Aviation Australia and Boeing Defence Australia (BDA) have announced the establishment of the Townsville Aviation Training Academy, set to open in January 2026.
“This academy is a direct result of the Crisafulli Government’s commitment to delivering, industry-led solutions that work for Queenslanders. We’re not just talking about creating jobs, skills, and economic growth, we’re getting on with it,” Queensland Minister for Finance, Trade, Employment and Training, Ros Bates, said.
The academy will initially focus on training aircraft maintenance engineers for the Australian Army’s rotary wing fleet, including the AH-64E Apache helicopters, which will be stationed in Townsville from later this year.
Aviation Australia CEO, Glenn Ryan said the four-year contract with BDA would give future aviators access to aviation training in a purpose-built training space and hopefully produce a highly-skilled aircraft maintenance workforce.
“The launch of our new campus in Townsville is another important step towards growing Aviation Australia’s national training footprint to support our thriving aviation and aerospace industry,” he commented.
“As the largest provider of aviation training in the country, we are dedicated to expanding our reach to meet the industry’s critical skills needs. This new facility will support BDA’s workforce requirements and strengthen our national footprint to deliver world-leading training across aviation and aerospace industries in support of this sovereign capability.”
Currently under construction, the Mt Louisa facility will possess over 750m² of dedicated training space, equipped with rotary and fixed-wing aircraft training aids tailored for both defence and commercial aviation sectors.
“Our collaboration with Aviation Australia underscores a shared commitment to fostering innovation and excellence in aviation training, ultimately enhancing the operational readiness of Australia’s defence helicopter fleets and growing Townsville as a vital defence hub," BDA Managing Director, Amy List, stated.
Eligible students will be funded through the Queensland Government’s Career Start (User Choice) program, administered by the Department of Trade, Employment and Training (DTET).