Safi Aviation Park opens to the public this weekend

The Safi Aviation Park will open its gates for an Open Day with activities for all the family on 7 October, giving the general public the opportunity to visit the €17 million facility that was inaugurated earlier this year.

Throughout the day from 10am to 5:30pm, the public will have the opportunity to take a close view of Medavia’s and SR Technic’s hangars, each large enough to accommodate two Airbus A320, Boeing 737 or planes of similar size at the same time.

Besides the current tenants of the Safi Aviation Park, a number of other companies operating within the local aviation industry have confirmed their participation in the Open Day, thereby ensuring that a more holistic picture of the industry and the wide variety of services offered in Malta is presented.

Indeed, other participants include maintenance, repair and overhaul company MCM, as well as a number of flights schools, namely European Pilot Academy, Malta School of Flying and Skypeople Aviation Training. The latter companies will also be displaying some of their aircraft, as will do the Island Microlight Club.

The Open Day is also intended to highlight the employment and education opportunities within the growing aviation industry, which nowadays provides employment to more than 1,000 workers.

For this purpose, Malta Enterprise will also have a stand to provide information on the services it offers to support local enterprises, including the services provided through its one stop shop, Business First, as well as the wide variety of support schemes.

The Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology (MCAST) and the Employment and Training Corporation (ETC) will also be present to assist with information on the services they offer with a focus but not limited to the aviation industry.

Other participants include the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA); the Malta Model Aircraft Flying Association, which shall be displaying some of its members’ models; as well as the Aviation Museum, which shall be setting up a visual presentation on the history of Malta’s aviation industry.

Organized tours on board trackless trains will provide the opportunity to go around the Safi Aviation Park and view the new taxiway linking it to the main infrastructure at the Malta International Airport as well as the areas earmarked for future developments, including the site where Dutch company Aviation Cosmetics shall be constructing a new hangar to provide spray-painting services.

During the course of the day a variety of entertainment activities are being organized for all the family, including displays by the Armed Forces of Malta, the Civil Protection Department, the Malta Red Cross and the Scout Association of Malta.

Additionally, Zoo will be animating the Open Day with a number of shows, sketches and interactive games with aviation as their theme, to which the group will add its characteristic comic touch. There will also be a small play area with a bouncing castle for young children and a challenge wall.

A number of trial flights courteously provided by the flight schools and the microlight club will also be given out through competitions being organized on the day, as well as through draws among those who attend the Open Day and those who like the Malta Enterprise page on Facebook.

Entrance and all entertainment activities are free of charge.

While the areas just outside the Park will be available for parking, a shuttle service is also being organized for those wishing to make use of public transport, with transport departing at regular intervals from Triq il-Kuċċard in Safi, which may be reached with bus number 71.

For more information call on 2542 1000, visit www.maltaenterprise.com or the Malta Enterprise page on Facebook.

http://www.independent.com.mt