Christopher Foyle, President of the Monaco Air League, has reported a very successful and busy few months for students and members, with several young grant recipients undergoing flight training in both powered aircraft and gliders.
“We have had the busiest year ever, so far, in respect of awarding the largest number of scholarships and prizes to the young people of Monaco, and their participating in a diverse array of aviation activities,” Mr Foyle told Monaco Life.
Several leading members, including Patron Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou and Roger Shine, Chairperson of the Strategic Committee of the Friends of the CHPG Foundation, have been particularly supportive and generous.
One of the highlights of the past few months is that HSH Prince Albert has agreed to be Principal Patron of the Monaco Air League. “We are enormously grateful to have His Serene Highness as our most interested and supportive Principal Patron, bearing in mind how unbelievably busy he is with his government duties and many other charities,” Mr Foyle commented. “His patronage has greatly raised our profile and is helping to propel us forwards at a faster rate.”
The Monaco Air League continues to support Clemens Toussaint in his bid to bring aviation to Monaco. Clemens has renamed Villanova-Albenga Airport in Italy as Riviera Airport. Riviera Airport is now attracting a growing demand from private jet operators, with a increasing number of hangar clients, and has just signed an MOU with one of the major global players in private jet management to become their main European base.
This winter, the airport will start work to extend the 1,500-metre runway by 200 metres, which together with its existing high maximum take-off weight limit of 60 tonnes – double that of Cannes-Mandelieu – will enable it to accommodate the largest private jets arriving from anywhere in the world – even the Boeing BBJ and Airbus equivalent, Mr Foyle said.
The League is still looking at the possibility of an air display over the sea in front of the Principality, as well many other ideas and events.