Maroomba Airlines reveals new cadet pathway partnership

According to Maroomba Airlines director Mike Evans, the new partnership will fuel the airline’s capacity for growth, through access to a consistent pipeline of “experienced, highly trained, professional pilots”.

Under the new partnership, successful students of White Star Aviation’s initial flight training program will be eligible to complete temporary placements at several smaller charter airlines, including HM Air and Torres Strait Air, to build valuable flight hours in a commercial aircraft.

Once minimum flight hour requirements have been met, applicants will be offered to interview for pilot positions at Maroomba Airlines across its Dash 8 fleet.

Successful candidates will then be offered to undertake their multi-crew co-operation (MCC) qualification, and the relevant aircraft type rating, via White Star Aviation’s training partners at Flight Operating Systems Group, and Maroomba’s training partner Ansett Aviation Training.

White Star Aviation director Nathan James praised the partnership, stating that it bridges the gap for upcoming pilots between completing flight training and obtaining meaningful employment in the commercial aviation space.

“For us, pilot training has never been about simply handing a student a Commercial Pilot Licence and wishing them luck finding their first job. Our goal has always been to create genuine career pathways and give our students a clear understanding of where their training can take them”, James said.

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“A young person can come to White Star Aviation with the ambition of becoming a professional pilot, complete their training with us, develop their skills and experience in commercial operations with one of our cadet partners, and potentially progress into Dash 8 operations with Maroomba,” he added.

It comes as Maroomba Airlines announced a 50 per cent increase in its fleet size from four to six Dash 8 aircraft, and reiterated its focus on reliability and on-time departure.

“For a major resources operation, aviation is part of the infrastructure that keeps the workforce and the project moving,” said the airline’s chief executive Laura Benger. If a flight is disrupted, the impact can extend quickly through shift changes, accommodation, maintenance schedules and workforce availability.”

“But there is also a very human consequence. The people on our aircraft are trying to get home to their families, and a delay can mean missing a child’s birthday, a school concert or precious time at home after a long roster,” she added.

“That is why reliability matters at both an operational and a personal level.”

It also comes after Maroomba Airlines was named Domestic Airline of the Year – Passenger and Logistics at the 2026 Australian Aviation Awards.