126 | Aero club still flying high the Wanganui Aero Club continues to foster a thriving aviation community. COMMUNITY Wanganui Aeroclub T T Rosa Watson Willeston Conference Centre Catering for every purpose T T Sue Russell After more than 96 years, the Wanganui Aero Club continues to foster a thriving aviation community and bring quality flight training to the region. The current membership is around 125 members – slightly up from last year. Club spokesperson Elizabeth Mauchline says the club’s primary purpose is to provide a safe aviation environment for the local community. “As part of this we have our aircraft available for hire by our members, and we have instructors available for flight training, advice, and mentoring. We also have events to encourage member interaction and safe flying practices.” There is one full-time instructor – the chief flying instructor, one part-time instructor, and two casual instructors. A club-owned Piper Tomahawk is the main trainer aircraft, and the club also leases a C172 four-seater aircraft. Many members have their own aircraft. The club hangers house the two club aircraft plus 10 privately owned aircraft. As part of its services, the club offers training for a private pilot’s licence, commercial pilot’s licence and instructor ratings – both C-Cat and B-Cat – as well as various endorsements. Instructors help members with study, upskilling or mentoring, and carry out biennial flight reviews, required by all pilots. They can also do licence conversions for pilots arriving from overseas. “We also offer trial flights to those who are interested in experiencing flight,” Elizabeth says. Club members range from school leavers to young adults working towards a pilot’s licence for their careers, as well as older students, who are looking for a hobby or who have always wanted to fly but never had the time or money, to those who have retired and are looking to expand their horizons. Ages range from teenagers to a 94-year-old member, who is still flying. Farooq Mirajkar, owner of central-Wellington’s Willeston Conference Centre, says ever since Covid, the meeting and conference sector has experienced ups and downs. Willeston Conference Centre is located in the city’s CBD, affording wonderful views across the city to the harbour from several of its rooms. “We’re popular for our views for sure, and as we’re in close proximity to the airport we offer an ideal space for groups to meet,” Farooq says. When Farooq bought the venue, he invested time and capital in upgrading the technologies on offer to venue hirers. Those using a room or rooms have all the IT and communications equipment they need. When a booking is confirmed, they have the choice as to what additional meeting ‘tools’ they need. Offering an array of room sizes and an abundance of choice in room configuration, Willeston Conference Centre can cater for small to very large groups. Working with Farooq is a small team, who ensure each space is fully set up to meet the individual needs of each group, while food and refreshment options are provided by ‘InHouse Catering’. “When we receive an enquiry for venue hire, we send out a conference pack, which outlines all the equipment and catering with prices, room sizes and charges,” explains Farooq. After working at many top hotels and completing his Degree in Hospitality from India, Farooq then gained more experience in the industry working in the United Kingdom. The opportunity to move to New Zealand in 2008 to complete a post-graduate degree in hospitality led to the management of a range of venues before he joined Willeston. Farooq says Pōhutukawa, a pillar-free room sporting breathtaking panoramic views of Wellington Harbour, is the most popular room. Suitable for 30 guests workshop style, 60 guests threatre style or 22-24 guests boardroom and U-shape style, Pōhutukawa enjoys plenty of natural light, and comes equipped with a ceiling-mounted full HD Epson 5500 lumens data projector with ceiling speakers and Apple TV. Full-day hire is $945 + GST or $630 + GST for a half-day’s hire. “We also offer hourly rental of our rooms, so there’s plenty of choice. All our rooms are fully equipped with audio-visual equipment and individually controlled air-conditioning units.” The Pōhutukawa room offers breathtaking panoramic views of Wellington Harbour As part of the secondary school Gateway programme, the club hosts an introductory aviation sector programme twice a year for high school students. Any written exams and flight training can get students credits up to Level 4. There is a Young Eagles programme for 15- to 18-year-olds – a national programme run by local aeroclubs through Flying New Zealand. The programme covers introductory flights and briefings, some theory work, and visits to local aviation communities, and emphasises participation in club events and community. The club is also working on a youth programme with the New Zealand Police, which it hopes to have up and running next year. It has also participated in the Bluelight programme run by the New Zealand Police. Each year, as part of the local Vintage Weekend, the club hosts an open day, last year hosting an Aero Day with static and aerial displays. “We try to get the entire club involved. It is a great way to interact with our local community, especially in being part of the larger Vintage Weekend event,” says Elizabeth. There are quiz nights, bingo nights and flying social events – the main one being monthly fly-ins around the country. Members can attend a ‘dawn raid’ or lunch fly-in hosted by other clubs each year, mostly within a oneand-a-half-hour flight. There are also local club competitions and annual regional competitions with other aeroclubs in the lower North Island run by Flying New Zealand. Winners go on to compete in the national competitions. This year, it’s Whanganui’s turn to host the regionals, to be held in November. Looking to the future, Elizabeth says the club hopes to grow its youth programmes, and continue to engage with the local community through schools, community events and encouraging visits. It is also looking to upgrade its fleet with newer, more modern aircraft, funding allowing. Neil Mathieson: 027 446 2767 | 06 323 3279 | neil@aerosupport.co.nz Aero Support are pleased to be able to assist Wanganui Aeroclub with the maintenance requirements for their fleet Plant Hire for events and o ces 021 468 496 veronica@justplants.co.nz 4 Wilson Street, Newtown, Wellington | 04 389 8156 admin@capitallaundry.co.nz | www.capitallaundry.co.nz Delivering commercial laundry solutions throughout the lower North Island • Medical &Aged Care • Hospitality & Events • Accommodation • Commercial & Business • Sports &Teams • Public &Domestic
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