This article is from page 40 of the 2008-07-01 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 40 JPG
THE newly-opened Atlantic Air Ven- ture in Shannon is to run its first ever aviation Summer camps this month. After more than two years of plan- ning, the facility recently opened in Smithstown. It currently houses an aviation education centre and one flight simulator. It 1s poised to ac- quire a second flight simulator later this year, while plans are also on the
cards for the construction of a mu- seum on site.
The initiative is the brainchild of Ballycally resident Eddie Ryan, a former aircraft electronics engineer, who mooted the project several years ago.
Project development director Jane McGill is delighted with its success since its opening and 1s anticipating a bright future ahead for the facility.
She is particularly enthusiastic
about the learning lab, where chil- dren learn all about aeroplanes.
“We are going to expand and will have the second simulator, a Boeing 737, coming from Canada later this year. The museum is on the long fin- ger as we just don’t have the space at the moment,’ she said.
Summer camps have been organ- ised and will get underway next week, running weekly until the end Ola Uercaelie
The camps are open to eight to 12-year-olds from 10am to lpm and those over 12 can enroll for the after- noon sessions, from 2pm to 5pm. The cost is €75 per person for a week.
“The children will be able to use the flight simulators. We will have spe- cialised simulators built for them,” said Ms McGill.
However the facility is not merely confined to children, as it is also open to adults.