Qantas unveils plans for $100m new training site for pilots

Qantas has just revealed its plans to open a multimillion-dollar facility in Sydney’s south that has been deemed of “state significance”.

Qantas is planning to open a $100 million purpose-built training centre of “state significance” in Sydney’s south.

With the backing of the New South Wales government, the centre will train pilots across its current and future fleets, including ultra-long-range flights to cities like New York, London and Paris.

The multimillion-dollar simulation facility will be partly funded by NSW taxpayers so pilots no longer have to go interstate to train.

Sydney-based pilots and trainers previously had to travel to Brisbane or Melbourne to maintain their skills after Qantas relocated its simulators from Sydney to Melbourne and Brisbane in 2021.

The new facility is proposed for St Peters near Sydney Airport and would provide training for up to 4500 new and current Qantas and Jetstar pilots and cabin crew each year from early 2024.

Qantas to open flight training centre in Sydney tot he value of about $100 million. Picture: Qantas

The centre is expected to house up to eight full motion flight simulators – including for the Airbus A350 and A320 family – will also have mock-up cabins, emergency procedure equipment and classrooms.

It comes as the major airline, along with the wider aviation industry, has faced staffing shortages and flight disruptions, with Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce saying the new training ground will ensure the company’s “high training standards remain in place”.

“Qantas has trained its pilots and crew in Sydney for more than half a century and we look forward to bringing this critical function back to NSW with this custom-built facility,” Mr Joyce said in a statement.

Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce said the new training facility would ensure the national carrier’s high training standards continue as it introduces a new generation of aircraft types. Picture: Wendell Teodoro/AFP

“Sydney will be the launch city for our non-stop flights to London and New York, and will now be the home of pilot training for the A350s, which will operate these flights from 2025.

“As our international network recovers from the impact of Covid and we grow our fleet, this new training centre will give us the simulator capacity to train our new and current pilots.”

The airline recently rehired close to 2000 staff after letting about 1700 ground handlers during the pandemic

“Having flight training centres in all three eastern states, where the majority of our crew reside, will provide significant cost savings and efficiencies by training them at their home base.”

The NSW government has backed the proposal deeming it of ‘state significance’. Picture: Andrew Henshaw/NCA NewsWire

Senior Qantas and Jetstar training captains will train pilots from the two airlines, while global training provider CAE – which will enter into a 20-year lease for the site – will maintain the simulators and manage the day-to-day operations of the centre as part of a long-term partnership.

CAE may also provide training for other airlines in the region at the facility.

The submission was lodged by Asia Pacific logistics specialist LOGOS who will develop the centre in partnership with CAE and Qantas.

The centre will train pilots across its current and future fleets, including ultra-long-range flights to cities like New York, London and Paris.

LOGOS reportedly bought the 7946sq m site to develop the specialised facility, which is said to have an end value of about $100 million. It is next to the 13.8 hectares of land that LOGOS acquired from Qantas in October 2021 for $802 million, according to the Herald Sun.

The development is subject to planning approvals, however, the NSW government, declared it as “state significant” and will expedite its assessment.

The NSW Minister for Planning and Minister for Homes, Anthony Roberts, said the state government was a proud supporter of Australia’s aviation industry and the proposed new site will help “strengthen capability”.

“Our $60 million Aviation Attraction Fund is securing routes, creating jobs and promoting visitor expenditure to accelerate our Covid-19 Road to Recovery, and cement NSW as the premier visitor economy of the Asia Pacific,” Mr Roberts said.

“The NSW government has declared the proposal as State Significant, in recognition of its potential widespread economic benefits and importance to the aviation industry.”

Construction was expected to start in December for completion by early 2024.