The new Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) Aeromedical Training Academy in Bundaberg is now officially opened.
Located next to the Bundaberg RFDS base, the new academy has a Beechcraft King Air B360/260 Flight simulator - the first of its kind in Australia - as well as two simulator rooms, two full motion aircraft simulation bays, five meeting rooms and two offices.
The facility also features changerooms, IT and storage rooms, solar energy capabilities, 18 car parking spaces and an access road to service the simulator building.
This world-class facility will train the next generation of Queensland RFDS pilots, with non-RFDS pilots also able to use the simulator for their endorsements or regular training for King Air aircraft.
In total, the simulator will be able to provide 7,000 hours of simulator training on a 24/7 basis, with the RFDS to utilise 1,500 of those available hours.
The project supported 200 jobs during construction, 90 per cent of these living in the region.
The Australian Government committed $14.9 million to the $28.88 million project, with the RFDS ($10.4 million) QCoal Foundation ($3 million) and Bundaberg Regional Council ($580,000 in kind donation) providing the remaining funds.
Quotes attributable to Assistant Minister for Regional Development and Senator for Queensland, Anthony Chisholm:
"This new state-of-the-art academy will support essential medical services by ensuring Queensland RFDS pilots are trained to meet current flight standards in a superior training device.
"We're proud to have played a role in making this project a reality, through our $14.9 million contribution, so the RFDS has the facilities they need to save lives in the future.
"This project highlights our commitment to delivering the services and infrastructure that regional, rural and remote communities need.
"The RFDS Aeromedical Training Academy won't just benefit the hundreds of people who receive care from the RFDS each year, it will also cement Bundaberg as a hub for regional healthcare and training in specialist services."
