Bendigo Weekly 1059

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BendigoWeekly www.bendigoweekly.com.au

ISSUE 1059 FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 2018

HIGH HOPE Bendigo bids for Qantas school

By SHARON KEMP

BENDIGO has put its hand up to host what could become the biggest pilot training school in the southern hemisphere. The City of Greater Bendigo has confirmed it will submit a bid for a Qantas pilot training academy to eventually train 500 pilots a year, adding it is working with the state government to position the city favourably. But even if, after $15 million of investment Bendigo airport is not ready for the Qantas proposal, a former deputy chief of the Royal Australian Air Force says council should attract a commercial pilot school to locate at the facility. After completing an runway extension and upgrading airfield infrastructure, the council has focussed its attention on trying to draw a commercial airline to offer flights to Adelaide, Sydney and other regional centres. Air Vice Marshal John Blackburn AO said a more feasible option was to exploit the dire global shortage of commercial pilots. Mr Blackburn, who often flies into Bendigo and was involved in selecting Wagga Wagga for additional RAAF training, said Bendigo offered an ideal location for training, favoured by climate and proximity to the city and tertiary education. “I think a small regional airline hub might be feasible down the line but it is not going to draw you huge business,” he told the Bendigo Weekly.

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“There is going to be growth in pilot training and Australia is ideally suited for it. Qantas is going to engage a civil school and find a location, is the Bendigo council looking at that as part of the bigger development plan because it is not just Qantas who is going to do this. “Why wouldn’t you look at Bendigo? You have the got the basics there, the town is outstanding if you want to attract not only the students but the staff.

Qantas is going to engage a civil school and find a location “You have got the university there and I know in Wagga Wagga local universities provide some of the academic training for the air force cadets.” Qantas called for registrations for the first intake at its proposed academy which it wants up and running next year. “We’re looking to base the academy at a regional centre with an airfield, uncongested airspace and the infrastructure to support and accommodate up to 100 students in the first year of operation,” a spokesperson said. Continued Page 4

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