A new purpose-built flight training centre where thousands of new and existing Qantas and Jetstar pilots will train each year has just been opened.
The state-of-the-art facility in St Peters near Sydney Airport is now home to five full-flight simulators, three fixed training devices and 10 classrooms.
Further tranches of training equipment will arrive in the coming years, including Australia’s first Airbus A350 simulator that will train Qantas pilots for ultra-long-haul Project Sunrise flights.
The new centre marks the return of Sydney-based flight training after Qantas relocated its simulators from Sydney to Melbourne and Brisbane in 2021 to make way for the NSW Government’s Sydney Gateway Road project.
Senior Qantas and Jetstar training captains will continue to train pilots from both airlines, with pilots typically undertaking four simulator sessions per year to remain current in their formal qualifications and up to 15 sessions when training for a new aircraft type.
Qantas’ first group of A321XLR pilots are currently undertaking their training at the Sydney centre ahead of the first aircraft arrival in 2025.
“Qantas is proud of its strong safety culture and the skill and expertise of our pilots has long been recognised globally,” said Cam Wallace, CEO Qantas International.
“This new facility is a key part of ensuring that these high standards continue across our next generation of aircraft and aviators in this country.
“We have more than a hundred new aircraft on order for Qantas and Jetstar which create significant opportunities for our people and Australia’s aviation industry and the huge demand for crew training will be supported by the new flight training centre.”
