Queensland is an aviation and aerospace hub of the Asia Pacific region. After almost a decade of unprecendented industry growth, Queensland is now regarded as the:

• centre for Australia's aerospace industry
• centre for Australia's rotary wing (helicopter) industry
• centre for Australia's aviation training services
• emerging centre for Australia's general aviation industry
• developing hub for research and development of emerging aviation technologies.

Fast facts

• the aviation, aerospace and defence industry contributes an estimated A$6 billion to the Queensland economy (The Australian, March 2008)
• nearly 30 per cent of all Australian-based pilots are located in Queensland (ABS, Census 2006)
• there are 16,500 aviation, aerospace and defence-related jobs in Queensland, 23 per cent of the Australian total (ABS, Census 2006)
• with just under 1,000 companies, Queensland is home to nearly 30 per cent per cent of all Australian aviation and aerospace companies (ABS, Census 2006).

Queensland's aviation industry advantages

• location options
• Queensland has accessible locations available both on and off airports to suit aviation and aerospace companies looking to set up in Queensland. Major airport locations:
• Brisbane Airport (domestic and international) - curfew-free and accessible to Asian cities within 7-12 hours flying time
• Gold Coast Airport (domestic and international)
• Cairns Airport (domestic and international) - extensive maintenance capability
• Townsville Airport (domestic) - significant Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) presence
• Amberley Air Base - Australian Defence Force (ADF) hub.
• Other major regional airports include Rockhampton, Mackay, Maroochydore, Hervey Bay, Maryborough, Bundaberg and Kingaroy.
• low business costs
• lower salary costs compared to overseas and other Australian locations
• availability of land for development close to major air and sea ports at competitive costs compared to other major Australian cities
• competitive state taxes.
• time zone
• Queensland companies can effectively interact with Asia during normal business hours and are only a few hours away by air. View the interactive map for more information.
• skilled workforce
• the Queensland Government is committed to providing education and training to strengthen the State's aviation and aerospace industry. Education and training providers include:
• Aviation Australia (Brisbane and Cairns locations) - a government-owned centre of excellence in training and education for the aviation and aerospace industry
• Aviation Gateway Schools is a project that introduces aerospace subjects during Years 11 and 12 at secondary schools. Queensland is also home to Aviation High, Australia's first dedicated aviation high school
• Queensland universities - Queensland University of Technology, Griffith University and the University of Queensland offer aviation-related education, including degrees in aviation management, avionics, aerospace medicine and aviation science.

Who else is here?

• Alteon Training Australia - pilot simulator training
• Australian Aerospace (subsidiary of Eurocopter) - Asia Pacific headquarters and rotary wing manufacturing
• Boeing Defence Australia - Australian headquarters, aerospace and network enabled systems
• Boeing Research and Technology Australia - headquarters and research and development
• Daher Australian Aerospace - aerospace composite components manufacturing facility and research and development
• Frequentis Australasia - communications and aerospace control centre
• GE Aviation Systems Australia - Asia Pacific headquarters and avionics component maintenance
• Hawker Pacific - aircraft maintenance operations in Cairns, Townsville and Brisbane
• Insitu Pacific Limited - regional head office, production facility and training school
• Interturbine Advanced Composites (IAC) (subsidiary of Interturbine Group, Germany) - aerospace logistics company
• Jetstar - crew base (Cairns)
• Sikorsky Aircraft Services (Helitech) - aircraft maintenance and sales
• Pratt and Whitney Canada (Australasia) - engine maintenance
• Qantas (Brisbane heavy maintenance) - B-767 / A-330 heavy maintenance facility
• Qantas Defence Services - avionics and engine maintenance
• Raytheon Australia - avionics maintenance and logistics centre
• Singapore Flying College - pilot training
• Tasman Aviation Enterprises (TAE) - Australia's leading gas turbine and aerospace general engineering company
• Vector Aerospace - national headquarters
• Virgin Blue - national headquarters and B-737 maintenance base.

More information

For more information on Queensland's aviation and aerospace industry visit the Queensland Government's aviation and aerospace industry development website.

For more information about investing in Queensland's aviation and aerospace industry, contact us