Pilot Academy chances boosted after Qantas announcement

QANTAS has announced it will select two sites in regional Australia for the pilot training academy, increasing Toowoomba’s chances as being selected.

A Qantas Plane.

QANTAS says it will select two sites in regional Australia for the pilot training academy, increasing Toowoomba's chances as being selected as one of the locations.

Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce said initial scoping had shown that two locations would be needed to reach the academy's potential.

"We're aiming to train up to 100 pilots in year one but we expect this to grow to as many as 500 a year and that can only be achieved if we have more than one location," Mr Joyce said.

"Adding up to 250 students plus instructors and support staff to any of these places needs the right infrastructure at airports, but also in the towns themselves.

"The academy represents a commercial opportunity for Qantas, but it's also important for the future of Australian aviation. We expect that pilots completing their training with the academy could fly for other airlines, the defence force or services like the Royal Flying Doctors."

Toowoomba is one of nine locations shortlisted for one of the two training academies, the other locations include Alice Springs, Bendigo, Busselton, Dubbo, Launceston, Mackay, Tamworth and Wagga Wagga.

If Toowoomba is chosen as the location, the academy would be based out at Wellcamp Airport. The Wagner family has committed $55 million to the proposal.

Wellcamp Airport's John Wagner said he was neither "optimistic nor pessimistic" about the news of the second academy.

"We're looking at going through the motions with Qantas," Mr Wagner said.

He said he had "no idea" where the Wellcamp Airport proposal currently sat in the scheme of things.

Toowoomba Mayor Paul Antonio said the news of a second academy was "very exciting".

TAKE OFF: Getting ready to show Qantas around Wellcamp Airport are (from left) John Wagner, Cameron Dick and Paul Antonio. Picture: Tobi Loftus

"As a person who has been quite close to this from day one, the bid put forward by the Wagner family has been amazing," Cr Antonio said.

"We're confident of the standard of the bid. I think the Wagners did an exceptional job preparing that bid.

"Look at Toowoomba and its economic profile, you'll find we are in a very good space for attracting business."

Queensland State Development Minister Cameron Dick said he welcomed the announcement as it gave Queensland twice as many opportunities to win the deal.

"This announcement opens up the possibility that we could secure a pilot training facility in both Mackay and Toowoomba, which would mean double the economic rewards for our state and jobs for Queenslanders generated in not one but two regions," Mr Dick said.

"The detailed and comprehensive bid our government made to Qantas had one clear aim - the Q in Qantas stands for Queensland, and we want to keep it that way. I will continue fighting hard to ensure this is the case."

If Qantas chooses Toowoomba, the academy is expected to bring 700 new jobs to the region and could boost the local economy by $600 million.

The first site chosen for an academy is expected to open in 2019, while the second site is expected to become operational in 2020.

Qantas is expected to announce where the two academies will go next month. 

Originally published as Pilot Academy chances boosted after Qantas announcement