WA misses out on first Qantas pilot training school

[Admin]

 

Toowoomba will be the first regional centre to host a Qantas training school.Picture: Supplied

 

Qantas will build the first of its new multimillion-dollar pilot training centres in Toowoomba west of Brisbane.

 

Toowoomba and Mackay had been on the short list of nine regional cities being considered by the airline for the first of two of its $35 million facilities, with the second yet to be announced.

 

The facility at Wellcamp Airport is expected to be completed by next year, with an initial intake of 100 people and a capacity for 250 pilots being trained at any one time, as the airline looks to meet increasing demand for commercial pilots.

 

A new hangar, classroom facilities and student accommodation will be built to house the school.

 

Qantas said the centre was part of its strategy to build a long-term talent pipeline for its own airlines and help the broader industry meet the increasing need for skilled aviators.

 

Qantas has plans to introduce additional long-haul international services, but at terminals 3 and 4 at Perth Airport, but the airport says they won't have that.

 

Estimates suggest that 790,000 more pilots will be required globally over the next 20 years, with about a third of them in the Asia Pacific region.

 

Busselton in WA’s South West, Alice Springs, Bendigo, Dubbo, Launceston, Mackay, Tamworth and Wagga Wagga are under consideration for the second academy site, with a decision due by the end of the year.

 

Busselton Airport said it was still confident that it was in the running.

 

“They (Toowoomba) were our biggest competitor so it’s good that they have been selected,” City of Busselton chief executive Michael Archer said.

 

Busselton would not have been able to meet the Qantas deadline for the start-up of mid-next year but can meet the timeline for the second training facility.

 

“We have more time now to refine our submission,” Mr Archer said.

 

Working in Busselton’s favour it that it is in the same time zone as key markets for the academy such as Singapore and China.

 

Selection criteria for the schools include access to uncongested airspace, a high proportion of clear weather days per year, access to support infrastructure and ability to attract students and trainers to live in the area.

 

Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce said the airport, State and local government, and the community had demonstrated that Toowoomba would make a great home for the first site.

 

“Qantas has a well-earned reputation of having some of the world’s best pilots. For many of them, the journey will start right here in Toowoomba,” Mr Joyce said.

 

“Toowoomba will be an amazing place to learn to fly. It’s home to Australia’s newest airport and offers over 300 days of Queensland sunshine each year and an environment that is textbook for pilot training.”

 

The school is expected to eventually grow to train as many as 500 pilots a year across two sites.

 

 

[Brett]

Not surprised....

 

 

[mAgNeToDrOp]

Busselton would not have been able to meet the Qantas deadline for the start-up of mid-next year but can meet the timeline for the second training facility.

“We have more time now to refine our submission,” Mr Archer said.

 

Working in Busselton’s favour it that it is in the same time zone as key markets for the academy such as Singapore and China.

 

.

Still a chance for school number 2...

 

 

[fly_tornado]

I doubt it, you want your schools on the east coast were all the people are. I think QANTAS are hoping to make a profit out of the schools, once word gets out that the school isn't a guaranteed job the numbers of applicants will drop siginificantly