Published Friday, 29 June, 2007 at 10:41 AM
Minister for State Development, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
AUSTRALIAN FIRST: QANTAS AVIATION TRAINING CALLS QUEENSLAND HOME
Queensland’s reputation as an aviation and aerospace hub for the Asia-Pacific region has received a major boost with the announcement of a Qantas Airways and Griffith University pilot training degree program.
An Australian-first, the three-year training course will begin next year and offer graduates a Bachelor of Aviation and a Graduate Diploma of Flight Management.
“This is very good news for Queensland and I believe it will lead to more aviation training being established here,” Minister for State Development John Mickel said.
“This partnership between Qantas and Griffith University will turn out much needed pilots for Australia and also for the global market. They will leave university not only with a degree but with a commercial pilot’s licence.
“This will turn out graduates who are job ready in every sense.”
Mr Mickel said after a further two years compulsory flying employment experience, graduates would be ready to be employed as Second Officers with the Qantas Group.
The news follows an announcement earlier this week on the Qantas decision to establish a major pilot training business in Australia.
The new, stand-alone flight training business is expected to train more than 3,000 new pilots for the Qantas group and other airlines over the next 10 years.
While the new business will initially operate out of Sydney and Melbourne, Qantas is looking at a range of joint venture options in other Australian cities including Brisbane.
“Qantas is to be congratulated for taking advantage of huge global growth in the demand for aviation training,” Mr Mickel said.
“The Queensland Government looks forward to working with Captain David Coates, Head of the new Qantas Flight Training organisation, to maximise Queensland’s involvement further.
“Employment in our Queensland aviation industry has grown by more than 6,000 since 1998, and the addition of thousands more pilots over the coming years augers well for the further expansion of this industry and the creation of many more jobs.
“The establishment of the new training business will do much to redress the current skills shortage of pilots and ensure our aviation industry is primed for expansion.”
The Minister said the opportunities in pilot training were huge, with demand for new pilots for the Asian market alone estimated to reach more than 60,000 over the next decade.
“Industry expansion also opens up many more opportunities for aviation maintenance and engineering,” Mr Mickel said.
“Queensland is already at the forefront in these areas. Brisbane is home to the Qantas Heavy Maintenance division and clearly the company sees a big future for the industry here.”
Media contact: Chris Brown 3224 7349 or Elouise Campion 3224 6784
29 July, 2007
An Australian-first, the three-year training course will begin next year and offer graduates a Bachelor of Aviation and a Graduate Diploma of Flight Management.
“This is very good news for Queensland and I believe it will lead to more aviation training being established here,” Minister for State Development John Mickel said.
“This partnership between Qantas and Griffith University will turn out much needed pilots for Australia and also for the global market. They will leave university not only with a degree but with a commercial pilot’s licence.
“This will turn out graduates who are job ready in every sense.”
Mr Mickel said after a further two years compulsory flying employment experience, graduates would be ready to be employed as Second Officers with the Qantas Group.
The news follows an announcement earlier this week on the Qantas decision to establish a major pilot training business in Australia.
The new, stand-alone flight training business is expected to train more than 3,000 new pilots for the Qantas group and other airlines over the next 10 years.
While the new business will initially operate out of Sydney and Melbourne, Qantas is looking at a range of joint venture options in other Australian cities including Brisbane.
“Qantas is to be congratulated for taking advantage of huge global growth in the demand for aviation training,” Mr Mickel said.
“The Queensland Government looks forward to working with Captain David Coates, Head of the new Qantas Flight Training organisation, to maximise Queensland’s involvement further.
“Employment in our Queensland aviation industry has grown by more than 6,000 since 1998, and the addition of thousands more pilots over the coming years augers well for the further expansion of this industry and the creation of many more jobs.
“The establishment of the new training business will do much to redress the current skills shortage of pilots and ensure our aviation industry is primed for expansion.”
The Minister said the opportunities in pilot training were huge, with demand for new pilots for the Asian market alone estimated to reach more than 60,000 over the next decade.
“Industry expansion also opens up many more opportunities for aviation maintenance and engineering,” Mr Mickel said.
“Queensland is already at the forefront in these areas. Brisbane is home to the Qantas Heavy Maintenance division and clearly the company sees a big future for the industry here.”
Media contact: Chris Brown 3224 7349 or Elouise Campion 3224 6784
29 July, 2007