With the first Qantas Group Pilot Academy due to become operational this September at Toowoomba, Southern Queensland, Australia, Qantas Group has announced that a second pilot training academy is to be built at Mackay, Queensland. The location was chosen primarily for its high proportion of clear-weather days, access to uncongested airspace, good support infrastructure and its appealing location to attract both students and training staff. This now draws to a conclusion the choice for the two pilot academies from an initial list of 60 potential sites.
The creation of the two academies is part of Qantas Group's strategy to create a strong supply of trained pilots over the coming years. Estimates put the future demand for new, qualified pilots at 790,000 on a global basis over the next 20 years, with one in three of those operating in the Asia Pacific region.
