Flight academy to offer eastern Taiwan air tour by year-end

Taipei, Sept. 20 (CNA) A Taiwan-based flight academy has purchased two commuter aircraft from Europe with the aim of launching air tours that will provide customers with mountain and ocean views of eastern Taiwan, the company founder told CNA Monday.

Wilson Kao (高健祐), founder and managing director of Apex Flight Academy, the nation's only flight training school, said two brand new Tecnam P2012 Travellers purchased from Italy are scheduled to arrive Taiwan in late September or early October.

The company has already completed the process of applying to carry passengers on tour flights with the Civil Aeronautic Administration (CAA).

The aircraft are expected to receive Airworthiness Certificates from the CAA in October or November, paving the way for the company to officially launch air tour packages in late November or early December at the soonest, Kao said.

According to Kao, similar air tours in eastern Taiwan have previously only been offered by light-sport aircraft.

Local tour operators proposed to the academy last year that a more in-depth air sightseeing tour should be provided, he said.

After studying the proposal, Apex Flight Academy decided to expand its business to include commercial air tours as Kao believes it could be a popular new travel option for both domestic and international travelers to better see the unique beauty of Taiwan.

The company's upcoming service will offer guided tours for a maximum of nine passengers per flight to admire the magnificent mountain ranges and coastal views of Hualien and Taitung for 30 to 60 minutes, Kao said.

The company will make public more details of the air tour packages and cost after it receives the Airworthiness Certificate from CAA, he added.

Apex Flight Academy based in eastern Taitung County is a flight training organization created in 2014. It is the first and only Taiwan CAA certified flight training organization.

(Wang Shu-feng and Joseph Yeh) Enditem/AW