MAJOR PILOT TRAINING FACILITY FOR REGIONAL QUEENSLAND
Published Tuesday, 15 May, 2007 at 09:35 AM
Minister for State Development, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
HONG KONG: Queensland Minister for State Development John Mickel today announced the Hong Kong-based Flight Training Group’s (FTG) decision to establish a professional airline pilot training facility in Maryborough, Queensland.
“FTG is a subsidiary of Young Brothers Aviation – a global aviation company with aviation interests in Europe, USA and Asia and long-term relationships with airlines such as Qantas, Cathay Pacific, Dragonair, China Airlines, Emirates, JAL Express, Vietnam Airlines and Air China - Zhejiang Company,” Mr Mickel said.
“FTG owns an airline pilot training college in Adelaide which it has been successfully operating since 1982 and the group plans to duplicate its operations in Queensland in the heart of what is becoming a major regional aviation hub for the State.”
Mr Mickel said the company would develop a major complex to be known as “Flight Training Queensland” in Maryborough, two and a half hours drive north of the State’s capital Brisbane, negotiations with the local airport operator, the Maryborough City Council are to be finalised.
“This ‘greenfield’ development will employ modern design principles to create an integrated campus incorporating operational buildings such as a hangar, classrooms, simulator section and flight operations with residential accommodation, dining and recreational facilities to cater for up to 200 students at any one time,” he said.
“It will incorporate the latest technologies and training methods developed by FTG over a period of some 25 years in the industry.
“When fully operational the facility will employ more than 100 staff, be home to approximately 40 training aircraft and fly more than 38,000 training hours per year, making use of facilities at both Maryborough and Hervey Bay airports.”
Mr Mickel said the development would bring significant economic benefits to the region, with a wages bill in the order of $7 million and a turnover of approximately $22 million a year.
“Such a facility has the potential to attract young, highly skilled individuals and families to the region, which will mean opportunities for business development and expansion, and growth in sectors such as housing, education and social and recreational services,” he said.
“Flight Training Queensland will also help to establish the Wide Bay Burnett region as a significant global aviation player.
“Wide Bay Burnett already boasts significant aviation infrastructure and expertise with four major regional airports, new industrial estates with air side access and companies like Jabiru and Seabird Aviation.
“Jabiru is Australia’s largest manufacturer of sports aircraft and Seabird Aviation is the name behind the unique Seeker airborne surveillance craft.
“And Kingaroy is already internationally known for its developing unmanned aerial vehicle testing facility (Australian Research Centre for Aerospace Automation).”
Mr Mickel said aviation was a global growth industry – with forecasts indicating international passenger travel growing by 5% annually and by at least 9% in the developing Chinese market.
“The Asia-Pacific region alone is estimated to require at least 5,000 airline pilots a year over the next 20 years to meet this growth and Queensland will now be well placed to attract an important share of that market,” he said.
Media contact: for radio interviews with Minister Mickel: Elouise Campion 0409 588 302 or Chris Brown 3224 7349.
Company contact: Keith Morgan, Flight Training Group, 0417 812 754 or Simon Bambridge 08 8209 4300.
15 May, 2007
“FTG is a subsidiary of Young Brothers Aviation – a global aviation company with aviation interests in Europe, USA and Asia and long-term relationships with airlines such as Qantas, Cathay Pacific, Dragonair, China Airlines, Emirates, JAL Express, Vietnam Airlines and Air China - Zhejiang Company,” Mr Mickel said.
“FTG owns an airline pilot training college in Adelaide which it has been successfully operating since 1982 and the group plans to duplicate its operations in Queensland in the heart of what is becoming a major regional aviation hub for the State.”
Mr Mickel said the company would develop a major complex to be known as “Flight Training Queensland” in Maryborough, two and a half hours drive north of the State’s capital Brisbane, negotiations with the local airport operator, the Maryborough City Council are to be finalised.
“This ‘greenfield’ development will employ modern design principles to create an integrated campus incorporating operational buildings such as a hangar, classrooms, simulator section and flight operations with residential accommodation, dining and recreational facilities to cater for up to 200 students at any one time,” he said.
“It will incorporate the latest technologies and training methods developed by FTG over a period of some 25 years in the industry.
“When fully operational the facility will employ more than 100 staff, be home to approximately 40 training aircraft and fly more than 38,000 training hours per year, making use of facilities at both Maryborough and Hervey Bay airports.”
Mr Mickel said the development would bring significant economic benefits to the region, with a wages bill in the order of $7 million and a turnover of approximately $22 million a year.
“Such a facility has the potential to attract young, highly skilled individuals and families to the region, which will mean opportunities for business development and expansion, and growth in sectors such as housing, education and social and recreational services,” he said.
“Flight Training Queensland will also help to establish the Wide Bay Burnett region as a significant global aviation player.
“Wide Bay Burnett already boasts significant aviation infrastructure and expertise with four major regional airports, new industrial estates with air side access and companies like Jabiru and Seabird Aviation.
“Jabiru is Australia’s largest manufacturer of sports aircraft and Seabird Aviation is the name behind the unique Seeker airborne surveillance craft.
“And Kingaroy is already internationally known for its developing unmanned aerial vehicle testing facility (Australian Research Centre for Aerospace Automation).”
Mr Mickel said aviation was a global growth industry – with forecasts indicating international passenger travel growing by 5% annually and by at least 9% in the developing Chinese market.
“The Asia-Pacific region alone is estimated to require at least 5,000 airline pilots a year over the next 20 years to meet this growth and Queensland will now be well placed to attract an important share of that market,” he said.
Media contact: for radio interviews with Minister Mickel: Elouise Campion 0409 588 302 or Chris Brown 3224 7349.
Company contact: Keith Morgan, Flight Training Group, 0417 812 754 or Simon Bambridge 08 8209 4300.
15 May, 2007