100% Locally Owned, Independent and Free

100% Locally Owned, Independent and Free

Flight school to welcome state-of-the-art simulator amid plans to expand complex 

Do you have a news tip? Click here to send to our news team.

Legally blind photographer challenges assumptions

A Sunshine Coast photographer with two per cent vision is pursuing his passion and challenging preconceptions about vision loss. James Norquay, 25, lost most of More

Hinterland restaurants contest national finals

Three Sunshine Coast restaurants are national finalists in the hospitality industry’s leading awards program. Restaurant & Catering Australia (R&CA) announced the shortlist for the 2026 More

Event governance strengthened under new plan

A council has adopted a five-year strategy for events as it takes a bigger role in their management, funding and oversight. The expanded role follows More

Police investigate serious single-vehicle crash

Two women have been critically injured after a car left a Sunshine Coast road and crashed on Saturday afternoon. Emergency services were called to the More

Family sounds warning after pet’s snake bite

A family has a warning for other dog owners after their pet spent six nights in hospital following an eastern brown snake bite. Sunshine Coast More

Work starts on town centre with up to 2600 homes

Construction has started on a new 28-hectare town centre that is set to include homes as well as retail, commercial, entertainment and community spaces. Developer More

A Sunshine Coast pilot academy is set to enhance its capabilities with a new high-tech flight simulator.

Flight Options, which is based at Sunshine Coast Airport, has announced the acquisition of a Mechtronix Ascent Airbus A320 FSTD (Flight Simulation Training Device).

It will arrive in December and is expected to be in service early next year.

Flight Options’ training complex currently supports a Level D Beechcraft King Air B200/BE350i simulator and, following the recent sale of its Cessna Citation Mustang FSD, the business will utilise its vacant bay to accommodate the new device.

Flight Options is also planning for the construction of two more bays to support the location of additional simulators that are under consideration.

Flight Options founder and managing director Steve Padgett said the new state-of-the-art simulator would enhance the company’s training capabilities.

An Airbus A320 fixed based simulator.

“This acquisition marks an exciting new chapter for Flight Options,” he said.

“By investing in additional simulators and expanding our training complex, we’re reinforcing our commitment to delivering exceptional pilot training that meets the highest standards.”

The new simulator will allow Flight Options to continue to meet the demand for specialised pilot training at its headquarters.

Do you have an opinion to share? Submit a Letter to the Editor at Sunshine Coast News via news@sunshinecoastnews.com.au. You must include your name and suburb.

Originally constructed as a result of a contractual agreement with the Singapore Flying College (a division of Singapore Airlines), the Flight Options complex is one of the largest privately-owned advanced simulation facilities in the Southern Hemisphere.

The company offers comprehensive training courses covering various equipment types, including the King Air, and serves a diverse client base spanning Australasia, South-East Asia and beyond.

Subscribe to SCN’s free daily news email

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
This field is hidden when viewing the form
[scn_go_back_button] Return Home
Share