[MonctonRad]

(Moncton) Flight college changes hands
Published Wednesday February 23rd, 2011

CANLink Aviation pulls Moncton Flight College from receivership, promises to keep it flying
by alan cochrane
Times & transcript staff

Flight training operations at the Moncton Flight College resumed yesterday after a deal was reached between the receivers and CANLink Aviation to take over the school and keep it flying into the future.

"Flight activity has resumed, we're holding staff meetings and student meetings to explain what's happening," CANLink CEO Mike Tilley said yesterday. "Our intention is full speed ahead and we're back on track."

The deal with CANLink Aviation came late Monday and was announced yesterday morning, eight days after the flight college was placed into receivership. The deal should be closed in about six weeks, at which time CANLink Aviation will take over the assets and operations of the flight college. Tilley will take over as CEO of the college and the board of directors will be disbanded.

Tilley said there are no plans to shut it down, make major changes to the operation or move it somewhere else. The plan is to continue operations, build the business and draw more students.

The Moncton Flight College has played a key role in Moncton's aviation history. The school traces its roots to 1929 and the formation of the Moncton Flying Club by a small group of aviation pioneers who helped build the airport, airmail and passenger services. Today, the school employs about 110 people, has a fleet of 53 aircraft, four flight simulators, dormitories, classrooms and a restaurant that serves authentic Chinese food. There are currently about 135 flight students (at the Moncton and Fredericton campuses) here from China, who have jobs as airline pilots waiting for them when they get home.

Tilley would not divulge financial details of the deal to take over the college, nor would he comment on the events or difficulties that led to it being placed in receivership.

CANLink is a New Brunswick-based company that specializes in providing services to the Chinese market. CANLink had helped make the deal to bring Chinese students to Moncton and then set up the Fredericton campus of the Moncton Flight College as a franchise business. The Fredericton campus was set up as a private franchise to take the overflow of students when the Moncton operation became full, but it operated under Moncton's Transport Canada operating certificate.

"We're a private company and before it was a not-for-profit, and it is very difficult for a not-for-profit to be able to raise capital and deal with the fluctuations in business and seize opportunities as they come along. In our private ownership setup, we are able to raise capital and seize those opportunities," Tilley said.

In the past, the college was run by a board of directors along with a principal and CEO, and staff members. That all changed on Feb. 14 when it went into receivership but Tilley said there is still much work to be done.

"Our intent is to tap into the talent that was around that board with previous members. We're certainly not shutting our doors to the community. We want to be considered a possession of the community and part of the landscape in Moncton," he said. "Part of what we want to do is that the community knows we're here for them and we're not closed. We're open."

Tilley said he is aware of the long legacy of the flight college and its links to the community, and he wants to see that continue.

"It would have been sad to see that go away and we see this as a nice business opportunity," he said. "We've had some success with the Fredericton operation, the Moncton Flight College has a wonderful reputation domestically and around the world, and has a strong, knowledgeable staff so there's lots to work with here and hopefully Moncton will continue to be a success."