Cessnock is gearing up to host Australia's premiere aviation event

Later this month, Cessnock airport will play host to the country’s premiere aviation event Air Venture Australia.

Organiser David Young said the event was the perfect place for anyone interested in a career in aviation.

“Air Venture is an event that makes available the various pathways into aviation,” he said.

Mr Young added that the event, which will run over three days, would include a series of informative workshops and seminars as well as an array of exhibits from aviation companies around the country.

He said that there would also be a seminar, called Girls In Aviation, which aims to give young people, not just females, a introduction into the industry while bucking the stereotype that flying was a traditionally male-dominated pursuit.

“It is very much a changing paradigm,” Mr Young said. “I guess that young women might feel overwhelmed by that stereotype but the fact is that both men and women can have successful and fulfilling careers in all aspects of aviation and we definitely want to highlight that.”

Previously held in Narromine, Mr Young said the decision was made to move the event to Cessnock as it had outgrown its original home.

“Narromine was a great location for the event, however it just didn’t have the accommodation and tourism infrastructure that a city like Cessnock has,” he said.

“We wanted to broaden the event and make it more attractive for exhibitors and visitors and the Hunter Valley offers so much more than a place to learn about aviation.”

However, if a career in aviation isn’t your thing, Mr Young said there was plenty on offer to keep everyone happy including an array of air shows and the opportunity to get up close and personal with some fantastic planes.

“The operations of aviation is something that is foreign to most people,” he said.

“Most people’s experience of aviation is flying from one airport to another and we want to show that there is a whole other side to this industry,” Mt Young said.

Cessnock mayor Bob Pynsent previously told The Advertiser that he was pleased AirVenture chose Cessnock to host the event.

“We’ve never hosted anything like this before. It will not only attract more visitors to our region, but also be a great event for local residents to experience,” he said.

Air Venture Australia will be on at Cessnock Airport from September 20-22. For more information, visit airventureaustralia.com.au.