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The announcement of the first Qantas pilot training academy at Wellcamp Airport was great news for the University of Southern Queensland (USQ).

Toowoomba will be home to the multimillion-dollar Qantas academy set to open in mid-2019 which will deepen the partnership between USQ and Qantas.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk joined Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce at Wellcamp Airport for the announcement yesterday, which will have capacity to train up to 250 pilots a year at the airport and create up to 160 jobs in training and support roles.

USQ Aviation & Logistics Professor Paul Bates said USQ was closely linked with the airline through the Qantas Group Future Pilot Program.

“This is great news for the University because of our already strong connection with Qantas and our students who are accepted into the Qantas Group Future Pilot Program will now have a regional and local centre for flight training,” Professor Bates said.

“It develops a critical mass in aviation training for the region and provides further attraction to study at USQ.”

USQ offers a Bachelor of Aviation at USQ Springfield allowing students to choose a program for a career as a pilot, in flight operations or in a ground-based role via an Aviation Management Major.

The Qantas Group Future Pilot Program is open to high-achieving USQ aviation students studying a Bachelor of Aviation (Flight Operations) providing access to experienced pilots throughout their degree.

Professor Bates said USQ was currently looking at furthering the aviation program at USQ Toowoomba, and the new training academy at Wellcamp was a wonderful opportunity to advance this.

“This will create an aviation training hub between our three campuses in Toowoomba, Ipswich and Springfield,” he said.

More than 60 regional airports across the country applied to host one of two academies nationwide, with nine regional cities making the shortlist, including Toowoomba and Mackay.

The location of Qantas’ second academy is yet to be revealed.

Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce said the company would build state-of-the-art training facilities and student accommodation to create the academy in Toowoomba in partnership with the Queensland Government and the Wagner Corporation, who own the airport.

“Qantas has a well-earned reputation of having some of the world’s best pilots. For many of them, the journey will start right here in Toowoomba,” he said.

“What we’re ultimately creating is a world-class pilot school for students from Australia and around the globe.”