On 23rd August 2022, Dowty’s MRO facility in Brisbane was proud to host a visit from the Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, ahead of the opening of a new workshop in September.

The $8 million Asia Pacific Service Centre has been praised by the Premier for the benefits it will bring to the local economy, providing several job openings as well as training capabilities for current and future generations of aviation engineers.

During the visit, the Premier was given a tour of the current MRO facilities with students from the nearby Aviation High. Positioned in close proximity to Brisbane International Airport, Aviation State High School and its curriculum are influenced and supported by the aerospace and aviation industries; allowing students the chance to gain specialist knowledge and work alongside industry leaders. GE Aviation in Australia also sponsors the Aerospace Gateway to Industry Schools Program, a Queensland Government initiative aimed at linking school students with industry partners to encourage workforce participation in the aviation industry. 

Next generation engineering opportunities are especially important considering the demand for commercial development at Brisbane Airport and an increasing number of flights as the world enters its post-pandemic phase. “We want to make sure we set this state up for the future,” says Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, “and our state has an absolutely bright future.”

The Asia Pacific Service Centre  will officially open on September 6th and initially employ more than eighty people, enhancing this already impressive site with more skilled labour job opportunities and investing in the career development of engineering students  across Queensland and Australia. The new facility aims to become a regional hub for GE Aviation Products, including Dowty Propellers, expanding on the existing site which opened in 2012 to support operators of the Q400 in the region.