Tauranga's biggest flight school, Bay Flight Aviation Limited, is in liquidation.

Phil Hooker started the training institution in Tauranga in 1996, owning it for 14 years before selling the business to Palmerston North resident Steve Rowe 18 months ago.

The curtains are pulled and doors closed at Bay Flight Aviation Ltd.

Steve was unavailable for comment when contacted by SunLive.

Tauranga based RHB Chartered Accountants was appointed the liquidator on December 22 and its director, Tom Rodewald, says negotiations are underway with prospective buyers.

'We are hoping to have a deal finalised in the next couple of days to recommence flying next week.”

He says the value of the business cannot be released as they are in confidential negotiations.

The business employs about 20 staff, and has 11 planes in its fleet, including two Cessna aircraft, a Piper Cherokee, Piper Seneca and Tecnam P2006T.

Tom says it is up to the new owner as to whether the staff will continue to be employed.

'I would be hopeful the new owner will take over the staff.”

In the first liquidators report released on January 6, it says the reason for business closure is 'due to poor weather conditions, resulting in a lack of flying conditions and trading difficulties, together resulting in the decision to liquidate the company”.

In February last year, Bay Flight Aviation was the first New Zealand based flight training organisation to purchase a new $700,000 Tecnam P2006T plane, an Italian twin engine aircraft.

Then in May 2011 Bay Flight took possession of a new $140,000 Red Bird Flight Simulator expecting to attract more international students to the organisation, who pay up to $90,000 to study at the organisation.