Sydney University’s New Aircraft to Address Pilot Shortage

Australia is facing a significant pilot shortage, prompting the University of New South Wales (UNSW) to bolster its aviation program by acquiring six new Diamond DA40 XLT aircraft from Canada. These state-of-the-art planes, costing around $900,000 each, will help train over 100 university students. UNSW, one of only two Australian universities with its own fleet, has now expanded to 21 planes. This initiative comes as projections by Boeing reveal a growing need for 11,000 pilots in Oceania’s aviation sector by 2043. The program faces constraints due to the limited size of its facilities and a shortage of training instructors. Currently, pilot training in the industry suffers from issues like unpaid labor and high costs, deterring potential candidates. Despite these challenges, those passionate about flying, like second-year student Lillian Miller and instructor Arjun Jogia, remain committed to pursuing aviation careers.