The next steps in Qantas’ search for pilot academy location

Pin with red question mark flag stuck in a map

Qantas is inviting regional cities and state governments to state their case in a bid to house its new pilot academy, due to open in 2019.

Just to sweeten the deal, the airline also released new figures showing they contributed $5 billion to the economy in regional Australia in FY17 and supported more than 40,000 jobs.

Qantas Group Pilot Academy Executive Manager, Wes Nobelius, said in a statement the Academy had inspired enthusiasm from regional cities around Australia and from suppliers across the aviation industry.

“We’re really pleased with the response we’ve had from local communities. We’ve already had some very positive discussions with governments and state leaders,” said Nobelius.

“More than forty regional cities have indicated they’ll be making a bid to be home to the Academy. We’ve even had one council posting a video on social media featuring its residents and all the city had to offer.”

“The process will be very competitive and although there can only be one Academy, we’re encouraging every region to put their best case forward.”

As part of this next step, Qantas has launched a formal process inviting regional cities and state governments to coordinate their responses to a proposal outlining the criteria for the location of the Academy, including:

Airport infrastructure – asphalt runway and taxiways with minimum runway length of 1,300m, capability of full lighting for night and reduced-visibility operations and fuel tanker refuelling. Hangars and covered facilities to accommodate maintenance and parking for up to 30 aircraft with the ability to grow to more than 50 aircraft.
Environment – weather conditions to allow for a minimum of 300 days per year suitable for flying, based on historical averages.
Airspace – access to a mix of controlled and uncontrolled airspace. An airport with a control tower is preferred.
Teaching facilities – high-tech student classrooms and space for large group briefings, full Wi-Fi and IT capability, and facilities to accommodate flight training simulators.
Student accommodation – contemporary private rooms, communal lounge areas and cafeteria to create a supportive learning environment, visitor accommodation, access to medical facilities and public transport.

More than 12,500 aspiring pilots – 15 per cent of whom are women – have so far registered their interest in the Academy via their website.

“This response is encouraging when you look at the projected growth of the industry, with estimates that the world will need more than 640,000 more pilots in the next 20 years. It’s a promising sign for the future of Australian aviation to see so many men and women wanting to take up a career as a Qantas Group pilot,” Nobelius said.

“The proportion of women who have registered their interest is also significant for a profession that currently has a global average of 3 per cent female representation and puts us on track to reach our goal under the Nancy Bird Walton initiative to reach at least 40 per cent women in our pilot intakes in ten years’ time.”

The closing date for submissions is 8 June 2018. A shortlist will be announced before a final decision on the Academy’s location is made in the third quarter of this year.

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