Hunter MP Joel Fitzgibbon is calling on the NSW Government to back Cessnock City Council's bid to host the proposed Qantas Pilot Academy.
He wants to bring additional infrastructure to the area and gain government support for Cessnock in securing the placement.
"We'd be talking about literally hundreds of trainees each year going through the school...that would be a significant economic boost for any township or local community," Mr Fitzgibbon said in Federal Parliament.
He told Parliament Cessnock meets the criteria for Qantas, including being close to Sydney and having appropriate infrastructure for the project.
After speaking with airline CEO, Alan Joyce yesterday, the MP said, "it is clear we are in the running but what I learned is that NSW Government support for our bid will be crucial."
The pilot academy will have the capacity to train up to 500 pilots a year within one of the most rapidly growing industries.
In order to help meet the increasing need for skilled aviators Qantas want the Pilot Academy to be in action by 2019.
