This article is from page 66 of the 2008-08-05 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 66 JPG
A CENTRE that could potentially become a major tourist attraction in Shannon has been a hive of activity during its first fortnight in operation. The Atlantic Air Venture has opened its doors in Smithstown, Shannon, following more than two years of oe-vevenerce
The facility has held aviation sum- mer camps since it opened and is ex- pected to become a haven for tourists over the coming months.
Its current facilities include an aviation education centre and a flight simulator. It is expected to acquire a second flight simulator in October, while plans are also underway for the
construction of a museum on site.
The initiative is the brainchild of Ballycally resident Eddie Ryan, a former aircraft electronics engineer. Project development director Jane McGill said the first couple of weeks have been hugely successful.
“We have something very different and very unusual and will be the start of Shannon’s Aviation Museum,” she Sr NLGE
She said the remit of the centre is set to expand over the coming months, as educational programmes will possibly be set up.
“The feedback has been great. Everybody is very interested in the project. The children have really enjoyed the summer camps, making
models, using flight simulators and learning about meteorology. We are trying to push the sciences and the maths subjects in a really nice way,” said Ms McGill.
“In September we will hook up with schools and transition year pro- grammes. This will including bring- ing young people up to the air traffic control tower and they will have a point of contact that they haven’t had before,” she explained.
“This is the start of something big for Shannon. If we get to where we want in five years, it will be a major tourist attraction,’ she said.
Management will also look at the possibility of hosting children’s par- ties and various social events. “One
of the big things will be to encourage women in aviation. It has been such a man’s world in aviation,” she said.
The summer camps are continuing to take place at the centre, until the end of August.
The camps are open to eight to 12-year-olds from 10am to lpm and those over 12 can enroll for the af- ternoon sessions, from 2pm to 5pm. The cost 1s €75 per person for the (ste) ©