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Application review
To train for a career with the Qantas Group, aspiring aviators can apply to the Qantas Group Pilot Academy. According to Qantas, there are no funded cadetships available and graduation does not guarantee a job, but graduating students who have successfully completed all course requirements by their graduation date will be extended an invitation to attend a Qantas Group Accelerate Assessment Centre, where successful candidates may be eligible for employment as a pilot with QantasLink, Jetstar or Network Aviation Australia. Australian Citizenship or Australian Permanent Residency is mandatory for these graduate assessment processes and employment pathways.12
Qantas Group Pilot Academy: training with FTA in Toowoomba
What is the Qantas Group Pilot Academy?
The Qantas Group Pilot Academy is an ab-initio training school for students with little to no flying experience, run in partnership with Flight Training Adelaide (FTA). The course takes place at Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport and includes training for a Commercial Pilots Licence (CPL), Multi-Engine Command Instrument Rating (ME IR), Airline Transport Pilots Licence (ATPL) theory and Multi-Crew Cooperation (MCC). The full training course duration is 55 weeks; it is possible the course could be extended if weather conditions affect flying hours. A Private Pilot Licence is not included in the training programme. Students train on Diamond DA40 single-engine and DA42 multi-engine aircraft. Students can access one-to-one mentoring with a Qantas Group pilot.12
How much does the training cost?
There are no funded cadetships available with Qantas Group airlines. Applicants must pay a $200 fee for the online psychometric and skills assessment, payable on the day, and those travelling for the interview must cover their own transport and accommodation expenses. You sign a contract with the training provider, FTA. The cost of accommodation is not included in the course fees, and additional estimated costs include approximately $490 per week for on-site accommodation and approximately $650 for the academy training uniform. Payment options are available for eligible students. The Australian Government's Higher Education Loan Program is not available to applicants who are not Australian Citizens or Australian Permanent Residents, meaning they must arrange alternative funding.2
About Qantas
Based in Australia, Qantas is a full-service airline. In timetables it appears as QF; in flight plans as QFA. Its hubs are Brisbane (BNE), Melbourne (MEL), Perth (PER) and Sydney (SYD). Its fleet includes the Airbus A321XLR, Airbus A330, Airbus A380, Boeing 737-800 and Boeing 787-9. Express Freighters Australia, Jetconnect, Jetstar, National Jet Systems and 3 more are part of Qantas and have their own pages here.
For future pilots, Qantas offers the Qantas Group Pilot Academy. The programme lists Flight Training Adelaide (FTA) as its partner. On 11 October 2026 the programme was listed as accepting applications. The careers portal for pilots is linked in the profile on this page. This page sets out the selection in 7 stages.
The seven phases
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Computer-based training and online theory assessmentPractise this phase
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Online psychometric and skills assessments
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Core skills test
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InterviewPractise this phase
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Medical
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Accelerate Assessment Centre (after graduation)
Where to train for Qantas
2 flight schools have a published link with this airline. Each entry says what the link is and who states it.
Flight Training Adelaide Pty LtdParafield Airport, Australia · Qantas Group Pilot AcademyAirline cadet partnerNamed by the airline and the school
UNSW Aviation (School of Aviation, UNSW Sydney)Bankstown Airport, Australia · Qantas Future Pilot ProgramCadet programme partnerAccording to the school
Qantas at a glance
- IATA / ICAO
- QF / QFA3
- Country
- Australia
- Hubs
- Brisbane (BNE), Melbourne (MEL), Perth (PER), Sydney (SYD)3
- Fleet
- Airbus A321XLR, Airbus A330, Airbus A380, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 787-953
- Cadet programme
- Qantas Group Pilot Academy (open as of 11 Oct 2026)12
SALARYA380 captain (year 12): AUD 378.00 per hour (rate under EA10, 2023)A380 first officer (year 12): AUD 249.45 per hour (rate under EA10, 2023)Boeing 787 captain (year 4): AUD 409.26 per hour (rate under EA10, 2023)Qantas pilot salary
What does Qantas ask of pilots?
- Age
- You must be 18 years of age to commence the course2
- Education
- Senior secondary (Year 12) Certificate of Education, Certificate IV or higher in the Australian Qualifications Framework, similar overseas qualification assessed by a Federal/State government agency, or results of exit level 3 or above in the Australian Core Skills Framework in reading and numeracy2
- Citizenship (graduate pathways)
- Not needed to enrol; Australian Citizenship or Australian Permanent Residency is a mandatory eligibility requirement for consideration in Qantas Group graduate assessment processes and potential employment pathways upon graduation2
- Medical
- You will require a CASA Class 1 medical certificate before the course start date2
Key requirements listed by Qantas
Qantas lists further requirements on its own site.2
What happens after graduation?
Graduating from the Academy does not guarantee a job at Qantas. However, Qantas Group Pilot Academy graduating students who have successfully completed all course requirements by their graduation date will be extended an invitation to attend a Qantas Group Accelerate Assessment Centre. If successful, graduates may be eligible for employment as a pilot with QantasLink, Jetstar or Network Aviation Australia. Academy graduates are provided a link to update their experience and are prioritised for future recruitment opportunities. Applicants who are not Australian Citizens or Australian Permanent Residents may still complete training at the academy but won't be eligible for Qantas Group graduate employment opportunities.2
Are there scholarships available?
The Qantas Group Pilot Academy Scholarship supports First Nations and female students who aspire to become commercial pilots. The scholarships are designed to help reduce financial and practical barriers to training, by contributing to on-site accommodation and meals at the Academy. On 10 October 2026 the Qantas Pilot Academy page said scholarship applications were open and being accepted for Academy courses from now until 2028 from females or First Nations People. First Nations scholarships are open only to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Peoples with Australian Citizenship, who may be required to provide evidence. Female scholarships are open only to females with Australian Citizenship.12
Where do students live and train?
The Academy is based at Wellcamp Airport in Toowoomba, Queensland. The location offers state-of-the-art navigation aids and access to uncongested airspace. Purpose-built on-site accommodation is available for students, offering full board with three meals a day, free WiFi and access to sporting facilities. According to Qantas, residing on campus is not compulsory, however it allows students to be fully immersed in an aviation training environment.12
- 1Qantas Group Pilot Academy · Qantas · accessed 10 Oct 2026
- 2Qantas Group Pilot Academy: Frequently asked questions · Qantas · accessed 10 Oct 2026
- 3Wikipedia: Qantas · accessed 11 Oct 2026
- 4Fly with the Spirit of Australia | Qantas AU · accessed 11 Oct 2026
- 5Pilot Careers & Job Opportunities | Qantas Careers · accessed 11 Oct 2026
