University of South Queensland (USQ) will introduce its Bachelor of Aviation degree course at the Springfield campus in 2016.
The degree will offer two majors: one in Aviation Management and the other in Flight Operations, including a pathway for eligible students to begin flight training through an accredited trainer early in their degree.
As well as the potential for flight training, the program will provide students the opportunity to work with highly-trained permanent academic staff including current and former airline, Air Force and instructor pilots and aviation managers.
“USQ is the only university where students who want to be pilots will be introduced to flying in the first year and become professional pilots as part of their bachelor degree,” said USQ Head of Aviation and Logistics, Professor Paul Bates.
“It takes excellent leadership, teamwork and communications skills, as well as good problem solving ability and resilience to become a pilot, something USQ’s aviation academic staff will work closely with students to develop.
“We’ve already had a lot of interest in the flight operations major, but we are particularly pleased in the interest in the aviation management major, which is a new area of endeavour for school leavers as there is no other program like it in Queensland.”
Last weekend, USQ gave 15 potential students trial introductory flights in C172Rs from Airline Academy of Australia at Archerfield, the university's preferred training supplier.
"These are the type of aircraft they will learn to fly in," said Bates, "and it was important they knew exactly what it will be like to study aviation at USQ.”
Sydney man Jason Dapozzo traveled to Archerfield to take advantage of the chance to sit in the pilot’s seat of a Cessna 172R.
Following his lesson, Dapozzo said he is keen to study at USQ next year and get his pilot’s license.
“I would definitely move to Queensland to do this course. I’d go across the world if I had to just to pursue a career in aviation,” he said.
“It has always been my dream to be an airline pilot."
USQ has reported that hundreds of students have expressed interest in the new aviation degrees on offer.