A landmark partnership between Australia’s largest training provider and the nation’s leading flying college will launch the careers of thousands of aspiring commercial pilots, Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education Geoff Lee announced today.
In an historic move for the nation’s $46 billion aviation industry, TAFE NSW and Basair Aviation College have confirmed they will partner to deliver world-class training to students from 2021 at Basair’s Bankstown Airport base.
“This agreement between TAFE NSW and Basair Aviation College will have profound flow-on benefits for the aviation industry and ensure a career in the skies is more attainable than ever for thousands of aspiring commercial pilots,” Mr Lee said.
“Aviation is a global industry and air access for both passengers and freight is a critical element in supporting the NSW economy during the COVID-19 recovery.
“The NSW Government, through TAFE NSW, is proud to be assisting such an important industry by helping train the next generation of aviation professionals.”
Mr Lee said students have a choice of two different Diploma of Aviation courses, specially tailored to their career goals and stages of their learning journey.
“Importantly, students will be eligible for a VET Student Loan, easing the financial burden during their studies,” he said.
Mr Lee said the diploma courses would help students land the skills they need to pilot private charters, freight and commercial passengers.
Australia needs an additional 11,000 pilots by 2038 and international demand for pilots trained in Australia is set to increase. Over 260,000 new pilots are required to sustain the aviation industry within the Asia-Pacific region over the next two decades.
Basair Aviation College CEO David Trevelyan said the partnership marked a new era in aviation training for NSW.
“As the largest flying college in Australia, Basair is proud to be partnering with Australia’s largest training provider, TAFE NSW, to ensure a pipeline of world-class pilots to support the industry and the economy,” Mr Trevelyan said.
“Basair operates the third largest aircraft fleet in Australia and has been training pilots to the highest standard for 30 years, with hundreds of our graduates now flying for major airlines all over the world.
“This partnership with TAFE NSW will allow us to build further on that record and ensure Australia’s pilots of the future aim high and take the industry to new heights.”
Registrations for the Diploma of Aviation program commencing in May are now open via www.tafensw.edu.au
