WHY QANTAS CHOSE US

Why Qantas will train aspiring pilots in Garden City

TOOWOOMBA’S Wellcamp Airport was the best option for the first Qantas Pilot Training Academy, the airline’s CEO has revealed.

Alan Joyce yesterday said Qantas chose the Toowoomba location for a number of reasons.

“It has great facilities and it allows us to have the hanger, student accommodation and training rooms (constructed) in the period we have to have them done,” he said.

“It allows us to have an airport that has clear skies for over 300 days a year, making it a very attractive location for trainers and students.

“The region itself is a great place to live, work and study. We’ve already had many students express their interest in moving to Toowoomba for this pilot training.”

Mr Joyce said the academy would cost about $35 million to build, with the majority of the funds contributed by private sector.

“The partnerships were unique here, with the State Government and the Wagners fully behind it, which was critical,” he said.

“The best airport has won.” The first intake of between 20 and 30 students is expected once construction finishes in July next year.

A Qantas spokeswoman said the airline hoped to train 100 students in the first year of operations and then grow that to 250 in the first few years.

The academy will create ongoing employment for about 160 people in training and support roles.

Qantas has appointed L3 Commercial Aviation as the training provider for the Toowoomba site.

The company will bring about 40 aircraft, known as “bug smashers”, to the facility.

Aircraft will be a mix of both single and twin-engine aircraft with glass cockpits.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the announcement of the facility was “fantastic”.

“This will be the home for training the next generation of pilots,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“This gives confidence in Queensland.”

State Development Minister Cameron Dick said the announcement reiterated the fact the Q in Qantas stood for Qld.

“The government has worked overtime to bring the academy to the state and we are so delighted that Qantas has landed the facility here,” Mr Dick said.

“When the facility is up and running it will be putting a quarter of a billion dollars into the local economy.”

Toowoomba Mayor Paul Antonio said the announcement was an “exciting moment for Toowoomba”.