Caroline Caroline Flint MP opens Aviation Academy


5 September 2007

Don Valley MP and Minister for Yorkshire & the Humber Caroline Flint opened the Directions Finningley Aviation Academy, located
at Robin Hood Airport.

Ms Flint described the launch of the academy as a "proud day "
and "a glimpse of the future of employment in South Yorkshire. "

The £10million Academy is a joint venture between Direction Finningley CIC and Marshall Aerospace, who are establishing a Maintenance Repair Organisation alongside the Academy. The Academy will provide over 150 courses using state of the art technology and training on real aircraft in the newly converted hangar 3 at Robin Hood Airport.

Ms Flint told the audience of 400 present for the launch: "Those
who remember that this site was once designated to be a prison, and the many friends who remember the long journey to secure
this airport can today be proud of all that has been achieved at Robin Hood Airport and all that is going to be achieved thanks
to this visionary academy. "

Ms Flint said that the Academy would show young people of Doncaster the many jobs and skills needed to support modern aviation, right here on our doorsteps.

The MP, who is a longstanding champion of both the airport and
the aviation academy, described the Academy as "a public private partnership at its best ". "This Academy draws on the real employment and training skills of Directions Finningley and the vision and expertise of Marshalls Aerospace, " said Caroline.
"This is a partnership that really delivers. "

The MP also commended Doncaster MBC and the business community for their support for the airport's regeneration effort and reserved her final praise for the support given by local people for the airport. "For everyone who believed in the capacity of this airport to lead the regeneration of South Yorkshire, this academy is the next step in that dream becoming a reality. "

The audience also heard from Neville Dearden of the Doncaster Chamber of Commerce, who sponsored the event; from Martin Broadhurst, CEO of Marshall Aeropace who are investing in the academy and in new jobs at the airport; and from Terry Hodgkinson, Chair of Yorkshire Forward, the regional development agency which has financially backed the project.