BATHURST is officially out of the running to become the new home of a lucrative Qantas pilot training academy.
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Qantas announced on Friday that nine regional cities remained on the short list to host the academy, which is due to open its doors in 2019 and train up to 500 pilot per year when fully operational.
Dubbo remains in contention following strong lobbying by its local council but both Bathurst and Orange have missed out.
The other cities still in the running following Friday’s announcement are Alice Springs, Bendigo, Busselton, Launceston, Mackay, Tamworth, Toowoomba and Wagga Wagga.
Qantas’s statement said these centres were best suited to the academy’s primary criteria including an adequate runway, hangars for up to 50 aircraft, weather conditions suitable for flying at least 300 days a year, controlled and uncontrolled airspace, hi-tech student classrooms with facilities for flight training simulators and student accommodation.
Bathurst mayor Graeme Hanger told the Western Advocate earlier this year that council would put in a bid for the academy.
“Council would like to assist Qantas with the development of the pilot academy and has requested further information from Qantas as to their specific needs,” he said.
He said Bathurst enjoyed a number of advantages that would make it an ideal location for this kind of facility, including its proximity to airports at Sydney and eventually Badgerys Creek.
“Bathurst Airport has a strong pilot training background, with three independent flying schools,” Cr Hanger said at the time.
“The Australian Air Force Cadets also run their National Aviation Centre program at a specialist gliding complex from Bathurst aerodrome.
“The addition of Qantas’ pilot school would enhance that current capability.”
The academy’s management team will visit the nine cities in coming weeks and meet with community leaders, suppliers and airport operators to further evaluate the feasibility of each location.
A final decision on the academy’s location is expected to be made in the third quarter of this year.
VIDEO: Dubbo Regional Council’s application video ...
Qantas Pilot Academy’s executive manager Wes Nobelius said there were some “outstanding proposals”, paying special mention of Dubbo in the announcement.
“From ideas around scholarships to a community photo shoot in Mackay and a video message from the children of Dubbo, we’ve been really impressed with the quality of responses and the level of support on offer,” Mr Nobelius said.
“Narrowing down the possible locations from more than 60 to just nine wasn’t easy. It will be harder still to whittle this down to just one.”
More than 14,000 aspiring pilots have so far registered their interest in the academy.