Thirty students have already applied to study at a new aviation academy being built in Norwich.
The £12.23m centre is not due to open fully until September 2017, but yesterday's meeting of Norfolk County Council's economic development heard of the progress being made at the site, on the edge of Norwich International Airport.
The learning facility will include an 'air ready' helicopter and a narrow-bodied airliner and will
offer 26 courses for the next generation of pilots, engineers and aircraft crew.
The first students will be enrolled in the academy this September, and will be taught elsewhere before moving to the airport when building is complete. At its peak, 500 16 to 21-year-olds will study at the site.
This will include a BSc (Hons) Professional Aviation Engineering Practice course – the first of its kind – for which there have already been 30 applications.
David Dukes, who has been involved in the organisation of the Aviation Academy, said: 'Over the next 10 years we need 450,000 extra aviation engineers. It is helpful Norwich Airport has space and we have worked together to capitalise on this opportunity.'
The project has been funded mostly by a £6.25m loan taken out by the Norse Development Company.
Other contributors include New Anglia LEP, KLM UK Engineering, City College Norwich and Norfolk County Council.
Mr Dukes added: 'It is not often you can say that after the detailed costing, the prices don't change – but they haven't.'
The demolition has already
begun at the industrial site and the rebuild is expected to start soon.
Some 1,500 cubic metres of concrete will be needed to fill the floor space – the size of a football pitch – and at its peak, 120 workers will be on site from 16 different trades.
Once completed, the new site will hold 20 classrooms and workshops. There will also be a café and restaurant.
If you have a news story, email jemma.walker@archant.co.uk
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