With global aviation returning getting back on track and moving closer towards reaching pre-pandemic levels airlines are planning further into the future with more confidence. One of the key aspects of aviation along with getting the right planes is also having adequate training facilities. This is even more the case with an airline such as Qantas that, due to Australia’s geographical position, can’t rely on nearby countries’ facilities. Therefore sending crew abroad would be incredibly expensive and inefficient. The airline has training facilities in Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Sydney. The latter center is the one we’ll be talking about in today’s post.
The New Sydney Qantas Flight Training Center in Construction
On may 19th 2023 ground was broken for the construction of the new Qantas flight training center. This will be a state of the art training facility located in St. Peters, Sydney, just a stones throw away from the international airport. The facility will be ready in early 2024 and will immediately start operations.
The facility will be built in collaboration with LOGOS property group and CAE global aviation training service provider. It’ll be on 3 floor and will cover a total surface of 7000m2.
Qantas Images
A Key Piece of Infrastructure For The Airline
Once completed and active the new Sydney flight training center will serve up to 4,500 cabin and flight crew every year. Considering that Qantas will be receiving a significant number of new planes in the near future (an average of 1 plane every 3 weeks), having the center firing on all cylinders will be key for the expansion of the Australian flag carrier.
The Sydney flight training center will be home to 3 fixed flight training devices along with 6 full-motion simulators. Specifically the fixed training devices will serve training crew for the:
- Airbus A380
- Airbus A330
- Boeing 787
While the Full-Motion flight simulators will be fitted with training equipment for:
- Boeing 787
- Boeing 737-800
- Airbus A320
- Airbus A330
- Airbus A380
- Airbus A350
The plane in the list is particularly important to the overall Qantas strategy and the company’s future. It is in fact the aircraft that in 2025 will commence the non stop service from Sydney to London and New York. The new Qantas training center will therefore be a strategic asset for the airline to prepare pilots to operate the delicate so called “Project Sunrise” routes.
Qantas Images
Brisbane and Melbourne Covering For Sydney
To avoid any disruption in recurring training and new trainings, the airline relocated its simulators and equipment to Brisbane and Melbourne in 2021. Untile the new center is completed, next year, flight crew and cabin crew will need to travel to the other 2 Qantas training hubs for their recurring training.
