Pilot training lifts off next year at Wellcamp Airport

DO you have what it takes to be a Top Gun pilot? You’ll have the chance to train to become one at Wellcamp Airport next year.

DO you have what it takes to be a Top Gun pilot?

You'll have the chance to train to become one after Wellcamp Airport signed an exclusive agreement with the Airline Academy of Australia and the University of Southern Queensland.

The new Wellcamp Aviation Education Precinct will provide training in what for a long time has been seen as a glamorous profession.

And being a pilot is not only for men, as student pilot Nilwani Bishop has shown.

Ms Bishop said although aviation was a male dominated industry, everyone had been welcoming.

Nilwani Bishop and aviation student from the Airline Academy. Picture: Bev Lacey

"More female pilots are joining the industry and airlines want female pilots," she said.

Ms Bishop started in the program four months ago.

"I finished school and went to university for six months and realised I didn't like it," she said.

"I've always respected pilots so decided to do it."

Wellcamp Aviation Education

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Five years ago she couldn't get on a plane due to fear but overcame that.

"I find the landings a little tricky and I'm just waiting for it to click.

"If you study hard and like what you're doing it flows.

"Having a school in the Toowoomba region will be great and will work well with the Archerfield school."

USQ deputy vice-chancellor Carl Rallings said the university would start offering programs in semester two next year.

"We'll be working with the Academy and the airport to build academic offerings in the future that will cater to the demands of the aviation industry," he said.

"USQ has massive online and on-campus offerings and we'll be exploring all the flexible ways that people can study."

Mr Rallings said that the university currently had to plans to build new on-campus infrastructure to cater for the new programs but did not rule that out.

Airline Academy of Australia chief commercial officer Craig Duncan said he was ready to start "tomorrow".

He said there was a concrete pad with the foundations already in place at the airport and said the precinct would be constructed soon.

"It doesn't take the Wagners team long to put a building up, or do anything for that matter," he said.

"We're already talking to them about the facilities we need, including maintenance, classroom, briefing and dispatch area facilities.

"It has all been designed and the aircraft model shows where that's all lined up.

"Undergrad USQ students will be studying theory and academic courses and then go to Wellcamp for the practical components which include simulator time, technical briefings and flying time, either dual or solo."

Originally published as Pilot training lifts off next year at Wellcamp Airport