West Sale Airport is set to become a key player in the aviation sector for Victoria.

Wellington Shire Council can today announce partnerships with RAAF Air Academy and Federation Training that will ensure West Sale Airport is a leader in aviation and the facility is ripe for further investment.

Council’s imminent completion of the $6 million runway extension and lighting upgrade will bring the facility up to the standard required for RAAF Air Academy to use the facilities as part of the new Pilot Training System.

In addition, the upgrade has coincided with Federation Training announcing an expansion of its aeroskills courses and a relocation of avionics training from Essendon to the Fulham TAFE campus at West Sale Airport. Federation Training is also expected to relocate all non-aeroskills training from Fulham Campus into the new TAFE building at the Port of Sale, which will open up more land for investment.

Wellington Shire Council Mayor Alan Hall said the future was bright for West Sale Airport.

“This runway extension and lighting upgrade, funded both by Council and the State Government, brings the West Sale Airport up the high standard required by RAAF Air Academy and with the addition of Federation Training, provides an attractive investment opportunity for aviation businesses and investors,” he said.

“To have RAAF Air Academy and Federation Training both utilising the facility for aviation training will in fact made West Sale Airport the centre for aviation education in Gippsland, if not the state.

“Opportunities abound here in Wellington Shire for solid investment, state-of-the-art facilities, located only two hours of Melbourne but also offering the best of what a rural lifestyle has to offer.”