Media Releases

29 June 2010
Tourism Minister Peter Lawlor has welcomed Singapore Airlines' latest investment in Queensland of new training aircraft and flight simulators at Sunshine Coast Airport.

Singapore Airlines has invested more than $40 million in five Cessna Mustang C510 aircraft and the two new flight simulators at its training college.

"Premier Anna Bligh and I welcome this vote of confidence in our aviation and aerospace industry and we congratulate Singapore Airlines on this very significant addition to its training capacity," Mr Lawlor said.

"The aviation industry in Queensland has grown to more than 900 companies based in the state and it has created jobs for more than 16,500 people.

"Queensland is the centre of the Australian aerospace, helicopter and aviation training services industries - and this is largely due to the Bligh Government making it a high priority, which we support at every level.

"In addition, we're an emerging centre for Australia's general aviation industry and growing as a hub for research and development of emerging aviation technologies.

"For example, our leadership in scramjet technology - undertaken through the University of Queensland's Hyshot project - is recognised as being at the forefront of this technology throughout the world.

"Today we're welcoming the first of five new Cessna C510 jet training aircraft and a flight simulator. By February next year it's anticipated that all five aircraft, another simulator and a flight training device will be installed here."

About 140 Singapore Airlines cadets are trained at the Sunshine Coast college each year, with more than 1000 of them having completed the course.

Singapore Airlines flies three times a day into Queensland with new A330 aircraft.

Singapore Airlines Cargo also operates in Queensland.

Singapore Airlines also markets Queensland overseas to the tune of $185,000 annually under an MOU with Tourism Queensland.