"The end result was that all our pre-planning paid off," Mr Rigg said.

"Once we heard an aircraft was in trouble we enacted our pre-plan. We plan for this sort of thing."

Mr Rigg said police, paramedics, SES, the ST Aviation Training Academy chief pilot John Matthews and CFA firefighters all gathered for an initial briefing at the airport while the plane circled overhead.

CFA tankers lined the runway as the plane came into land before following it as it taxied to a stop.

"We shut the engine down as soon as it landed."

Paramedics were on hand in the event of any injuries, while police also cordoned off the area.

"It was a textbook landing from the pilot and textbook planning from emergency services.

"You plan for the worst and hope for the best," Mr Rigg said.

City of Ballarat director of development and infrastructure Trevor McCullough said the emergency service response was a "textbook activation" of the Ballarat Aerodrome Emergency Management Plan.

"The emergency management plan is practised on a regular basis and was executed perfectly," Mr McCullough said.

"All authorities and officials played their important roles in this emergency situation and we are pleased to report a safe and successful outcome."