Around 2000 pilots-in-the-making will now be trained in Queensland annually thanks to a new specialised pilot training base and state-of-the-art ATR 600 flight simulator.
Minister for State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning Cameron Dick has today officially opened the new facilities for Ansett Aviation Training (AAT) at the Brisbane Airport Precinct.
"Queensland is proactively tapping into the pilot training market by ensuring we have the facilities available as the global demand for skilled pilots grows," he said.
"Around 790,000 extra pilots will be needed globally over the next 20 years, about a third of those in the Asia Pacific, and we want them trained right here in Queensland.
"The installation of Australia’s only ATR 600 flight simulator, along with the relocation of two further simulators from Victoria including the Fokker F100, will give Queensland training capability for the world’s most popular medium aircraft in the growing Asia-Pacific region.
"Along with the eight highly-specialised jobs created at the training facility these simulators will each provide an average of around 4000 training hours per year, with the capacity to train 2000 pilots annually, each of whom is expected to visit the facility about three times a year.
"The simulators are expected to attract pilots from carriers as far as China, Singapore, Indonesia and the Philippines in addition to Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, the Pacific Islands and other Australian states and territories, with local pilots expected to make up over 20 per cent of users of the new base.
"Pilots visiting for training will also make a significant contribution to the Queensland economy across industries including hospitality, tourism and retail."
Mr Dick said support from the Palaszczuk Government’s $105 million Advance Queensland Industry Attraction Fund helped to land the project in Queensland.
"Our government has committed to strengthening our pilot training capability, and we continue to deliver," he said.
"We recently announced Toowoomba will be home to a multimillion-dollar Qantas pilot training academy set to open in mid-2019, delivering hundreds of jobs.
"The Academy will have capacity to train up to 250 pilots a year at the airport and create up to 160 jobs in training and support roles. Building the academy itself will create 100 direct jobs and 300 in the wider construction industry.
"We are also strengthening the state’s capability in aviation industry maintenance, repair and overhaul industry, and recently landed the latest in a global series of aviation industry maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) events, MRO Australasia 2020, to be held in Brisbane in March 2020."
David Garside, Ansett Aviation Training CEO, said AAT was the trusted partner of more than 80 airlines from around the world and the new training centre in Brisbane further strengthened Queensland’s capability in this booming sector.
"The Queensland Government has been instrumental in helping to establish our new facility in Brisbane to support the ever-expanding market," he said.
"We’re delighted to open our fourth centre, and first in Queensland, and look forward to welcoming customers from Australia, the South Pacific, Asia and from around the world to our new site."
Mr Dick said companies continue to expand or move to Queensland under the Palaszczuk Government’s Advance Queensland Industry Attraction Fund, which has generated more than 820 jobs and will generate over $300 million in capital expenditure.
"The Advance Queensland Industry Attraction Fund continues to bring innovative projects to Queensland and help them grow in order to drive job creation, regional growth, increased innovation and technology, and supply chain development," he said.
View more here: http://dsdmip.qld.gov.au/industry-development/advance-queensland-industry-attraction-fund.html
