Pre-flight – The Beginning

 As a child, flying captivated my imagination; it seemed powerful, free and adventurous. It also seemed out of my reach as a career.
Fast forward to 18 years old, still captivated by flight, I received the heartbreaking letter, informing me that I was; “unfit for pilot selection in the Royal Australian Air Force.” I have been Asthmatic since I was a child, and I still am. This crushed my dreams.
After finishing my final year of High School, I was accepted into University for Mechanical Engineering; I was due to start in February. But my flying dreams were still lingering. By this stage, I had already taken a couple of casual flying lessons at my local flying school. When my instructor suggested, “Why don’t you just do a commercial pilot course?” for some reason, I thought the Airforce was the only way to get into the Airlines.
I came home to tell my Mother. She being just as ignorant on the topic, replied, “Okay, do some research and then tell me about it.” I’ve been lucky enough to have parents, who support me, but they also had me to do things for myself, rather than being spoon fed.
So I got to work researching, or more accurately Google Searching “How to become a pilot” and “Commercial pilot courses.” I also managed to organise an interview with a Qantas pilot who my instructor knew, for some advice. This is where I learned about Pilot Cadet Programs. Sadly, for that year, I had missed out on applying for the Qantas program by only 2 months. (This actually turned out to be a blessing, because 8 months later; the Qantas cadet program was abandoned!)
Then sometime around late December 2007 I Google searched: Pilot Cadetships Australia.  That’s when I first heard of REX (Regional Express.) They had just started a cadet program; I put together an application and sent it off. I also applied to Cathay Pacific who was also starting a cadet program.

By mid-January, I had made my mind up. I was going to spend 2008 learning to fly, one way or another. I Deferred university for the year and began calling each day the recruitment office for Cathay and Rex. Turns out everyone is on summer holidays that time of year. Then finally, on Thursday the 24^rd of January 2008, REX returned my call. My persistence had paid off! That call had me jump in front of the 1200 other applicants ahead of me. I was offered an interview for the following Tuesday!

With such short notice, fortunately, I had spent the last 3 weeks researching (more Google searching) “Regional Express” “Saab340” “Turboprop” “how turboprops work” ”WOMBAT test.” So I felt prepared. In hindsight, I think what got me through was my enthusiasm and honesty, more than my knowledge.

2 weeks later I was off to Adelaide to interview for the Cathay Program. The interview went terribly! I totally blew it. Luckily, I could write this off as a learning experience; the day before this interview, Rex offered me a position! I was due to start on the 7^th of April!

This is where my career started. I took the opportunity Rex gave me with both hands and went for it.

In my next post, I will discuss how to become a pilot. I’ll also share my experience in a cadet program and Flight School; where I spent the next year of my life studying and flying light aircraft to gain my CPL and MECIR.

In future posts, I will continue my story from simulator and line training, my career with Rex, maturing as a person and a professional, becoming a Captain, Interviewing for a major airline, moving city and country. I’ll share my successes and failures, lessons learned hints and tips. I’ll also discuss relevant news in aviation and what my life is like as a pilot, Jet setting around the world in a Boeing 777.

Send me questions and feedback so I can give you better information.