UNI TAKES TO THE SKY

Courses set regional students flight path for jobs with airlines

CAIRNS has a new flight school, the result of a unique partnership between a university and an airline.

Today CQUniversity is to announce an agreement with Hinterland Aviation to provide practical training for the next generation of pilots, who are expected to start classes next year.

The flight school will form part of the uni’s plans to establish a $16 million Aviation Centre of Excellence, making Cairns an aviation hub for the Asia-Pacific region.

PILOTS, who graduate from a new flight school to launch in Cairns next year, will fly straight into a job with a Far Northern airline.

CQUniversity and Hinterland Aviation will today announce an agreement to provide practical flight training for university students.

Early next year, the university will kick off a new suite of aviation courses focused on airline pilot education and training, including a bachelor’s degree, an associate degree and a graduate diploma.

All courses have been designed to encourage students in regional areas to become airline pilots.

Up to 40 students are expected to enrol in the new aviation courses next year, which will form part of the university’s plans to establish a $16 million Aviation Centre of Excellence in the Far North, making Cairns an aviation hub for the Asia-Pacific region.

The centre is a key component of CQUniversity’s $54.7 million Cairns Community Impact Plan, which is designed to stimulate new industries in the region.

A recent Boeing study has shown the worldwide airline industry will need 600,000 pilots during the next 20 years.

CQUniversity vice-chancellor Professor Scott Bowman said the agreement with Hinterland Aviation would give students in Cairns a chance to not only fly, but work with an already established airline.

“It’s a win-win partnership as it is also likely to provide Hinterland with a supply of pilots in a time of global pilot shortages,” he said.

Hinterland Aviation chief executive Peter Christoudias said the partnership with CQUniversity would take a “holistic approach” in preparing students for an aviation career.

“Through this agreement, our airline will be able to employ students immediately upon completing their degrees, providing not only the graduate, but also our operation with tremendous opportunities,” he said. The company is locallyowned.