Canberra Flight Facilities About to Take Off

Vee H Aviation needs little introduction to those who fly and live in the ACT as they are the largest flying training, engineering and charter operator at Canberra airport. Since taking over the assets of Vee H in late 1984, the new management team, headed by Managing Director Andrew Major, have transformed this previously low-profile company into one of Australia’s fastest-growing GA operators. Figures for the first half of this year compared with the same period in 1985 indicate a near tripling of flying training and charter hours, necessitating the acquisition of additional aircraft and a boost to the engineering facility that is now equipped to accommodate a wide variety of aircraft maintenance.

It was the inauguration of the new lounge in late July that really marked the commencement of Vee H’s master corporate plan. More than a quarter million dollars has already been spent on developing the new-look Vee H Aviation which now offers unequalled FBO-type facilities for transiting VIP and charter operators visiting the region. A one thousand square foot VIP lounge provides an excellent venue for charter operators and the large number of specialised aircraft demonstration tours that so regularly visit the national capital.

The new facility certainly rivals anything available in the larger cities. Pilots have their own room with refreshment facilities and can fly or simply relax in peace. Additionally, the new DofA flight briefing office is planned to be located alongside Canberra Flight Facilities making flight planning much speedier than it previously was when this office was located at the opposite end of the airport.

Canberra Flight Facilities can also arrange catering, hotel bookings and as part of the Budget Air Services chain can also arrange suitable car and limo hire. Full STD and ISO telephone facilities exist and a courtesy bus operates on request to the major airline terminal. On the airside of the facility Vee H has its own fuel bowsers and has a comprehensive engineering capability that can assist in any technical problem that a charter operator might encounter. The usual services of aircraft cleaning and tarmac parking are available and this latter asset is presently being expanded to allow medium-sized aircraft to be able to park right outside the lounge – certainly a boon to executives when it’s snowing on the ranges within sight of Canberra. Another facility that no other Canberra operator boasts is an air:. to ground communication frequency which will allow pilots to radio ahead any special requests, such as a taxi, rent-a-car, hire car, accommodation, etc prior to landing. After all, what’s the point of using chartered aircraft to cut down on time wastage if the chairman and his board then have to wait half an hour at the terminal ° trying to gefa a taxi, something that is a common problem in Canberra.

The new terminal is perhaps the most visible external sign of the growth that has occurred at Vee H over the past year and a half, though behind the scenes much more is happening. As mentioned previously, flying training, and utilising the full resources of the excellent Cessna CPC audio visual method has really taken off as a result of some solid promotion and marketing to the local community. Andrew Major points out that the company’s growth is as a result of creating new business rather than taking trade from the other local airport operators. “We feel it’s nice tei see a GA business actually expanding its activities at a time when too many are decrying a lack of business and closing their doors. ” At present the training operation employs six instructors though nowadays things are so hectic that expansion in this area cannot be ruled out. Rating enhancement training on the more advanced singles and twins is also booming due to Canberra’s full suite of navaids that allow a level of training only found in the major cities.

Chief Flying Instructor, Damon Terry, states that the rapid increase in advanced training, particularly for instrument ratings, is due to the high standard of training supplied combined with a good working relationship with local ATC enabling maximum utilization of each flying hour. Word of Vee H’s advanced training courses is now spreading with more and more applicants coming from interstate.

Another area of activity is in the charter and private hire field where Vee H is about to put on line several new Aerospatial Socata aircraft that will offer a far wider range of hire aircraft for private pilots in the region than was previously available. Again the enthusiastic company policy is that if you have quality performance aircraft available for hire then you will begin to self generate additional work over a period of time. If all that is available is the usual array of slow four seaters then a lot of experienced local pilots won’t bother hiring aircraft they consider technically geriatric.

The Company also has launched an innovative tour programme, that is being marketed internationally taking tourists through the outback on 9 and 12 day tours that have already been test marketed with great success. In this regard, Vee H have been operating on behalf of other tour operators in this role in Northern Queensland over the past year with great success and have built up a considerable pool of expertise in this area. With this level of background expertise in their log books the specialist outback tours will certainly be an assured success.

To fly these charters VH currently operates two pressurised Cessna 421 Golden Eagles, one of which features a Robertson STOL conversion and is believed the only one of its type in Australia. However, new turbine-powered equipment is being evaluated which will also accommodate the Company’s hopes of operating a Canberra based turboprop or jet VIP charter aircraft. There is a growing level of VIP type long-range charter operations out of Canberra and often a company, or department, will ferry a suitable aircraft from Sydney or Essendon just to fulfill a mission. The addition of a modern propjet would certainly be an excellent adjunct to the new lounge facility and one that again is certainly overdue in Canberra.

In other areas the firm is now operating a helicopter locally, something Vee H feels has unlimited capabilities as there are few helicopters in the region. Of interest also is the possibility of setting up a joint venture with an overseas organisation to operate a flying training school there using Australian expertise.

Vee H has certainly provided an added touch of class to Canberra airport these past two years and with their new FBO facility they will now be capable of providing the first fully equipped corporate flight facility beyond the State capitals