The Qantas Group has announced the future locations of its flight simulators, with pilots to be trained in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. The relocation has been triggered by the need for Qantas to move its current simulator center from Mascot in Sydney to make way for a major roads project. This process has subsequently formed part of the airline’s broader review of its property footprint, aimed at reducing its overall costs as it seeks to recover from the COVID-19 crisis.
The relocation will see Qantas, with support from the Queensland Government, build a new flight training centre at Brisbane Airport. Work to construct the new facility will begin in March with the first pilots due to commence training there from November 2021. The national carrier is also working with the NSW Government on plans for a flight training center in Sydney, with at least four simulators and other training equipment to be permanently based in Sydney from 2023.
Qantas will expand its existing flight training center in Melbourne to accommodate an additional four simulators and training equipment to ensure there is no disruption to training programs. Qantas Group Executive John Gissing said the changes were made possible through support from the state governments.
