"The main thing with aviation is that you don't take chances," Mr Matthews said.

A Piper Arrow carrying flight instructor Jonathan Kirwood and a trainee Chinese pilot had taken off on a training flight about 8.30am when a control panel light indicated an undercarriage problem.

Mr Matthews said the flight had been a "routine situation" until the light showed the landing gear had not activated.

"They then went into an emergency operation," Mr Matthews said.

"There is a low probability in these type of situations that the undercarriage might fold.

"The crew was concerned because they didn't know until they were stable if it was going to collapse or not.

"They were as calm as cucumbers but they were happy to be back on the ground."

Mr Matthews also praised the emergency services response.

"They were here in about five minutes.

"I have to say the local emergency services were fantastic."

Mr Matthews said emergency services were briefed about the situation while the plane circled the airport and he stayed in radio contact with the pair in the plane.

"It was all very careful and calculated."

Mr Matthews said the trainee pilot would have learnt a lot from the situation.

"At no time were the crew actually at risk," he said.

"We just made sure all the relevant procedures were in place."

ST Aviation Training Academy is a Singapore-owned company which operates out of both Ballarat Airport and Singapore's Seletar Airport.

It began operating in Ballarat in 2007, with its first 16 pilots graduating earlier this year.

Overall, the company has more than 80 students and a fleet of 28 single and twin engine aircraft, including the Piper Arrow which is a four-seater plane ideal for training commercial pilots.

Mr Matthews said the plane would receive a thorough mechanical check.