAINING, WHEN I GO THERE I WILL PROMOTE THE WHOLE OF AVIATION IN THE AREA CHRIS PIGOTT