Skydive Business Has Plans For Expansion

Illawarra Mercury

Wednesday February 13, 2008

By the Mercury's Business Editor GREG ELLIS

SKYDIVE the Beach is seeking approval from Shellharbour City Council to expand its hanger space at Illawarra Regional Airport in a move that could generate 19 additional full-time and nine part-time jobs.

Owner Anthony Boucaut said the move followed a grant from the NSW Government supporting the major expansion of its operations with the introduction of a new aircraft.

Minister for the Illawarra David Campbell and Wollongong MP Noreen Hay were involved in securing assistance through the Illawarra Advantage Fund which led to the acquisition of a new Cessna Caravan 208 that can carry 16 passengers.

Most flights now accommodate seven or eight tandem jumps and business is up 30 per cent this summer despite the wet weather.

"We are in the situation where we have to expand," Anthony said.

"We have got 43 staff and we simply need to expand."

Skydive the Beach presently does internal maintenance work from its existing hanger and was immediately interested in more space when Shellharbour City Council called for tenders for two new hangar sites.

Anthony's plans include shifting some booking and administration staff from Stuart Park. He has already put on two trainees and would like to create three office positions.

Skydive the Beach is presently outsourcing its rigging work to western Sydney and Queensland but wants to employ two riggers, one full-time and one part-time, to do it here.

"We are also looking to branch out into air freight," he said.

Skydive has been approached to carry everything from seafood to general and military cargo.

Anthony said the Cessna Caravan could be used for cargo at night but he was also looking to acquire an additional aircraft.

He expected Skydive the Beach's tender to be attractive because it would generate more business and jobs.

Skydive the Beach is also looking to start student training on a site previously approved for drops in the Wollongong local government area.

It will involve 11 full-time and four part-time positions including a chief instructor, pilots, video personnel and drivers.

© 2008 Illawarra Mercury

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