ALBURY has been urged to make a strong bid to become the home for the Qantas flying school capable of training up to 500 pilots per year.
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The airline has committed to establishing the flying training centre as early as next year with an initial $20 million investment confirmed this week.
A large regional centre will be chosen due to easy access to uncongested airspace.
Entrepreneur and aviator Dick Smith said the city chosen would gain a massive economic boost and encouraged Albury Council to make a bid.
Mr Smith has campaigned for 20 years for Australia to become a flying training world leader, but has been frustrated by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.
“They’ve been increasing costs, red tape and regulation so I understand flying training is down 30 per cent in the last five years,” he said.
“Some services have been cut to regional Australia because there is not enough pilots and that is nothing short of criminal.
“It’s the best news I’ve heard in 20 years that Qantas are not only going to train pilots for their own airline, but they will train pilots who can then go out and get a job for any airline.
“Places like Albury can benefit and I would imagine the council should be getting a letter into Qantas saying ‘come to Albury’.
“They are talking about training up to 500 pilots a year so that is a lot of employment, accommodation, fuel purchased and a huge economic boost to the country town involved.”
Albury Council owns its airport.
Mr Smith will be in Albury on Saturday for the official opening of Rotor Solutions Australia’s new headquarters.
An Albury bid has the backing of Farrer MP and a pilot licence holder, Sussan Ley.
“I think we would be a perfect base for the new academy,” she said.
“We already have the right services and supports in place for what Qantas will need, and I’ll certainly be doing everything I can to put a border bid in front of (chairman) Alan Joyce and the decision makers on this one.”
Mayor Kevin Mack said council had been in touch with Qantas to discuss the potential of the airline developing a pilot training academy in Albury.
“Albury Airport is the gateway for business, tourism and recreational travel for Albury and Wodonga as well as surrounding communities, and with four commercial airlines servicing the market, an academy to train the next generation of pilots would be a terrific fit for our wider community,” he said.
“We’re working now with Sussan Ley to prepare a preliminary proposal and we’re excited to think that Albury could be in the running to host a centre that would be crucial to the future of Australian aviation while also providing a huge boost to the local economy.”