$25m aviation training facility for Bundaberg
 

From the federal industry dept. media release website:
https://minister.infrastructure.gov....lity-bundaberg

Sod turned on innovative $25 million world-class aviation training facility in Bundaberg

Today marks the start of construction on a new world-class aviation training facility in Bundaberg.

Representatives from the Royal Flying Doctor Service (Queensland Section) (RFDS), QCoal Foundation, Australian Government and Bundaberg Regional Council have gathered on site to celebrate ground being broken on the development, following Bundaberg-based Murchie Constructions being awarded with the contract to build the facility.

The new facility will be constructed next to the existing RFDS Bundaberg Base and house the only Beechcraft King Air Pro Line Fusion Full-Flight Simulator (FFS) in Australia.

Once built, RFDS pilots from across Queensland will spend at least two weeks at the training facility each year, while non-RFDS pilots will also be able to use the simulator for their endorsements or recurrent training for King Air aircraft.

The RFDS Aviation Training Facility is expected to be completed by the end of 2023.

The $25.3 million facility is jointly funded, with $14.9 million from the Australian Government and $3 million from QCoal Foundation. The land for the facility has been donated by Bundaberg Regional Council. RFDS will fund the remainder of the project through fundraising.

Quotes attributable to Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King:

“The Australian Government is proud to be contributing nearly $15 million to make this critical project a reality.

“This will support the essential medical services of the RFDS by providing a world-class facility for training their pilots.

“It will also deliver a broader economic boost to Bundaberg and surrounds by supporting local jobs and attracting these pilots to visit, stay and shop in the region, while strengthening our domestic medical aviation capacity.”

Quotes attributable to Bundaberg Mayor Jack Dempsey:

“The council is pleased to support the new RFDS Aviation Training Facility through the donation of land adjoining its aeromedical base.

“It’s an incredible boon for Bundaberg to be chosen as the location for this new flight simulator which will be the first of its kind to be constructed in Australia.

“It’s going to create jobs here locally during construction and will attract at least 81 pilots every year to come here for a minimum of two weeks to do their training and get a taste of our beautiful region.

“As a former state minister it has long been my vision to see the Bundaberg Region established as a hub for emergency services training. With the upgrades to ambulance and fire services in recent years, along with the delivery of the aeromedical base and now this flight simulator, it’s fantastic to see these ambitions being realised.”

Quotes attributable to QCoal Foundation Chief Executive Officer Sylvia Bhatia:

“We recognise the significant value of this project for the RFDS and also for the Bundaberg region.

“We know diversification is key to ensuring the long-term resilience of regional communities and this project will drive that resilience in the Bundaberg region.

“We are also pleased to see a local contractor awarded this project and look forward to watching the progress of construction.”

Quotes attributable to RFDS (Queensland Section) Chief Executive Officer Meredith Staib:

“Today’s sod turning is an important milestone for the Flying Doctor.

“I’m incredibly excited to see work commence on our new Aviation Training Facility which will help support the ongoing training of our highly skilled pilots, as well as pilots from across Australia and Asia.

“This purpose-built facility will play a vital role as we head towards 100 years of the Flying Doctor, with innovative aviation and training technology on our doorstep helping to ensure the continuity of world-class training for our pilots and crew – allowing them to continue to provide the finest care to patients right across Queensland.

“This new facility simply wouldn’t be possible without the support of our long-standing partners QCoal Foundation, as well as the Australian Government and Bundaberg Regional Council – we’re enormously thankful for their support.”

Quotes attributable to Murchie Constructions Managing Director Andrew Murchie:

“As a local, family-owned business, we’re proud to have been awarded the contract to deliver this facility for the RFDS.”

Other than politics why would you put a simulator in a country town?? How much money and duty hours are going to be wasted just getting to the thing when you can take one flight to Brisbane and go direct to the Sim Centre?

Yeah, **** regional areas, good for nothing, time wasting, layabout regional towns and cities, close them down I say.

QCoal. Apart from suppling the world with a cheap power fuel source they also support their local regions..:cool:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/QCoal

When you’ve got the only sim in the region, people will travel…..

The current B200/350 Sim is in the Sunshine Coast. No different really because most would have to fly to Brisy and drive to the Sunshine Coast.

Ahh, no, see Sunshine Coast got an upgrade recently also. Now folks can fly there directly. :)
https://www.sunshinecoastairport.com...ct-background/

There has been direct flights to Maroochy for years, but mainly biased towards the tourist market. The upgrade had nothing to do with it.

Its a political grandstanding joke. Jobs for regional areas is the tune they're pedalling - of course there are heaps of simtechs and B350 instructors all hanging around Bundaberg unemployed aren't there. After the centre is built and the construction workers move on, there will be very few if any "jobs for regional areas". The personnel such as simtechs and instructors will all have to be imported - probably a few jobs
for admin staff
And when the B350 at Maroochy is sold off (that's what I'm putting my money on) everyone will be forced to Bundy - extra 2 paxing sectors for every pilot going there for OPCs and IPCs - that comes at great
expense to reasonable sized King Air companys such as Pelair and RFDS. And probably more accommodation nights as well due to lack of frequency and therefore less flexibility into and out of Bundy.

All up, a win win for nobody but the pollies.

Morno - were you pissed when you said fly to Brissy, drive to Maroochy? Not your finest PPRUNE moment.

Qantas are putting the new A220 Sim in Alice Springs so why not a Kingair Sim in Bundy!?

No, not pissed. Because I realise that the Sunshine Coast has limited flights from around the country anyway. Not everyone can fly direct. Especially if you have someone from an international destination.​​​​​

How do you think existing RFDS pilots would get there?

Don’t forget the 50 odd new King Air pilots for the Qld Govt will have to go to either Bundaberg or Sunshine Coast

I believe that a large bequest was left to the RFDS from a Bundaberg family, for it to be used to go towards building the sim centre.

AHA!..
And, the REAL reason is......??

Thankyou Mr 'Stationair'....

"Long Live The 'Regionals'.....",,,,

Morno - yeah fair point. I didn't think of guys flying from regional centres having to go to Brissy. My bad. Bonza will fix that though??????????

Forgiven. Bonza might result in a few extra flights from regional areas, but still won’t cover them all. Plus the frequency is pathetic.

Never let the facts get in the way of the facts.

Plus a few more options, not the backwater many are leading it to believe.

Fantastic for rural Australia!


https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....8bf780c56.jpeg

Ouch! Look at the price of those flights. :{

Fact is Global you are clearly not running a business where you have to get 50 pilots and checkies to Bundaberg twice a year for checks. No direct flights from anywhere except Brisbane and the Qld coast milk run. Those two extra sectors per pilot twice a year plus likely extra accom costs due to low flight frequency.....well they are gonna hurt some companies enormously if the Maroochy Sim disappears. Theyr'e the facts Global. But as long as all those unemployed Sim techs and aviation support people wandering around Bundy are looked after. Yep great for regional oz

Yeah let’s centralise everything in the cities and close down regional areas. People who live in the country areas are vermin :rolleyes:

FFS, get off your arses and get a hire car, quit ya ******* whinging and have a beer in Bundy and enjoy getting away form the city for a few days, as if you're effing paying for it.