Bathurst Aero Club in conjunction with Central West Flying have just announced the winner of their very successful scholarship held in the Bathurst and surrounding districts. The scholarship covers all costs obtaining a Recreational Pilots certificate, including (both and flying) all study books and all 35 hours of aircraft hire costs. The cost of 35 hours of flying will paid for by the Aero Club (the funds coming from the proceeds of the sale a book written by Jerry Trevor-Jones titled “A History of Bathurst Aviation”) all the instructor costs, books, etc, to be provided by Central West Flying. The promotional costs shared equally between the two parties. The total value $7000.00.

The scholarship was promoted over a 3 month period, starting with a display at the Bathurst Show on the 5th of March and followed up by a considerable radio and newspaper advertising campaign. The results were staggering with a total of 115 applying and it was a great credit to all concerned in the promotion. Those applying had to carry out a trial instructional flight at own expense ($70.00) and from this assessment of their flying ability a final selection of six was made. Those six were given notes on certain theory topics and in turn sat for a short theory exam. This was followed by an interview with a panel made up of Central Flying instructors three Bathurst Aero committee members.

The winner was announced at a function held at Bathurst Club on Friday night the 18th June 2010 at which all six of those in the final selection together with family and friends attended. It was on the night that final selection was very difficult as the quality participants was extremely high (computer flight simulators probably have something to do with this!) and it was decided to give the other five a two hour consolation prize. The winner of the scholarship was John Downey, a 16 old student at St. Stanislaus College Bathurst. The other were five finalists were Katharine Mills, Christopher Healy, Damian Bellamy, Patrick Ferguson and Jack Hagney. Several others that participated in the Scholarship, and were unsuccessful have already indicated that they will proceed with their training.

The Bathurst Aero Club, founded in 1938, has had a history in aviation and has trained many pilots, many of whom have gone on to make successful careers in aviation. The association with Central West Flying has been a recent move and they rent the upstairs area of the Club rooms to their training facility. The business partners are and Stuart both RA instructors, with Stuart holding the position of CFI, Stuart also holds a GA instructor rating. Training is carried out in new Jabiru aircraft, a J160 and a J230 with a second J230 on way.