6NEWS ROAD TO RECOVERY Pilot numbers now on course to soar

Student pilot Jared Giuffrida is part of the first TAFE Queensland Diploma of Aviation course on the Gold Coast. Picture: Scott Powick

A PARTNERSHIP between Gold Coast-based Airways Aviation and TAFE Queensland will help address a predicted shortfall of 250,000 pilots across the Asia-Pacific as the embattled industry tries to recover from the COVID crisis.

Under the deal, a first for the city, aspiring local flyers will have the ability to earn a nationally accredited aviation qualification while training to become commercial pilots.

The first cohort takes off in April, with students completing a Diploma of Aviation, Commercial Pilot Licence – Aeroplane, while learning to navigate the skies out of Gold

Coast International Airport.

TAFE Queensland Gold Coast general manager Karen Dickinson said the partnership would put students in a very strong position to join the aviation industry when they graduated.

“Undertaking practical flight training at a busy international airport will expose students to every aspect of aviation operations and allow them to put all the components of their qualification into practice,” she said.

TAFE Queensland’s Diploma of Aviation is a fulltime, 12-month course featuring theory and practical hands-on training.

Ms Dickinson said the course provided students with

skills to perform normal and emergency flying techniques while preparing them for a career as a commercial pilot.

“Students are required to complete a minimum 150 hours of practical flying, earning them their commercial pilot licence, which opens up a range of career opportunities including rural operations, joy flights, aeromedical, air transport charter operations and search and rescue,” she said.

Jared Giuffrida, 18, of Varsity Lakes, can’t wait to start his diploma and said he loved “the thrill of the takeoff and landing”.

“Even though I have been DJing on the side, this is my ultimate dream career. I can’t wait to start the hands-on

practical side and I’m excited to train from the airport and experience the various weather challenges that come into play with aviation,” he said.

He plans to be a pilot flying domestically or internationally for an airline such as Virgin Australia.

Airways Aviation general manager Helena Tierney said the new training partnership provided domestic students with a pathway into a career as a commercial pilot, with eligible applicants able to apply for VET student loans to help cover the $88,000 tuition fee.

“Aviation Airways has been training aspiring pilots for over 30 years and is extremely proud of this partnership, which will strengthen

our offering to future domestic pilots by providing them with industry and VET qualifications,” said Mrs Tierney.

She said Boeing, the world’s largest aerospace company, predicted 250,000 new pilots would be required between 2020 and 2039 within the Asia-Pacific alone.

“Now is the perfect time to start a career in aviation.”

The academy has a purpose built-hangar in an international airport precinct, training rooms, student facilities and 13 fixed-wing aircraft.

Airways Aviation is hosting an open day at its Bilinga premises on February 27 where students can check out the facility, meet teachers and learn about the diploma.