Qantas Accelerates Aviation Growth with $40 Million Investment in Training Programs

Thursday, October 24, 2024

The Qantas Group is making a significant investment of over $40 million to shape the future of Australian aviation through a series of ambitious initiatives aimed at fostering the next generation of talent. These efforts will span across safety training, pilot development, and cutting-edge ground training facilities, driving advancements within the airline and the wider aviation industry. Key highlights include:

Launch of the Qantas Group Safety Academy in 2025

One of the most groundbreaking efforts is the establishment of the Qantas Group Safety Academy. This Australian-first academy will be introduced in partnership with Griffith University and RMIT University. Its mission is to provide comprehensive safety credentials that will empower safety professionals and create future leaders in safety across various industries.

Starting in 2025, the Academy will offer micro-credentials in critical areas such as safety culture, risk management, data analysis, cyber safety, and human factors like sleep and fatigue management. These courses will be accessible online through both universities or on-campus at RMIT, with the potential to count towards other postgraduate qualifications.

By 2026, the Academy’s programs will expand to offer fully accredited postgraduate degrees and advanced research opportunities through the creation of a Centre of Safety Excellence.

New Ground Training Facility and Enhanced Equipment

In response to the Qantas Group’s expanding fleet and workforce, the airline is investing heavily in state-of-the-art training infrastructure. Over $40 million will be allocated towards new training assets and facilities nationwide, including the construction of a dedicated ground training center in Sydney.

Scheduled to open in mid-2026 at Qantas’ Mascot campus, the Sydney Ground Training Facility will serve as the hub for emergency procedures training. More than 5,000 pilots and cabin crew from Qantas, Jetstar, and QantasLink will undergo training here annually. The facility will feature cutting-edge equipment like door trainers, virtual reality spaces, a narrow-body cabin trainer, and new classrooms.

Additionally, Qantas will open a new ground training facility in Perth by mid-2025, and modernize training centers in Brisbane and Melbourne with enhanced emergency procedure training tools.

Expanding Opportunities for Pilots

To encourage diversity and inclusion in the aviation sector, the Qantas Group will double its scholarships for female students and Indigenous Australians at its Pilot Academy in Toowoomba, starting in 2025. Twenty scholarships, valued at up to $30,000 each, will be available to support accommodation and living expenses, with additional tuition costs covered separately.

Since its opening in 2020, the Academy has already seen over 400 students graduate, contributing to both the Qantas Group and the broader aviation sector. Women account for 20% of graduates, surpassing the global average of 4% female commercial airline pilots, while the Qantas Group boasts a higher representation at 7%.

A Long-Term Vision for Aviation Excellence

The Qantas Group’s multi-million-dollar investment in education, training facilities, and scholarships reflects its commitment to ensuring Australia remains at the forefront of global aviation. By investing in safety leadership, cutting-edge training technology, and pilot diversity, Qantas is not only strengthening its workforce but also setting new industry standards for safety and inclusion. This comprehensive strategy will help secure a bright future for Australian aviation, creating a pipeline of skilled professionals poised to lead the industry forward.

COMMENTS

Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson said the new initiatives and investment build on the Qantas Group’s extensive existing training footprint including the Qantas Group Pilot Academy, the Engineering Academy opening next year and flight training centres around Australia.

“Safety and training have been part of Qantas’ DNA since our first flight back in 1922,” said Ms Hudson.

“With a historic fleet renewal program underway, we have more than a hundred new aircraft on order for Qantas and Jetstar that each represent a growth opportunity for our people and the broader industry.

“Our people have been long renowned for their high standards of safety and training and this is the foundation of the investment we’re making in the future of Australian aviation and other industries.

“Our multi-million-dollar training investment means there will be new facilities and state-of-the-art equipment across Australia to train our current pilots and cabin crew, as well as the thousands of crew expected to join the Qantas Group over the next decade.

“The new Qantas Group Safety Academy will help upskill a generation of safety and risk professionals, leaning on Qantas’s century of practical experience with safety leadership and the academic expertise of RMIT and Griffith University.

“As we train the next generation of pilots, we want to make sure that we’re reaching a broader and more diverse talent base which is why we’re expanding our scholarship program for the Qantas Group Pilot Academy,” added Ms Hudson.

Dean (Academic) in the Griffith Sciences Group, Professor Rosalind Archer: “Griffith is an industry leader in the area of safety science where we can offer a combination of leadership, science and social science across a multidisciplinary and multi-industry platform.

“This is not a cookie cutter approach to safety science, but micro credentials with depth which offers a post graduate learning environment for professionals who want to advance their careers and take the next step.”

RMIT Aviation Academy Director Lea Vesic said: “RMIT’s partnership with Qantas is testament to the quality of our training and leadership – not just in producing job-ready graduates but fostering collaboration across the sector.”

“The new Qantas Safety Academy will utilise our training expertise to build a pipeline of safety leaders who have a broad set of critical skills.

“These types of industry partnerships – and innovative training delivery – will be even more critical as we look to futureproof the aviation industry in Australia.”

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Tags: Airline News, Australia Travel, australian aviation, Ground Training Facilities, Next-Generation Talent, pilot development, qantas group, safety training, Travel News