Three pilot schools in India to buy aircraft made in Australia
A South-Burnett aircraft manufacturer in south-east Queensland is to build 17 new planes bound for India.
Gary Dean from Dean Wilson Aviation at Kingaroy says his partner flew to India yesterday and contracts are expected to be signed today.
Mr Dean says the 17 new training aircraft will go to three Indian air schools and will create up to 20 new jobs in Kingaroy.
“It’s a very big deal. That’ll put us on the map as far as production, to ramp-up production,” Mr Dean said.
He says it will mean the company’s work force will need to grow.
“About 20 more [jobs] I would think, but whether we make them all here or not I’m not sure,” he said.
“Some of them may be made in India under licence, but certainly we’ll make the first 10 or so and send them over from here.”
03/05/07 ABC Regional Online, Australia