AviSkills board chairman Charles McCarthy said the day was a success and included a private meeting with Mr Joyce and the full board of directors to discuss the future direction of the organisation.

While at AviSkills, the board briefed Mr Joyce on their four-year plan, requesting support to update technology at the training facility, making changes to the general aviation training package, implement new delivery options and undertake essential maintenance at the facility.

“He hasn’t had the opportunity to come and visit us since being elected as the local member,” Mr McCarthy said.

“We wanted him to visit us and show him what we have got and brief him verbally on where we want to go.”

Mr McCarthy said the board would approach both federal and state government representatives for funding to implement the four-year plan.

The funding would mean they could replace plant and equipment, offer great- er flexibility and affordability of training, create more jobs in the region and provide more skilled workers to the industry.

The board has a vision for Tamworth to potentially be an aviation training hub and the organisation is in negotiation with a large aviation organisation to add a metropolitan training location at Sydney Airport next year to strengthen their reputation and partnership with Qantas/Jetstar and Qantaslink.

There were about 50 people at the open day where Mr McCarthy announced that they would create five scholarships for qualifying students in the region to study at the AviSkills Academy and these will be advertised shortly. 

He said there was a “general mix of people” who attended.

AviSkills offers a range of qualifications encom- passing aeroskills training in mechanical, avionics and structures and apprenticeship 

students are employed with defence contractors, large and regional airline operators and small, general aviation organisations.

There are also eight Papua New Guinea Defence personnel studying their Certificate IV in Aeroskills.