2012-10-23 — /travelprnews.com/ — Today’s announcement of Agusta Westland successful Regional Growth Fund (RGF) bid has been warmly received in Cornwall.
Details of the RGF bid identifies a significant expansion of AgustaWestland’s Operational Flight Training Centre (OFTC) atNewquayCornwallAirport.
The company’s expansion plans at the Enterprise Zone Aerohub atNewquayCornwallAirport will increase capacity and capability across its military and new (UK) civil platforms for air crew, pilot and engineering training and will create additional high value employment in Cornwall.
The OFTC was established at the Airport in January 2010 and today’s announcement will extend the partnership between the Airport and AgustaWestland and the work which has been undertaken over the last 12 months by the Airport team (Cornwall Airport Limited and Cornwall Development Company), to further develop and enhance that relationship.
Commenting on the announcement Al Titterington,ManagingDirectorNewquayCornwallAirport said; “AgustaWestland is a key partner of the airport and we have been working vigorously with them over the last 12 months to expand their operations at the Airport. Flight operations have increased significantly since 2010 and today’s announcement further embeds our partnership and recognisesNewquayCornwallAirport as a key part of AgustaWestland’s strategic objectives. This is a great boost for the Airport.”
Chris Pomfret, Chairman of the Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) said; “AgustaWestland is a global company and their commitment to expand in Cornwallillustrates the value of aerospace and underlines our Enterprise Zone vision, for creating an aerospace cluster at Aerohub @ Newquay Cornwall Airport. The additional high value jobs which will be created by AgustaWestland, and the associated benefits, will be of immense value to the whole economy. The LEP’s objective with Aerohub is all about creating well paid, skilled jobs – this announcement will certainly help our aspirations of achieving this.”
Councillor Jim Currie, Leader of Cornwall Council said; “The Council has supported investment in the development of the Airport and is delighted at AgustaWestland’s expansion of its business interests in Cornwall which is not just positive for the Airport but for Cornwall overall. A number of Cornish companies benefit from their presence at the airport and this will no doubt expand.”
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