Qantas and global training provider CAE have officially opened Sydney’s new purpose-built flight training centre, where thousands of new and existing Qantas and Jetstar pilots will train each year. The state-of-the-art facility in St Peters near Sydney Airport is now home to 5 full-flight simulators, 3 fixed training devices and 10 classrooms.
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Further tranches of training equipment will arrive in the coming years, including Australia’s first Airbus A350 simulator that will train Qantas pilots for ultra-long-haul Project Sunrise flights.
CAE will operate the new centre and maintain all training equipment. Senior Qantas and Jetstar training captains will continue to train pilots from both airlines, with pilots typically undertaking four simulator sessions per year to remain current in their formal qualifications and up to 15 sessions when training for a new aircraft type.
Pilots and cabin crew will also complete their ground training at the St Peter’s centre with emergency procedures equipment and aircraft cabin mock-ups until mid-2026 when Qantas opens a new dedicated ground training facility in Mascot. The relocation of ground training equipment will open up additional space at the CAE Sydney flight training centre and enable its transition to a dedicated pilot training facility which will allow the Group to meet growing demand as it welcomes new aircraft.
Qantas’ first group of A321XLR pilots are currently undertaking their training at the Sydney centre ahead of the first aircraft arrival in 2025. The formal opening of the centre follows a recent major investment in skills and training that includes a new Qantas Group Safety Academy, a $40 million investment in new ground training facilities and equipment across the country, and the doubling of Qantas Group Pilot Academy scholarships in 2025. The first group of apprentices through the new Qantas Engineering Academy is also due to start in January next year.
