AVIATION TRAINING FACILITY TAKES FLIGHT

The assessment of a proposed flight training centre for Qantas and global aviation training leader CAE will be expedited after being declared State Significant.

Minister for Planning and Minister for Homes said the proposed facility, if approved, would provide training for up to 4,500 Qantas and Jetstar pilots and cabin crew each year.

“The NSW Government is a proud supporter of Australia’s aviation industry, and efforts like this will help strengthen capability and ensures NSW and Sydney remain the country’s global travel hub,” Mr Roberts said.

“Our $60 million Aviation Attraction Fund is securing routes, creating jobs and promoting visitor expenditure to accelerate our COVID-19 Road to Recovery, and cement NSW as the premier visitor economy of the Asia Pacific.”

The NSW Government has declared the proposal as State Significant, in recognition of its potential widespread economic benefits and importance to the aviation industry.

“If approved, this flight training facility will help train future generations and get more pilots in the air, so we’ve declared it State Significant to speed up its assessment,” Mr Roberts said.

Minister for Enterprise, Investment and Trade Alister Henskens said a new training facility will help retain jobs and attract more skilled employees to NSW, as major new non-stop global services are launched from Sydney.

“A new state-of-the-art simulator and training centre will bring a big business boost to the state, not only as the facility is built but as the pilots of tomorrow are given the skills and training they need for these exciting new routes,” Mr Henskens said.

Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce welcomed the Government’s declaration.

“Qantas has trained its pilots and crew in Sydney for more than half a century and we look forward to bringing this critical function back to New South Wales with this custom-built facility.”

“Sydney will be the launch city for our non-stop flights to London and New York, and will now be the home of pilot training for the A350s, which will operate these flights from 2025.

“We’d like to thank the NSW Government for its support for this world -class facility, which will generate broader economic benefits for the state.”

With the project declared State Significant, the applicant will be required to lodge its application with the Department of Planning and Environment for rigorous assessment, which will include community consultation.