Qantas creates 100 engineering apprenticeships
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SYDNEY, 7 October 2009: Qantas today announced it would employ 100 engineering apprentices in February 2010, a $28 million investment to support fleet growth and to skill its engineering business for the future.
The new employees will commence in February, as part of Australia’s largest civil aviation apprentice program. Qantas currently employs 286 apprentices, increasing to 380 by February 2010. Qantas Chief Executive Officer, Mr Alan Joyce, said the significant intake was a reflection of the airline’s commitment to its engineering business in Australia.
“Our Engineering Apprentice Program develops the critical skills of our future engineers so they can maintain the Qantas fleet to the highest standard,” Mr Joyce said. “It is this ongoing investment in our people that underpins Qantas’ enviable record of flying safety.”
Mr Joyce said the growth in the apprentice program complemented the announcement in April 2009 that Qantas would bring heavy maintenance of its Airbus A330 fleet onshore, to be undertaken at the Brisbane Heavy Maintenance facility from early 2010.
“Every year we spend more than $1.4 billion on the maintenance of our fleet with approximately half of that spent on high tech jobs in Australia and the remainder on aircraft parts and services,” he said.
“In 2010, we will perform 92 per cent of our aircraft heavy maintenance checks here in Australia.
“We are one of the largest employers of engineers in the country, with over 5,700 people engaged with Qantas Engineering in Australia.”
The new apprentice positions will be spread over three Qantas Engineering facilities in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney, and will train in specialisations such as Avionics, Aircraft Mechanical and Aircraft Structures.
Qantas Engineering has received more than 700 applications for the apprentice positions. Applications close on 11 October and successful applicants will be notified in December 2009.
Mr Joyce thanked the Australian Government for its support of the Qantas Engineering Apprentice Program, to which it has contributed $430,000 as part of its Commencement and Completion Craft Subsidy Payments and Mid Career Apprenticeship Payment Programs.
Qantas Apprentice Training was recognised by the Australian Government in August 2009, when the Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon Julia Gillard MP, presented the airline with the Minister’s Award for Excellence for Employers of Australian Apprentices in the Sydney region.
Candidates can apply online at www.qantas.com/careers.
Issued by Qantas Corporate Communication (Q3963)
Media Enquiries: Joe Aston T: +61 2 9261 4200 M: +61 407 353 667
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