Global helicopter giant AgustaWestland has based its new helicopter Operational Flying Training Centre at Newquay Cornwall Airport. The £1 million initiative has been agreed following extensive work with airport owners Cornwall Council, operating company Cornwall Airport Ltd and the South West RDA. More than £300,000 of that million has been approved from the ERDF (European Regional Development Fund) Convergence Programme.
 
AgustaWestland’s Operational Flying Training Centre will initially train 50 students per annum covering specific helicopter skills such as those required for search and rescue . It will initially employ approximately 30 highly skilled staff including 13 aircrew instructors, all of which have recent military operational flying experience, and 12 aircraft technicians.
 
The announcement follows millions of pounds of investment from airport owner’s Cornwall Council; the South West RDA and European programmes to turn a former Ministry of Defence airfield into a thriving commercial airport.
 
Graham Cole, Managing Director, AgustaWestland which has training academies in Britain, Italy and North America, said, “We are already seeing strong interest from military and public service helicopter operators around the world for the operational flying training services this new facility can deliver. The AgustaWestland Operational Flying Training Centre, here at Newquay Cornwall Airport, is not only bringing new highly skilled jobs to Cornwall but it will also benefit local businesses and become known around the world as a centre of training excellence.”
 
Carolyn Rule, Cornwall Council Economic Portfolio Holder, said, “This announcement justifies our commitment to ensuring that Cornwall has a commercial airport and underpins our strategy that to the airport can play a lead role in creating high value jobs in the county.
 
“The airport and all of its assets is a huge commodity for Cornwall and this is the first exciting step in us taking full advantage of all aspects of this superb facility.”
 
Al Titterington, Managing Director, Newquay Cornwall Airport, said, “This is fantastic news and the first major step in the development of the airfield infrastructure using the extensive assets which are available to us. AgustaWestland is a key player in the aerospace sector and the first, of what we hope will be a number of significant aviation related businesses, to start operations at the Airport since the transition from the former RAF St Mawgan.”
 
Carleen Kelemen, Director of the Convergence Partnership Office for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, said, “This new international training programme will create well paid, highly skilled jobs. It is part of the winning combination of growing new businesses alongside passenger use of the airport.”
 
Theo Leijser, Area Directorat the South West RDA, said, "We are pleased to have worked with AgustaWestland from the beginning to land this great investment. It is already bringing exceptional jobs to Cornwall and investment from a world class company.”
 
The facility will offer a complete range of training services to its customers, right from basic helicopter pilot training through to advanced operational helicopter flying training. The OFTC will also deliver a range of courses for rear cabin crew including rescue winch, medical and mission training. It will utilise modern twin engine AW109 Power and AW139 helicopters to provide training as well as customer’s aircraft for advanced and conversion to type training.
 
AgustaWestland was advised on its grant application by David Armstrong, grants specialist at Francis Clark. He said: “We are delighted that having advised AgustaWestland on its grant application this global training facility is now operational. The RDA offer of grant support was instrumental in ensuring that Newquay Cornwall Airport was chosen for a project which will have substantial economic benefits for the Cornish economy.”