Qantas Launches Brisbane Engineering Academy
Qantas is taking a giant leap into the future of aviation workforce development by officially opening its state-of-the-art Engineering Academy in Brisbane on January 20, 2025. The new facility welcomes the first batch of 30 students eager to embark on careers as aircraft engineers, marking a significant milestone in Qantas Group’s ongoing commitment to nurture next-generation talent.
Developed in collaboration with Aviation Australia, the Academy’s comprehensive training program is designed to equip apprentices with both theoretical knowledge and practical skills essential for a modern aviation career. “Qantas has trained aircraft engineers for many decades around the country,” said Qantas Domestic CEO Markus Svensson in a statement. “The Academy will play a vital role in equipping the next generation of aircraft engineers with the practical skills and expertise needed to sustain and grow our industry.” Through a combination of classroom learning, simulated practical tasks, and on-the-job training supervised by experienced Qantas engineers, students will gain an immersive educational experience that closely mirrors real-world operations in a busy hangar environment.
The program aims to dramatically expand the number of apprentices trained each year. Currently, the goal is to increase annual apprentice numbers to 150, further bolstering the country’s supply of highly skilled aviation professionals. This initiative is a direct response to the growing demand for expertise across the Qantas Group, which is set to add hundreds of new aircraft to its fleet in the coming years. “With the new fleet comes further opportunities to invest in our people, their training and recruitment to ensure a steady and diverse pipeline of engineering talent in Australia,” Svensson explained.
In a strategic move to enhance the learning experience, QantasLink will donate its last Boeing 717—registration VH-YQW—to the Engineering Academy as a retired training asset. This aircraft, which has served the Qantas Group for more than two decades, will now be repurposed to provide apprentices with a tangible, hands-on tool for learning. “Following more than two decades of service in the Qantas Group, it’s fitting that this aircraft will continue to contribute to Australian aviation history,” Svensson added. The retired Boeing 717 will serve as a practical training aid, allowing students to study aircraft systems and maintenance procedures up close, ensuring they leave the Academy job-ready.
Diversity is a key focus at the new Academy. Qantas anticipates that female students will represent a quarter of the engineering apprentices this year, an increase from 18% in 2023. This growth in diversity is an integral aspect of Qantas Group’s broader strategy, which includes creating more than 8,500 new operational positions across Australia over the next decade. Enhanced training facilities and specialized programs, such as those offered at the existing Qantas Pilot Academy in Toowoomba and the heavy maintenance center at Brisbane Airport (BNE), are all parts of an ambitious plan to strengthen the nation’s aviation workforce.
Glenn Ryan, CEO of Aviation Australia, highlighted the significance of the partnership, stating, “Working in partnership with Qantas, the Academy will draw on our shared engineering training expertise to deliver a world-class program which will provide technical training and job-ready skills for generations of engineers to come.” This collaboration underscores the commitment by both organizations to invest in the future of aviation technology and expertise, ensuring that the aviation industry continues to thrive and innovate.
As Qantas embarks on this new chapter with its Engineering Academy in Brisbane, the initiative is set to become a cornerstone of the company’s strategy for sustainable growth and excellence. With an increasing number of apprentices already in training—more than 250 across Australia this year, up 45% from the previous year—this groundbreaking Academy promises to be a catalyst in propelling the industry forward and maintaining Australia’s competitive edge in global aviation.
Related News : https://airguide.info/?s=Qantas