Sun, Aug 11, 2019
Has Accumulated More Than 280,000 Hours In The Air For Australian Defense Force
BAE Systems Australia’s flight training business at Tamworth has notched up more than 280,000 hours in the air, helping the next generation of Australian Defence Force pilots earn their wings.
The significant milestone has been achieved over almost three decades and is underpinned by the dedication of pilots who have spent thousands of hours in the air over regional New South Wales.
BAE Systems Flight Training Instructor Pilots Charlie Meyers and Gary Thomas have recently each achieved 10,000 hours as military flight instructors in the company’s Pacific Aviation Corporation CT4B aircraft.
“The Tamworth team has achieved an extraordinary milestone in almost 30 years of preparing pilots for the Australian Defence Force and other customers," said BAE Systems Australia Managing Director Defence Delivery, Andrew Gresham. "The commitment and passion of the team is recognised throughout our business and by our customers.”
BAE Systems will continue to provide essential training services in support of military training at Tamworth until mid 2020.
About the pilots:
Charlie was previously a teacher specialising in Math and Science, before gaining his Commercial Licence and Instructor Rating in Queensland. He joined the British Aerospace/Ansett Air Academy, as the BAE Systems School was then known as a Ground Instructor in January 1992. One of the Academy originals, he worked with various Airline courses before being trained as an ADF Qualified Flight Instructor working the Australian Army contract, the forerunner of the ADF BFTS from January 1999.
Gary too had to qualify for his military training position by first undertaking in house training given by ex-ADF instructors working on the Army’s Basic Pilot course contract, then several flight assessments administered by the RAAF Central Flying School based at East Sale, Victoria. Gary’s career has spanned over 23 years and hundreds of military students, including work training PNG Defence Force students and trainees from the Sultan of Brunei Defence Force, who successfully qualified for not just their fixed wing, but returned to later complete rotary wing training at Tamworth.
(Image provided with BAE Systems news release)
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