fly_tornado

AIR BOOM: Toowoomba experiencing rise in aviation TOOWOOMBA is currently experiencing an aviation boom, a leading business figure has said. Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise CEO Ali Davenport said the announcement the Qantas Pilot Training Academy would be based in the Garden City had created a sense of excitement around town. "I think the Qantas announcement has opened everybody's eyes to the possibility of what we can achieve in this region,” Ms Davenport said. The Qantas announcement on Thursday followed the opening of the Flight Training Adelaide Queensland facility at Wellcamp Airport on Monday, and the University of Southern Queensland announcement it would expand its aviation course to Toowoomba. "It is an aviation boom,” Ms Davenport said. "There is no reason why other airlines or other training schools won't come to this region now for the exact same reason that Qantas has.” An artist impression of what the Qantas Pilot Training Academy at Wellcamp Airport will look like. Contributed Ms Davenport said aviation added to the diversity of Toowoomba's business sector. "This just add another string to our bow in terms of economic diversity,” she said. "We have agriculture, the resources sector, now pilot training, so many things to be proud of and things to be excited about. "And with hospitals, schools and all sorts of amazing things announced in the last week, this is one of many exciting things happening in our region.” Early works on the $35 million Qantas training facility, which will train 250 student pilots a year, began yesterday, with major construction works expected to begin next month. "Having 250 students and 160 trainers and staff in the region is going to be amazing,” Ms Davenport said. "The economic benefits of that is enormous. "It's a very exciting time for our region.”

they ended up landing short into the water, plane is a write off

Joyce is seeing an opportunity with all these Middle Eastern and Asian airlines growing and are looking for a way to make money out of them so pumping out 500 pilots a year with QANTAS branded training looks like its going to pay off big time. But with most things Wellcamp the numbers never seem to stack up.

It really depends on how many people sign up for the course? I can't see it not going 6 days a week this is the cost in the US in USD so you can probably double that amount Pilot Training Cost – Flight School Cost, L3 Airline Academy A big concern for some potential aviation students is "How much does pilot school cost?" L3 Airline Academy offers programs based on your goals as a pilot. Airline Pilot Track and Professional Pilot Program Price Tuition (Estimated) $79,995 Application Fee $150 Books & Supplies (Estimated) $3,518 Electronic Training Materials (Mandatory for all students) $1,482 Transportation $6,000 Room & Board $16,350 TSA AFSP Application (Non-U.S. Citizens) $390 ($130 each for 3 courses) TSA Fingerprinting (Non-U.S. Citizens) $99 (one time) ID Badge (mandatory) $50 annual *Pricing is current. All prices are estimates and based on the Training Course Outline (TCO) hours it takes a cadet to go through the various programs. All prices are subject to change. Each cadet's experience may vary and hours or costs may be different than what is quoted here. Prices include fuel and flight tests (unless student pilot fails the exam, then additional flight test charges will apply). Prices do not include fuel surcharge, over-flight charges from TCO, admission fees, books, supplies, TSA processing, visa application fees, and extensions.

The beer does you no favours

I doubt it, you want your schools on the east coast were all the people are. I think QANTAS are hoping to make a profit out of the schools, once word gets out that the school isn't a guaranteed job the numbers of applicants will drop siginificantly

Alan Joyce was saying on Tuesday the last time QANTAS advertised for 170 pilots they got over 1000 applications, so there are still plenty of qualified and willing people out there.

the QANTAS flight school and the Flight Training Adelaide one, the locals are going to hate the 172 traffic up and down the strip

its pretty funny Dennis is talking about taking freight by train from Melbourne to Wellcamp and then flying it out when the freighter that flies into Wellcamp comes from Melbourne, presumably already full of fresh produce from Melbourne and Sydney

Wagners to build new coal fired power station? is there nothing they can't do Toowoomba airport to be 'catalyst' for local business: Wagner family | Sky News Australia

Qantas academy has Toowoomba flying high 28th Sep 2018 5:00 AM Subscriber only WE'RE flying high today. In an incredible win for Toowoomba and the Darling Downs, Qantas has announced plans to build the first of its pilot training academies in our region. It pays to not be overly optimistic when eight other cities have been shortlisted for these facilities, but I don't think anyone should be surprised. This decision came down to the criteria, and we've known from the day this was announced we ticked all the boxes. The economic boost this training academy will bring to the region cannot be understated. That includes the jobs and the new residents we will welcome. It also sends a message to the whole of Australia that Toowoomba is a top-notch place to live and work - and study. Qantas CEO Alan Joyce yesterday said he had already heard students express their interest in moving for the academy. Now we wait for Qantas to decide which regional centre will host the second academy. Queenslanders love to stick together, so of course I'm backing our friends in the Sugar City. Best of luck to the remaining eight cities as the airline makes its final decision.

Toowoomba's aviation boom: USQ program set to expand Tobi Loftus 4 minutes 28th Sep 2018 5:00 AM Subscriber only THE University of Southern Queensland is preparing to expand its aviation program to Toowoomba. The university currently runs a Bachelor of Aviation degree at its Springfield campus, near Ipswich. Vice Chancellor Professor Geraldine Mackenzie said the announcement the Qantas Pilot Training Academy would be based in Toowoomba was exciting for students. "We're looking at offering aviation here in Toowoomba in the near future," Prof Mackenzie said. "We are already partnering with Qantas for the Future Pilots Program, it means students have a direct entry to Qantas if they meet the entry requirements, and this just deepens our relationships having the academy here at Wellcamp. "(The academy) will open up more opportunities for students without a doubt." ( From left ) Tom Fanshaw, Qantas CEO Alan Joyce and Kimberley Pike. Qantas pilot training academy announced for Wellcamp airport. Thursday, 27th Sep, 2018. Nev Madsen USQ Aviation head Professor Paul Bates said students at the university could apply to learn at the Qantas facility. "Our students can choose where they go to do their flying training," he said. "Being very co-located, I would expect a number of students to choose the Qantas academy." Prof Bates said he expected the academy's announcement to lead to a boom in interest around aviation. "We expect to see that excitement in aviation beating up," he said. "That's a positive thing for the region and the state." USQ student Tom Fanshawe. Qantas pilot training academy announced for Wellcamp airport. Thursday, 27th Sep, 2018. Nev Madsen For USQ student Tom Fanshawe, flying is a passion he has had from a young age. "I've always wanted to be a pilot," Mr Fanshawe said. "I was always flying on Qantaslink Dash 8 aircraft when I was growing up as I lived out at Emerald. "I never thought it would be something achievable as I thought you'd have to come from a wealthy family to be a pilot." Mr Fanshawe, along with fellow USQ aviation students, could be one of the first students to learn to fly at the Qantas Pilot Training Academy at Wellcamp Airport when it opens next year. Fellow first year Bachelor of Aviation student Kimberley Pike said the academy was a "big deal" for students. "We are mentored by Qantas, so to be trained by them is an important thing," she said. "We're very eager to gain our commercial pilots licences and train with one of the best airlines in the world." USQ student Kimberley Pike. Qantas pilot training academy announced for Wellcamp airport. Thursday, 27th Sep, 2018. Nev Madsen For Ms Pike, the experience of flying is all about taking off. "It's the fascination of being able to lift up off the ground," she said. "You look at a plane on the ground at a young age and you don't really know how it works. "You then go and study aviation and you do the maths, the psychics and you put it into practice. It's amazing to be able to see how a plane takes off the ground and do that every day." Applications to attend the Qantas Pilot Training Academy will open at the end of this year.

Why 'the best airport has won' the Qantas Pilot Academy Tobi Loftus 7-9 minutes 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. ( From left ) Denis Wagner, Qantas CEO Alan Joyce, Qld Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Cameron Dick. Qantas pilot training academy announced for Wellcamp airport. Thursday, 27th Sep, 2018. Nev Madsen 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." Qantas CEO Alan Joyce. Qantas pilot training academy announced for Wellcamp airport. Thursday, 27th Sep, 2018. Nev Madsen 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". Facility will not impact travellers to and from Wellcamp WELLCAMP Airport general manager Sara Hales says extra traffic from the Qantas Pilot Training Academy's 40 light aircraft won't impact commercial flights in and around the airport. Ms Hales said while the academy would be based out of Wellcamp Airport, it would utilise other airfields in the region, including as far south as Warwick and as north as Kingaroy. "(This will) lower the amount of traffic at Wellcamp and make full use of available airspace," Ms Hales said. "We've did a capacity study for the airfield when it was a 500-student capacity school, now it's a 250 capacity school, but even at a 500 capacity school the anticipated runaway usage still only used proportional available runway time. "This doesn't hold any negative impacts in our ability to grow commercial and cargo services." ( From left ) Luke Van Dijk, Pilot , Kimberley Pike, Emily Bee, First Officer. Qantas CEO Alan Joyce,Tom Fanshaw,. Qantas pilot training academy announced for Wellcamp airport. Thursday, 27th Sep, 2018. Nev Madsen She said the airport would have to employ some extra staff because of the facility. "We will employ some additional staff to provide services like refuelling and air services to the academy, however the biggest employment impact will be in the academy itself." Ms Hales said the facility helped establish Wellcamp as a centre for excellence in aviation education. "That is something we really aspire too," Ms Hales said. "There are a lot of other opportunities for education in the aviation space, such as the training of flight attendants, engineering, ground staff, security staff, all sorts of aviation people and that's certainly a space we want to play in." Qantas CEO Alan Joyce said he did not think the school would generate enough traffic for Qantas to introduce more commercial routes to Wellcamp. "We already have 12 flights a week... we think this airport has huge growth potential," Mr Joyce said. "We were the first airline here so if the economics work, that will grow." Academy to help with shortage QANTAS CEO Alan Joyce says the new pilot academy in Toowoomba will address a global pilot shortage. "We will not need 500 pilots a year for Qantas, so a significant amount of them will be for other airlines and overseas training," Mr Joyce said. "In the last two years, between 2016 and 2018, we've recruited 850 new pilots for Qantas, mainly because of the 787 coming in and the extra flying we have internationally. "Over the next decade Qantas may be taking aircraft for project sunrise, to fly aircraft direct from Sydney and Melbourne to London and New York, that will mean a lot of pilots in those year. An artist impression of what the Qantas Pilot Training Academy at Wellcamp Airport will look like. Contributed "Some years we may take all of them, some we may take very little of them, it will depend on what the demand is for them during that period." "This is a great opportunity for Australia and we're making it a business opportunity as well." Mr Joyce said 790,000 new pilots were needed across the globe in the next 20 years. He said because of that, the facility would welcome students from all around the world. "Toowoomba will be attractive to people close to Brisbane and attractive to people from overseas because of the location," he said. "Some of the other sites may attract different people for different reasons." He said it would be a number of years before the program became profitable for Qantas. Copyrighted Image  1 / 19 An artist impression of what the Qantas Pilot Training Academy at Wellcamp Airport will look like. Photo: Contributed. "The first few years is an investment, it won't be until a few years into the program (it becomes profitable)," he said. "There is a cost to the training that will be paid for by the student. It may be paid for by an airline if the airline sponsors a student, so it'll be various combinations of different ways of doing it." Mr Joyce said the pilot shortage was not impacting Qantas. "We are at the top of the food chain, when we advertised recently for 170 pilots we had over 1000 applicants," he said.

Friday, 21th September 2018 Mr Michael McCormack MP Deputy Prime Minister Minister for Infrastructure and Transport PO Box 6022, House of Representatives Parliament House CANBERRA ACT 2600, Australia Mr Shane Carmody Director of Aviation Safety, CASA GPO BOX 2005 Canberra ACT 2601, Australia Deputy Prime Minister, Further to correspondence sent today to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and your office, regarding double standards on private pilot medical certification. Quite simply it is either safe or it is unsafe for a private pilot to operate an aircraft with an MTOW of 600Kgs with one passenger outside of controlled airspace. For CASA to assert that it’s risk-assessments have concluded that it is only safe if the pilot is a member of a private company is ridiculous. CASA RPL and PPL holders are trained to a higher pilot standard than their RAAus counterparts and therefore should represent a much lower risk to aviation safety! CASA must now come clean and publicly publish its risk-assessments and explain to the Australian public why it has denied pilots with a higher standard of training access to a self-certification private drivers licence medical. CASA should not be abusing its position and power in forcing unfair and biased aviation safety standards that seek to intentionally disadvantage RPL and PPL pilots, so as to force them into a private self-administration business (RAAus) where they are exposed to monopoly fees and charges that do not exist within the CASA system. There is no doubt that CASA has been influenced into protecting the private business interests of the RAAus, which has reported year on year financial losses, citing stagnant membership growth. During a briefing to their members yesterday at Airventure Australia Cessnock, RAAUs Chairman, Mr Michael Monck, and CEO, Mr Michael Linke, communicated that “…should CASA approve self-certification private drivers licence medicals for RPL and PPL holders, the RAAus would close its doors...”. As a result of this egregious denial of pilot rights, CASA regulated RPL and PPL holders are forced to become customers of a private monopoly business (RAAus) that owns your medical, your licence and your aircraft registration. Pilots are forced to pay fees and charges that are unregulated and are subjected to ad-hoc oversight and disciplinary processes that are at the discretion of the private business and the personalities that run it. And, to prevent pilots from electing to stay within the government regulated general aviation industry, CASA have denied RPL and PPL holders the right to choose by refusing to provide an equal and unbiased self-certification private drivers licence medical standard. Are we now seeing the wholesale corruption of our national aviation safety regulator? Is pay for regulatory-play the way of the future? Why is CASA creating safety standards that disadvantage government regulated RPL and PPL holders, whilst deregulating the rules for a private business to ensure its financial survival? Does any of this pass the pub test? Mr Deputy Prime Minister you must end this abuse of power and demand that all Australian private pilots – regardless of their associations - be regulated equally and fairly. You must announce to the Australian public that any pilot seeking to fly an aircraft with an MTOW of up to 600kgs with one passenger outside of controlled airspace can do so on a self-certification private drivers licence medical regardless of the licence they hold. And, importantly you must affirm to the Australian people that the role of Australia’s aviation safety regulator (CASA) is to provide aviation safety standards that are free of commercial bias and influence. Thank you for your time and I look forward to your reply. Yours Sincerely, BENJAMIN MORGAN Executive Director

New academy to train pilots at Wellcamp Airport News 2 minutes A NEW training academy at Wellcamp Airport will welcome its first 20 pilots today. Flight Training Adelaide has expanded its operations to Toowoomba to meet national and international demand for pilots. FTA managing director Johan Pienaar said the expansion was driven by "organic growth and global demand". "Setting up FTA-Q at Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport was an easy choice given its world-class facilities and unlimited benign airspace," Mr Pienaar said. "It also gives FTA access to the eastern seaboard for student and staff recruitment. "We are excited at the prospect and plan to grow the flight training academy to a 250-student school over the next three years." The first 20 students will start their 52-week FTA Queensland course today which includes a commercial pilot licence, multi-engine instrument rating, and multi-crew co-operation qualification. The centre will be the second for the South Australian company and will help it grow its customer base which includes QantasLink, Virgin Australia, Cathay Pacific, Cathay Dragon, Indigo, China Airlines and Cebu Pacific. The airline cadets will, on completing their training, go on to their prospective airlines and private students will seek jobs in the industry such as charter pilots for flying instructors. I'm guessing they have built some hangars!

good luck James

I doubt you wouldn't hear it if it was that far open

ping @M61A1 needs new sails 0457575718 Drifter for sale strutbrace | Miscellaneous Goods | Gumtree Australia Bundaberg Surrounds - Avondale | 1195716039

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KpOg9Ci284

it could considered used, so you will probably have to put the aircraft through an AQIS inspection. Its a few hundred bucks and what ever you do don't use wood packing material. are you going FCL?

AOPA AUSTRALIA ENROUTE TO CANBERRA TO MEET WITH REPRESENTATIVES, CASA CLASS 2 DEBACLE The AOPA Australia President Aminta Hennessy and Executive Director Benjamin Morgan will meet with a range of Senators to discuss industry concerns regarding CASA’s failure to deliver meaningful class 2 medical reforms. Many thanks to the following representatives for their time to meet today; - The Hon Anthony Albanese MP - Senator Rex Patrick - Senator Glen Sterle - Senator Fraser Anning Under CASA’s new basic class 2 medical system private pilots are being forced to demonstrate a higher medical fitness than commercial truck drivers operating heavy B-double vehicles on Australian highways transporting dangerous goods! CASA has imposed unfair differential safety standards that purposefully seek to deny RPL and PPL holders of a self certification private drivers licence medical standard. Yet at the same time CASA have provided a private business (RAAus) and its pilots these rights! Quite simply it is either safe or unsafe for a private pilot to operate an aircraft in Australia on a Self certification private licence medical standard - CASA must end the double standards! CASA should not be abusing its position and power in forcing unfair and biased aviation safety standards that seek to intentionally disadvantage RPL and PPL pilots, so as to force them into a private self administration business (RAAus) where they are exposed to fees and charges that do not exist within the CASA system! Importantly, it appears that CASA’s decision to deny all general aviation RPL and PPL holders of a self-certification private drivers licence was made following calls from the RAAus self-administration for CASA to provide their business with a ‘competitive advantage’ threatening to hand back to the regulator the administration and management of the recreational pilot community should it adopt the same reforms as the USA and UK. As a result of this egregious denial of pilots rights, CASA regulated RPL and PPL holders are forced to become customers of a private business (RAAus) that owns your medical, your licence and your aircraft registration! Pilots are forced to pay fees and charges that are unregulated and are subjected to oversight and disciplinary processes that are at the discretion of the private business and the personalities that run it. And, to prevent you from electing to stay within the government regulated general aviation industry, CASA have denied pilots the right to choose by refusing to provide an equal and unbiased self-certification private drivers licence standard. It certainly appears that CASA has been influenced into protecting the private business interests of the RAAus, rather than protecting the safety concerns of the greater general aviation community. Are we now seeing the wholesale corruption of our national aviation safety regulator? Why is CASA creating safety standards that disadvantage RPL and PPL holders, whilst deregulating the rules for a private business? Does any of this pass the pub test? The Deputy Prime Minister must now step up and end this abuse of power and demand that Australian private pilots be regulated equally and fairly. red highlight is mine

driving a truck 12 hour a day is different to flying for a few hours on the weekend

By voting the way the RAA did, the board of the RAA are basically saying that driver's license medical is unsafe. I don't know how its a bad thing to make the RAA's voting position public, the RAA aren't making that position public because its contrary to the AOPA and RAA's goals of deregulating aviation medical requirements.

the letter is for the editor of Sport Pilot, I think its fair enough that the AOPA make this public. People have a right to know.