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QF flying school bidding heats up -

Via the ABC news:

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Qantas pilot academy bids fly in as more regional councils join the race

ABC Goulburn Murray
By Ben Nielsen
Posted Mon at 1:03pm Mon 19 Mar 2018, 1:03pm

 
Photo: Albury mayor Kevin Mack says the recent redevelopment of the local airport made it a frontrunner in the race for the new Qantas pilot academy. (Supplied: Albury Airport)

Regional councils are scrambling to secure a new regional pilot training academy, which is expected to be the largest in the Southern Hemisphere.

Qantas revealed its plan to build the $20 million academy last month, with the aim of training about 500 pilots every year.

Federation Council, on the New South Wales border with Victoria, is the latest contender in a growing number of councils who have bid for the academy.

The council has proposed the facility be built at Corowa Airport.

Mayor Patrick Bourke said councillors only recently floated the idea but residents had already voiced their interest.

"Obviously we'll need to do some consultation with user groups, but we're confident the facility assets are out there and we're keen to look at the prospect," he said.

"I've spoken to a few residents and they're very excited."

It is hoped the facility would reinvigorate the airport, which some residents were concerned had fallen into disrepair.

One resident said the bid was opportunistic, as the airport had largely been neglected by council.

"If they can get [the pilot academy], it'd be fantastic for the area — but the council has to maintain the joint. They do a crappy job now."

 

Photo: Residents are backing plans to have the training facility at Corowa. (Supplied: Steve McIntosh)

Councillor Bourke said the airport had plenty to offer.

"There's certainly good administration buildings and there's even a swimming pool for pilots," he said.

"There's big hangars and the facilities are pretty good, but I think the runways would need some attention.

"Until we look at the documents from Qantas, we won't know what they want."

Council bid not flying with locals

Unlike the Corowa Airport, which is based near an industrial estate, Albury Airport is nestled against residential northern Albury.

Resident Jan McIlroy said locals would face increased noise levels and air traffic, if Albury City Council's bid for the academy was successful.

She said residents were disappointed there hadn't been proper community consultation.
"A lot of us have come to Albury from Sydney or Melbourne to come to a nice, quiet rural town," she said.

"I know business is important but you really have to talk to your ratepayers about what kind of business it's going to be and how it's going to impact on the people that come here."

"If they're really that dead set on doing it, are they going to supply us with double glazing for all our windows and are they going to put noise curfews in place? Or is it all just going to be a pledge to get Qantas here?"

But Albury Mayor Kevin Mack said a recent redevelopment of the local airport made it a frontrunner in the race for the pilot academy.

"We think we're in a good position to attract that particular opportunity," he said.

"Certainly there's a lot to say about Albury as a destination, with 170 flights a week.

"Whoever gets it, it's a good proposition, and we'll be working hard for Albury."

A heated competition

Councillor Mack said the City of Wagga Wagga, which will also vie for the academy, was being too ambitious.

"I think Albury is probably more attractive because we haven't already got [a school], but [Wagga Wagga's] got the REX school — I don't think Qantas want to compete with REX."
But Wagga Wagga council general manager, Peter Thompson, said the Qantas facility would be a logical add-on to the existing school.

He said it would not be a surprise if every regional airport placed a bid for the project, because it represented a boost to local economies.

Mr Thompson's view was shared by Shellharbour City mayor Marianne Saliba.

"It's a good move for the Illawarra," Cr Saliba said.

"Any opportunity we have to grow [Albion Park Airport], to encourage our employment, to encourage growth and to assist a large company like Qantas is a really good thing for us."
"I'd hope the state government would understand what we're trying to do and support us."

Reigniting Australian aviation

No further information has been released about the pilot school, but a Qantas spokesperson said the proposal had taken off since it was announced last month.

"In 10 days, more than 9,000 budding pilots have registered their interest, with 15 per cent of these being women."

 

Photo: Dick Smith says the academy will be a gamechanger for Australian aviation. (ABC News: Tom Hancock)

The former chairman of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, Dick Smith, said the school would be a gamechanger for the Australian aviation industry.

"I think it's the start of revitalising aviation. We need a dozen flying schools like this."

"Albion Park is ideal, Albury's ideal, Camden, maybe Mittagong," Mr Smith said.

"There's so many good places in what I call other than non-city Australia."

"I'm enthusiastic we could become the world leader in flying training."

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