Introducing: Knox Aviation Club

This is with thanks to the generosity of Wayne Daly, an A330 Flight Officer at Qantas, and trainers Ricky and Oscar from UNSW.

Our Knox boys, alongside girls from Abbotsleigh, receive hands-on flight lessons on Tuesdays. At one of these lessons, we spoke with Wayne and Year 10 student Harrison.

Interview with Wayne Daly

How did the Knox Aviation Club begin? 

This program at Knox was initiated by Michael Beilharz who is the coordinating teacher. He had an idea to get the students involved in learning to fly using the Microsoft Flight Simulator.

The program has evolved over the last couple of years and now includes students from Abbotsleigh as well as Knox. It is designed to give the students a basic introduction to what flying is all about.

Why is this a great pathway to becoming a pilot? 

Pilot training is not an easy thing. The foundation skills that can be learned outside the airplane are going to be useful to help the students transfer into the airplane.

What are the highlights of teaching this program? 

What stands out across all the students is the enthusiasm, and the looks on their faces when they get the landing right. Because the hardest thing to do is to land the airplane. But when they manage to master that skill, and land the flight simulator, they're beaming.

What inspired you to become a pilot? 

I didn't start my working life as a pilot, I started as a chef, and then when that didn't quite work out to be what I wanted, I went into law, and I had this epiphany that I just wanted to learn to fly for fun.

And when I started to do that, I realised that it was more fun than fun, and it’s what has worked out over the last 39 years to be the best career that I could have ever chosen.

Interview with Harrison (Year 10)

How did you become involved in the Knox Aviation Club? 

I was talking to my friend who had just started the flying program, and I asked Mr Beilharz later that day if I could join. And since then, I've been doing it for two years and I've really enjoyed it.

What do you love about the Knox Aviation Club? 

Definitely the practising, the experience, like working with Mr Daly and instructors from UNSW, it's been just a great opportunity to experience firsthand from professionals on what it's like, and the tips I can get for flying in the future.

What would you say to a younger student about the Knox Aviation Club? 

Give it a go. You might surprise yourself. It is really enjoyable.