Former RAAF, Qantas trainer, Queensland Air League executive Todd Oakley charged with rape

The man who led the Queensland branch of the Air League, trained young pilots for Qantas at Wellcamp and oversaw cadets for the RAAF has been charged with rape, unlawful sodomy of a minor and sexual assault.

Former RAAF, Qantas and Australian Air League instructor Todd Andrew Oakley has been charged with rape, sexual assault and unlawful sodomy of a minor.

Former Royal Australian Air Force and Qantas instructor Todd Andrew Oakley has been committed to stand trial for alleged historical sexual abuse.

Police will allege the offences were committed against two teenage boys, who were Australian Defence Force cadets, by Mr Oakley when he was supervising them at various times between 1998 and 2002.

According to police, the alleged sexual assaults occurred at locations across the Ipswich and South Brisbane areas, including the RAAF Base Amberley, by Mr Oakley, who was in his mid-20s at the time.

The boys are not related.

Mr Oakley, now 46, is charged with four offences – one count of rape, two counts of sexual assault and unlawful sodomy of a person under 18.

His matters were briefly mentioned in the Toowoomba Magistrates Court on October 3.

The case will now move to the Brisbane District Court.

One of the charges related to an incident in 1999 where Mr Oakley allegedly invited a cadet, aged 16 at the time, into a hotel room.

Police will allege the boy was taking a shower when Mr Oakley entered the room naked, placed his genitalia in the boy’s hand and made the boy masturbate him, which continued to oral sex.

Mr Oakley was working as an instructor with the Qantas Group Pilot Academy, employed by Flight Training Adelaide, in Toowoomba delivering pilot training to Qantas candidates when he was charged with the alleged offences.

Along with his roles as a Qantas instructor based at Wellcamp, Mr Oakley was also a high-ranking member of the Australia Air League, a civil aviation club that teaches young people how to pilot aircraft.

He held the position of Queensland group executive commissioner.

AAL chief commissioner and chief executive Ian Rickards said Mr Oakley resigned from the league on December 21, 2021 and was not involved with the league in any official capacity from July 10, 2021.

“As we understand that this matter is currently before the Queensland courts the AAL cannot comment further,” he said.