Opportunity awaits for aspiring Albury Wodonga pilots

Albury Wodonga's Oberon Aviation has partnered with Australia's largest regional university to offer tertiary-qualifications and professional flight training for aspiring local pilots.

The partnership with CQUniversity will allow students to study with CQU online while learning to fly at the Albury airport.

'Previously aspiring pilots would have to leave our region for the capital cities to achieve a tertiary qualification in aviation'' Oberon Aviation Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Phil Hines said.

Mr Hines said Oberon Aviation was currently in the process of building up its flying school operations and the partnership with CQUniversity was a great opportunity to allow students to learn to fly at Albury Airport whilst completing a tertiary qualification in aviation.

'This partnership will allow aspiring pilots to remain in our community and achieve their goals' with the opportunity of tertiary FEE-HELP.'

CQUniversity Head of Aviation Professor Doug Drury said he was thrilled to have a new flight training provider in regional NSW.

'This partnership with Oberon Aviation will provide potential students who want to train in Albury Wodonga to become pilots with the opportunities to do so.

'We're excited to have Oberon Aviation join the extensive CQU aviation network.'

Oberon Aviation will begin intaking CQUniversity students for Term 1 which commences next month and will provide a high level of flight training for its students.

'Students will be taught by experienced instructors who have industry knowledge from airlines' military' and general aviation backgrounds and our team will deliver detailed flight briefing and one-on-one flight instruction in our fleet of Grob G115 aircraft'' Mr Hines said.

'The Grob G115 has a proven record of being an ideal flight trainer' used by various military organisations and airlines around the world.'

Mr Hines said Oberon Aviation was always looking for well-trained commercial pilots to add to its ranks.

'The industry has gone through major changes during COVID and the airlines around world will be looking for pilots to return to the industry' and we believe there will be a pilot shortage in the future.'