High expectations

Fairholme College • March 30, 2019

Pathways program for student pilots 

When Maxi Hill jumps in the plane alongside her Dad these school holidays, she will be the one behind the controls, overlooking their farm in Meandarra.

A new Pathways Program at Fairholme has allowed Maxi to take to the skies and get her hours up to eventually fly solo.

The Recreational Pilot License includes 20 hours of dual-instructed flying, as well as five hours of solo flying. A RPL, the first step toward gaining a Commercial Pilot Licence, allows pilots to travel within 25 nautical miles of the Point of Origin (POO), allowing the girls to use this license when back at home on their rural farming properties for agricultural and recreational purposes. The girls are flying in the Darling Downs Aero Club planes; a 2 seater-Piper Tomahawks (low-wing) and a Cessna 150 (high wing) craft.

‘I’ve had two lessons so far, and I love it. It’s so much fun feeling like you are in control of the aircraft.’

Maxi needs 25 hours flying time with Darling Downs Aviation Authority before she flies solo. At just 15 years of age, she will have a solo pilot’s license by the time she’s 16.

‘I don’t really know why I decided to do it, but Dad has always flown, and my older brother nearly has his license, so it became something I always wanted to do.’

The Year 10 student admits when she gets in behind the driver’s seat, nerves can take hold, but not for long.

‘It’s just weird, from the first lesson they put you in the driver’s seat, and she takes her hands off the steering wheel, and it’s just all me… flying,’ she says laughing.

The flying is the easy part, the technical side of it can be difficult.

‘Before we take off we check the engines, the fuel, every screw and all the lights. There’s quite a bit of homework involved in the mechanical side of it, but once you’re up in the air, it’s easy. It all just makes sense for me.’

Maxi joins two other Fairholme students for the lessons, and she hopes other girls will follow their lead.

‘I wasn’t sure I would definitely do it until other girls signed up. It makes sense to do it through the school, we don’t miss classes; it’s just part of the VET courses. If we wanted to do it independently we’d have to do it on the weekends, and then you miss your sporting commitments.’

Maxi says while it doesn’t appeal to her as a career, the fact there’s a shortage of women pilots encourages her to continue.

‘I think other girls can do it, too. You don’t have to be from a property to understand the mechanics behind it. My brother has been training; he’s just gone solo and is up to the restricted pilots’ test. But I’ll end up with mine earlier than he did because of the school’s support.’

Maxi hopes to also complete a Business certificate with the school before she finishes.

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