New pilot training package announced

[Philip Argy]

Pilots welcome aviation training package

[ABC news report]

The Pilots Association has welcomed a Federal Government overhaul of training for the aviation industry.
As part of the package, national qualifications will be introduced for pilots and it will also be easier for them to transfer between civil and military work forces.
Pilots Association general manager Peter Somerville says the package will help alleviate the pilot shortage.
"You need to attract people into the industry," he said.
"You need to train them and you need to retain them.
"Today's announcement and the nationally consistent standards is a step in the right direction."
But Mr Somerville says further changes are needed.
"We'll be releasing an industry briefing on pilot training in July," he said.
"That will deal with issues around work force planning, how many pilots we need, where we need them, when we need them, and a key feature of that industry briefing paper will be a proposal to establish a national institute of pilot training."