QCoal Foundation

The RFDS Aviation Training Facility

Further extending its long-standing relationship with the Royal Flying Doctor Service (Queensland Section), the QCoal Foundation has commenced a social venture partnership to facilitate the construction and operation of the RFDS Aviation Training Facility in Bundaberg.

QCoal Foundation has committed $3 million to the partnership which will service the training needs of the RFDS and create a sustainable commercial opportunity for the RFDS into the future.

The world-class facility is expected to cost up to $20 million and will be supported by the QCoal Foundation and the Commonwealth Government.

The facility will be constructed next to the existing RFDS Bundaberg Base and will house one of the world’s only Beechcraft King Air B360 flight training simulators.

In addition to supporting the introduction of the B360 Beechcraft King Air aircraft into the Queensland fleet of the RFDS, the training centre is expected to attract pilots from right across Australia and Asia – creating valuable economic diversification for the Bundaberg region and a new revenue stream for the RFDS.

The B360 aircraft will be introduced into the RFDS fleet during 2022, and the new facility will support the ongoing training of highly-skilled pilots for the RFDS in Queensland. The partnership aligns with the QCoal Foundation mission of building resilient regional and remote Queensland communities through the pillars of health, education and liveability.

You can experience the new facility by watching the video below.