Ashburton’s old information centre building has been transformed into modern new clubrooms at the Ashburton Airport, and the local aviation community is thrilled.

The building, once owned by the Ashburton District Council, was sold to the Mid Canterbury Aero Club and moved last December to the airport, which is currently the subject of a 30-year development plan.

The aero club’s 70-year-old rooms were demolished and the new building picked up from East Street, eventually settled onto a newly-laid concrete slab foundation. Flight instructors and members are slowly moving in as the building nears the end of a complete interior redesign.

From the interior of the new clubrooms, pilots have a 180-degree view of the airfield and that’s ideal for instructors Joe Brown and Connor Bland. The pair have around 40 pilots under training.

The club itself has around 130 members and while not everyone owns a plane or flies, all are interested in aviation and the club’s success.

The new clubrooms is a place to call their own and will be the venue for regular meetings. There is an office for chief instructor Joe and a briefing room to go over flight plans.

It’s also a friendly spot for visiting pilots to call into, with new toilet and shower facilities available if needed.

Club captain Graham Closey said the airport was home to a unique and diverse range of airplanes as well as the Ashburton Aviation Museum.

The club has a contract to mow the grass runways and keep the airport tidy.

Two new T-hangars, with room for eight planes, are about to be built, adding to the airport community.

Graham said the club was indebted to the volunteer helpers who had given the old information centre new life. Architectural plans, the concrete foundation, plumbing, electrical wiring, and cabinetry had all been in donation form.

“It’s just perfect and will do us for at least another 30 years,” he said.

The aero club is planning a community celebration to officially open the new rooms once everything, including outdoor planting, is complete.

The airport is owned by Council and has been identified as an airfield with potential. It has eight approaches, two types of aviation fuel, is user-friendly because of its high visibility, and close to Christchurch.