North European Aviation Resources
Encyclopedia
North European Aviation Resources AS (NEAR) is a Norwegian registered company and was a private JAR-FCL authorized Flight Training Organization (FTO) located at Ålesund Airport, Vigra
, in Norway
. It provided JAA
and FAA
training to European students through its ab-initio ATP(A) Integrated Course in cooperation with North American Institute of Aviation
. The course was a derivative of its predecessor's Scandinavian Airlines training program. NEAR was also an affiliate partner of Widerøe's Flyveselskap
.
. Its portfolio included flight training, systems development and consulting.
A subsidiary of Avinor, named Nordic Aviation Resources AS, merged with the competency center in 1997 and developed from being a consulting firm to a fully developed flight training institute and the operator of Avinor's calibration aircraft. NAR cooperated with North American Institute of Aviation (NAIA)
providing pilot candidates from Scandinavian Airlines with an ab-initio training program.
The Parliament opted to sell 80% of its shares in NAR 1. April 2002, as well as the flight school operation. By 31. December 2002 NAR's equity was lost. Avinor was privatized on 1. January 2003, and in the same month they signed a deal to buy TS backfrom NAR. Nordian AS, another subsidiary of Avinor, continued the TS operations until these merged and were sold off by the mother company. Nordian is today a fully privatized company specializing in the development of training systems for the theoretical part of the European Airline Transport Pilot License
, in cooperation with London Metropolitan University
and KLM Flight Academy. 7. April 2003 the Nordic Aviation Resources general meeting decided to dissolve the organization.
South Carolina businessman Benjamin J. Creel bought North American Institute of Aviation
in 2001 and subsequently founded North European Aviation Resources (NEAR) on 23. November the same year under a 90% ownership. The remaining 10% was owned by Norwegian Ole Pedersen, who was the organization's Accountable Manager until its demise as an FTO in 2010. The JAR-FCL ATP(A) Integrated Course was established and received approval by the Civil Aviation Authority of Norway
. The program included ab-initio training in the U.S., followed by experience building through flight instructor work, and ended with crediting training and completion in Norway through in-house ATPL theory instruction and an MCC course, as well as flight training through partner Rørosfly AS.
Following the cessation of training activities at North American Institute of Aviation
on 5. September 2008 the NEAR Board of Directors, lead by Accountable Manager Ole Pedersen established a new FTO under their own majority ownership named North European Institute of Aviation (NEIA)
, subsequently transferring all students to the new organization and contracting with Pelican Flight Training Center
for the continued operation of their training program. A brief introduction of the ATP(A) Integrated Course ensued, but it was quickly dropped due to NEIA's financial problems.
NEIA declared bankruptcy in February 2010, stranding many students in the middle of their education; some of which had pre-paid the entire course (valued at over €100.000, primarily financed through bank loans) and had not yet initiated training. NEIA equity was negligible, and as a result there was no refund of student money. What was left of company assets were sold off, and the funds distributed to major creditors.
The shares of North European Aviation Resources were sold in 2010 to Svein-Jonny Tømmervåg, the former Chief Flight Instructor, who retains the position of Accountable Manager. Although the organization remains a legal entity, it no longer conducts flight training. It continues to provide former students with documentation of their education.
Ålesund Airport, Vigra
Ålesund Airport, Vigra is an airport which serves the city of Ålesund in Norway and the surrounding regions Sunnmøre, Nordfjord and Romsdal. The airport is located on the island of Vigra in the Giske municipality, northeast of Ålesund city centre and easily accessible through underseas tunnels...
, in Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. It provided JAA
Joint Aviation Authorities
The Joint Aviation Authorities, or JAA, was an associated body of the ECAC representing the civil aviation regulatory authorities of a number of European States who had agreed to co-operate in developing and implementing common safety regulatory standards and procedures...
and FAA
Federal Aviation Administration
The Federal Aviation Administration is the national aviation authority of the United States. An agency of the United States Department of Transportation, it has authority to regulate and oversee all aspects of civil aviation in the U.S...
training to European students through its ab-initio ATP(A) Integrated Course in cooperation with North American Institute of Aviation
North American Institute of Aviation
The North American Institute of Aviation was a private, FAA Part-141 flight school located in Conway, South Carolina, in the United States. Founded in 1972 in Hammonton, New Jersey, then later moved to South Carolina in 1978, NAIA specialized in flight and aircraft maintenance training. It has...
. The course was a derivative of its predecessor's Scandinavian Airlines training program. NEAR was also an affiliate partner of Widerøe's Flyveselskap
Widerøe
Widerøe's Flyveselskap AS, trading as Widerøe, is a regional airline in Norway and part of the SAS Group. It operates a fleet of 34 Bombardier Dash 8 aircraft , serving 41 domestic and 6 international destinations...
.
History
NEAR traces its roots back to Statens trafikkflygerskole (STFS) which was established in 1988 at Sandefjord Airport, Torp. According to its publication New Horizons, it has trained pilots since 1989, conforming to the common European flight crew licensing requirements as of 2001. Following the decision by the Parliament of Norway on 6. June 1991 to dissolve the government flight school, the expertise of STFS later reappeared as Trenings- og kompetansesenteret (TS), a center for training and competency, within the Norwegian Air Traffic and Airport Management (NATAM), now AvinorAvinor
Avinor AS is a state owned limited company in that operates most of the civil airports in Norway. The Norwegian state, via the Norwegian Ministry of Transport and Communications controls 100 percent of the share capital. Avinor was created on 1 January 2003, by the privatization of the...
. Its portfolio included flight training, systems development and consulting.
A subsidiary of Avinor, named Nordic Aviation Resources AS, merged with the competency center in 1997 and developed from being a consulting firm to a fully developed flight training institute and the operator of Avinor's calibration aircraft. NAR cooperated with North American Institute of Aviation (NAIA)
North American Institute of Aviation
The North American Institute of Aviation was a private, FAA Part-141 flight school located in Conway, South Carolina, in the United States. Founded in 1972 in Hammonton, New Jersey, then later moved to South Carolina in 1978, NAIA specialized in flight and aircraft maintenance training. It has...
providing pilot candidates from Scandinavian Airlines with an ab-initio training program.
The Parliament opted to sell 80% of its shares in NAR 1. April 2002, as well as the flight school operation. By 31. December 2002 NAR's equity was lost. Avinor was privatized on 1. January 2003, and in the same month they signed a deal to buy TS backfrom NAR. Nordian AS, another subsidiary of Avinor, continued the TS operations until these merged and were sold off by the mother company. Nordian is today a fully privatized company specializing in the development of training systems for the theoretical part of the European Airline Transport Pilot License
Airline Transport Pilot License
The Airline Transport Pilot License , or in the United States of America, an Airline Transport Pilot Certificate is the highest level of aircraft pilot rating -- or license...
, in cooperation with London Metropolitan University
London Metropolitan University
London Metropolitan University , located in London, England, was formed on 1 August 2002 by the amalgamation of the University of North London and the London Guildhall University . The University has campuses in the City of London and in the London Borough of Islington.The University operates its...
and KLM Flight Academy. 7. April 2003 the Nordic Aviation Resources general meeting decided to dissolve the organization.
South Carolina businessman Benjamin J. Creel bought North American Institute of Aviation
North American Institute of Aviation
The North American Institute of Aviation was a private, FAA Part-141 flight school located in Conway, South Carolina, in the United States. Founded in 1972 in Hammonton, New Jersey, then later moved to South Carolina in 1978, NAIA specialized in flight and aircraft maintenance training. It has...
in 2001 and subsequently founded North European Aviation Resources (NEAR) on 23. November the same year under a 90% ownership. The remaining 10% was owned by Norwegian Ole Pedersen, who was the organization's Accountable Manager until its demise as an FTO in 2010. The JAR-FCL ATP(A) Integrated Course was established and received approval by the Civil Aviation Authority of Norway
Civil Aviation Authority of Norway
Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority is the Norwegian inspectorate responsible for civil aviation in Norway. It is subordinate the Norwegian Ministry of Transport and Communications and is located in Bodø....
. The program included ab-initio training in the U.S., followed by experience building through flight instructor work, and ended with crediting training and completion in Norway through in-house ATPL theory instruction and an MCC course, as well as flight training through partner Rørosfly AS.
Following the cessation of training activities at North American Institute of Aviation
North American Institute of Aviation
The North American Institute of Aviation was a private, FAA Part-141 flight school located in Conway, South Carolina, in the United States. Founded in 1972 in Hammonton, New Jersey, then later moved to South Carolina in 1978, NAIA specialized in flight and aircraft maintenance training. It has...
on 5. September 2008 the NEAR Board of Directors, lead by Accountable Manager Ole Pedersen established a new FTO under their own majority ownership named North European Institute of Aviation (NEIA)
North European Institute of Aviation
North European Institute of Aviation AS was a Norwegian registered company and a private JAR-FCL authorized Flight Training Organization located at Ålesund Airport, Vigra, in Norway. It provided JAA and FAA training to European students...
, subsequently transferring all students to the new organization and contracting with Pelican Flight Training Center
Pelican Flight Training Center
Pelican Flight Training Center is a private, FAA Part-141 flight school located at the North Perry Airport in Pembroke Pines, Florida USA...
for the continued operation of their training program. A brief introduction of the ATP(A) Integrated Course ensued, but it was quickly dropped due to NEIA's financial problems.
NEIA declared bankruptcy in February 2010, stranding many students in the middle of their education; some of which had pre-paid the entire course (valued at over €100.000, primarily financed through bank loans) and had not yet initiated training. NEIA equity was negligible, and as a result there was no refund of student money. What was left of company assets were sold off, and the funds distributed to major creditors.
The shares of North European Aviation Resources were sold in 2010 to Svein-Jonny Tømmervåg, the former Chief Flight Instructor, who retains the position of Accountable Manager. Although the organization remains a legal entity, it no longer conducts flight training. It continues to provide former students with documentation of their education.