Boeing Defence Australia and Defence have formally welcomed the primary 35 trainees who will start plane technician coaching to assist the Australian Military’s AH-64E Apache and CH-47F Chinook helicopter fleets.
The brand new aviation coaching academy, funded by the Australian authorities and delivered by Aviation Australia in Townsville, is ready to play a key position in constructing Australia’s future Defence workforce, with the primary cohort of 35 upkeep engineer trainees starting their apprenticeships on Monday, 19 January 2026, marking the official launch of the Townsville Aviation Coaching Academy.
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The academy will initially assist Boeing Defence Australia’s (BDA) increasing upkeep workforce for the Australian Military’s new AH-64E Apache assault helicopters, in addition to the Military’s present CH-47F Chinook heavy-lift fleet.
The state-of-the-art facility covers greater than 750 sq. metres and consists of purpose-built school rooms, specialised coaching hangars, and full-scale rotary and fixed-wing coaching aids. The centre is designed to offer hands-on, industry-aligned coaching and guarantee a clean transition to working and sustaining the world’s most superior combat-proven assault helicopter, the AH-64E Apache.
Naomi Smith, BDA director of sustainment operations, celebrated this milestone for the way forward for Australian Military Aviation, and the supporting defence industrial base, saying: “All trainees are Townsville locals who’ve joined us from a spread of backgrounds – from highschool graduates and navy veterans to former miners and academics – they usually symbolize the subsequent era of Boeing’s regional plane upkeep workforce.”
Below the Military’s modernisation program, Defence is buying 29 AH-64E Apache helicopters to switch the ageing Tiger armed reconnaissance helicopter. The primary 4 plane have already been delivered to Australia, with flying operations scheduled to start in November 2025.
Director basic of Military Aviation Programs, Brigadier Steven Cleggett, expanded on the feedback from Smith, saying: “The opening of the Townsville Aviation Coaching Academy demonstrates the sturdy collaboration between Defence and {industry}, to ship a long-term, sustainable and gifted workforce to assist the Australian Military’s rotary fleet.”
The Townsville academy is anticipated to turn out to be a crucial pipeline for expert aviation technicians, supporting each present and future Defence aviation packages in northern Australia.
Boeing established operations in Townsville in 2011 and has since grown its native workforce to greater than 80 workers throughout the Apache and Chinook packages, reinforcing town’s position as a key Defence aviation hub.
Smith mentioned: “This cohort will strengthen the native aerospace functionality that can preserve frontline helicopter fleets mission-ready and proceed to develop Townsville as an important defence hub.”
BRIG Cleggett mentioned: “Because the Australian Military introduces the Apache helicopters into service, this coaching alternative offers the longer term civilian workforce with unmatched real-world publicity to cutting-edge expertise and builds the regional workforce wanted to assist this important functionality.”
Trainees on the academy will undertake both a Certificates II in Plane Line Upkeep, making ready them for flightline assist roles, or a four-year apprenticeship resulting in a Diploma in Aeroskills in avionics or mechanical trades.
Profitable graduates might be certified to hold out upkeep, repairs and upgrades throughout each the Apache and Chinook fleets, immediately supporting Military aviation functionality for many years to come back.
Australia’s first AH-64E Apache helicopters started arriving in October 2025, with the primary profitable flights of Australia’s rising fleet happening in November 2025.
