Ten of an expected 200 students from China are four days into their commercial pilot course at Sky Wings Aviation Academy, which is expected to bring in $14 million dollars over the next five years for the Springbrook-based aviation school.The deal with China Flying Dragons Aviation brought over 10 students who started the program officially March 14 and will receive their Canadian Commercial licence if successful at the end of one year.Dennis Cooper, chief executive officer for the company, said this first year of the program, meant as pioneer year, will bring in $750,000. He plans next year to up the student count to 30 to 40, with 300 students passing through in the next five years.“In Alberta we have the best flying weather in all of Canada,” said Cooper of the draw for Chinese students to come to Central Alberta. He said there is a similar program set up in Fredericton and Moncton, N.B., with students coming from China. But, he said, in New Brunswick, it takes two and a half years to complete the program.“We have 300 days of flying weather a year so we can move faster through the program. We don't have fog – it's a perfect place to fly. We are 50 (nautical) miles from the mountains, 50 from desert land and we have two aviation centres in Edmonton and Calgary. There's a little bit of everything.”He also said in India and China students wouldn't be able to fly at night because of the controlled aviation environment that only allows military and commercial airlines to operate after the sun goes down.For Candice Chu, 25, coming to Canada was an easy choice.“I feel proud to be here and have the chance to be independent,” said Chu of being the only female in the program. Fellow student Tyler Zhao helped translate.“The flying weather is great. The sky is clear and you can see everything,” he said of his first impressions. He said being able to fly freely and work with so many instructors are also things he is looking forward to.The students, who had to know English to be accepted in the program, won't be allowed to speak Mandarin when taking the course.The students are staying at the base in barracks. Two students share a 16-by-16-foot room that comes with a kitchen and bathroom, explained Cooper.He said students will fly as far east as Winnipeg and north to Yellowknife and Whitehorse during the year.The commercial licence from Canada is recognized all over the world, he said, but added students will have to transfer over to the Chinese air authority when they go back. Their course will prepare them for general aviation, charter flights, aerial photography, and fish and forestry as well as fire patrol.Lawrence Lee, president of the Red Deer and District Chinese Community Society, was on hand March 13 during the celebrations to kickstart the new year.He said the students will be invited to participate in the society's events including their potlucks held every second Saturday of the month.“I met with them and Dennis. They are interested in the smaller community that's close to Calgary and Edmonton.”Lisa Gong, manager of Flag Training which signed the contract with Cooper Wednesday, said she was looking forward to the long-term relationship with Sky Wings.Sky Wings currently has 11 aircrafts with two flights schools. Springbrook, where the course will run, has seven instructors while their Okotoks-based school has four. Cooper said with a six-week air cadets program running this summer, an additional instructor will be brought on board.
