A JET management firm has bought a flying school to nurture the pilots of tomorrow.

Naljets has taken on a training operation from aviation company Multiflight.

Bosses at Naljets, which provides services to clients around the world and runs parts of its business out of Durham Tees Valley Airport (DTVA), say they will spend £500,000 and buy new aircraft to strengthen the venture.

They added the training school, based at Leeds Bradford Airport, will be renamed PTT Aviation and offer the private pilot’s licence.

Officials also intend to deliver the commercial pilot’s licence and instrument rating qualification, which flyers must hold to operate in restricted conditions, such as cloudy skies.

Craig McLeod, Naljets managing director, who lives in Wynyard, near Stockton, said PTT will operate as a subsidiary of his charter operation.

Mr McLeod previously ran Northern Aviation Limited, using DTVA as a base, and The Northern Echo understands the site could be used for his new endeavour, thanks to the airport’s long runway and ability to provide open airspace when its KLM flights to Amsterdam and Aberdeen are not in the area.

He added Naljets has worked with Multiflight for a number of years, using the operation to hold its business jets at Leeds Bradford.

The trained instructor and examiner said: “We have always been impressed with Multiflight and the flight training facility has enormous potential.

“It will give pilots and companies of today and tomorrow first-class training and testing services that are designed to meet the needs of all clients, from private and commercial students, to experienced flight crew.

“We aim to make PTT the premier pilot training and testing facility in the UK by bringing industry expertise, investment and a passion to succeed.

“We want to nurture pilots and will provide training paths to get them where they want to be quickly and cost effectively.

“Our business jet operation at Naljets gives PTT-trained pilots opportunities to be involved with a flourishing global aircraft management brand, and we are very excited at the opportunities our acquisition presents.”

Steve Borrowdale, Multiflight managing director, said he has every confidence Mr McLeod and Naljets will take flying tuition to a new level.

He added: “We have had a close relationship with Craig and Naljets for a number of years and we are delighted they are going to take over and further invest in flight training for the North.”

Naljets uses DTVA for training and office space and keeps some aircraft in the site’s hangars.

The business also has a base in Northumberland, which oversees administration to make sure flights have the correct permissions and paperwork to be in various airspaces and locations.