Australian Flying — November-December 2017

VFR, formation f lying and

aerobatics.

His instructor skills include

being “a whiz on the whiteboard”,

breaking down concepts in to

easily assimilated components,

being adept at briefings and

having a knack of “reading” and

nurturing each and every student

in order to correct weaknesses.

He has been instrumental in

maintaining the club’s Formation

Fridays, designed to maintain

skills in formation f lying, with

up to 13 aircraft participating on

special occasions.

australianflying.com.au 29

November – December 2017 AUSTRALIAN FLYING

air traffic congestion and no
landing fees, has made Kyneton
an excellent place for students
and learner pilots to hone the
vital skills of control, balance,
discipline and proficiency without
the in-f light task multipliers of
competing traffic, busy radio
transmissions or ATC control.
With around 170 financial
members and 60 aircraft on
the field, the club has trained
hundreds of pilots with its Cessna
172s, including old stalwart VH-
ABW and newcomer VH-LGP.

Moorabbin Flying Services

Since Moorabbin Flying Services

(formerly Moorabbin Flying

School) was established in 1993 at

Moorabbin Airport in Victoria, its

instructors and f light testing officers

have amassed more than 120,000

logged f light hours between them,

with a 100% safety record.

Moorabbin offers f light

training and specialist instruction

to domestic and international

students, training in simulated

“real life” private, commercial and

instrument f light studies that

allow them to experience as much

as possible the challenges they

may face in the aviation industry.

The school’s instructors adjust

their teaching methods for

different learning styles.

Students can attend

theoretical classes and practical

f light training during weekdays

and f lying is available seven

days a week.

Moorabbin Flying Services

has created partnerships with

Australian regional airlines

Sharp and Skippers and

international operation Vietnam

Airlines, offering cadetships in

to these airlines with guaranteed

employment on completion

of training.

Industry links and continuous

improvement of training systems

have resulted in a 98% industry

employment rate for Moorabbin’s

1600 graduates, who have gained

careers f lying for airlines such as

Qantas and QantasLink, Sharp,

Skippers, Virgin, Jetstar, Tiger,

Susi Air, Cathay Pacific, Emirates,

Singapore, Qatar, Ryanair, Air

North and Hardy’s.

Kyneton Aero Club has also

worked to establish aviation as

an active, positive force in the

community. The club has run

various special events, including

f lights and activities for Scout

Groups, local emergency services

volunteers, Air Force Cadets and

disadvantaged children and their

families. It has held fundraiser

“Gourmet Hot Dog” f ly-ins for

the Neuroscience Foundation

and f lown commemorative

warbird formation f ly-pasts at

Anzac Day events.

Flying Training Organisation of the Year

Michael Thomas (Royal Aero

Club of Western Australia)

Michael Thomas began his f lying

career in 1971, f lying solo after

just eight hours of instruction.

After a work-related break

from f lying he gained a CPL

Commercial Rating in 1992 and

an instructor rating in 1994.

Michael is now one of the

longest serving f light instructors

at the Royal Aero Club of

Western Australia, having

graduated many students

in recreational, private and

commercial pilot licences, night

RACWA CFI

John Douglas (left)

congratulates

Mike Thomas on

his Instructor of

the Year award.

Kyneton

Aero Club

promotes

aviation in

the local

community.

Moorabbin Flying

Services has a 98%

employment rate

for graduates.

Flying Instructor of the Year