Latest news with #pilotlicense
ABC News
06-07-2025
- ABC News
72yo female pilot who learnt to fly in retirement wants others to chase their dreams
There is a moment always guaranteed to put a smile on Carol Browne's face. "I get in the aircraft, open the throttle and we're hurtling down the runway, and we lift off … and I have to pinch myself," she said. The 72-year-old earned her pilot's licence four years ago after a long career in education, and said her most recent skill surprised many of her friends. "Somebody asked me how a flight with a friend went [and] who flew the plane," she said. "I said, 'I did! I was the pilot.' "Their jaw hit the ground because you don't expect 70-year-old ladies to say that in the sewing circle environment." Earning her wings was never a bucket-list item for Ms Browne, but a conversation with her brother-in-law, "over a chardonnay or two", proved pivotal. He said he'd love to fly, but it was cost-prohibitive at his stage of life with a mortgage and kids. "He couldn't do it, and said, 'Why don't you?'" Ms Browne said. "And I thought, 'Well … why don't I?'" With 400 hours in her flight logbook, Ms Browne is now studying for her instructor rating. She says it keeps her feeling younger. "I think having a passion is what it's all about. Doing something that you really love, and wanting to keep getting better at it is the other thing," she said. "There's incredible multitasking you have to do as a pilot … you seem to have to do 15 things at once!" She recalls her flying "milestones" with pride. "My son was my first ever passenger," Ms Browne said. "How many mums get to take their 30-year-old sons flying?" Coming to flying later in life, Ms Browne said her new-found skill aligned with her lifelong passion for learning. Her instructor, chief pilot Trevor Bange at Clifton on Queensland's Darling Downs, said having a mature-age student in the passenger seat was becoming more common. "Once the children are off their hands, they've finished university, they've now got themselves a bit more settled in life," he said. "That's why I always promote it in retirement, they've got the time to spare and can come out here and enjoy a bit of company with people who have a like-minded interest in the concept of aviation. "It's never too late. We had a pilot here who flew into his 90s." In Australia, women account for between 5 and 7 per cent of recreational and commercial pilots. "We're obviously extremely under-represented in the industry," said Sarah Hume, national president of the Australian Women Pilots' Association (AWPA). The AWPA was founded by aviation pioneer Nancy Bird Walton. "Nancy's whole goal was to increase the number of women pilots in Australia. There were 50 pilots that all gathered at Bankstown in 1950," Ms Hume said. "Now there's 550 to 600 of us in the association. So, we've definitely come a long way, but 5 to 7 per cent isn't good enough. "I was a pilot for nearly four years before I ever saw another woman pilot in my same job." Ms Hume said to boost the numbers, three key areas needed attention: strong mentorship and support networks, improved financial access to training, and more inclusive employer practices. "There's a real shortage of pilots in the industry, so we are missing out on a huge percentage of the population by not employing women as much as we employ men," she said. It's one of the reasons Carol Browne pursued her instructor rating. "I was able to talk to a little six-year-old one day," she said. "She didn't want to go flying with her dad because she was scared, but I was able to say, 'Look, I fly these, it's a girl thing to do.'" And she wants girls of all ages to have the same experience. "I think the fact that other people saw that I could do it meant that they didn't have to be afraid of failing because of their age," Ms Browne said. "You can fail because you lack motivation. You can fail because you goof off and you don't work, but you don't fail because you're older. "It's a beautiful world from up there. It's really beautiful."
CTV News
06-06-2025
- Business
- CTV News
‘Gold standard for aviation training': Western University partners with MFC
One of Canada's leading flight training organizations is coming to Ontario for the first time this fall. One of Canada's leading flight training organizations is coming to Ontario for the first time this fall, with the partnership of Western University and New Brunswick-based MFC. The training will occur at London International Airport as part of Western's commercial aviation program, running out of the Executive Aviation Hangar. According to Western officials, MFC is investing about $50 million, including the purchase of planes from Diamond Aircraft in London. Jackie Book, the commercial aviation management program director at Western University, said the university will be able to offer the Integrated Airline Transport Pilot license for the first time. 'We're really excited to partner with MFC Flight Training, which we view as the gold standard for aviation training and especially pilot training in Canada,' said Book. With labour shortages in all areas of aviation, the program addresses a local need. Scott McFadzean, London International Airport president, said this will help London's aviation sector. 'You have the education and the graduates, you know, coming out of London, then you're more apt to get business and industry here that want to hire those graduates and continue to grow their aviation businesses right here in London.'
BBC News
12-05-2025
- BBC News
Shoreham Airshow crash pilot's bid to fly again turned down
A decade after 11 men were killed in one of the worst airshow disasters in the UK their families say they can "finally have peace" knowing the pilot will never fly Hill, the pilot of the Hawker Hunter plane that crashed at Shoreham Airshow in 2015, has had a final legal challenge to get his licence reinstated turned down at the High Court in London. A coroner blamed Mr Hill for the crash which killed the men at an inquest in 2022 after an Old Bailey jury cleared him of manslaughter in Hill appealed against the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) decision not to restore his flying licence. He had been performing a manoeuvre in the vintage aircraft when it crashed into the A27 in West Sussex in August CAA's decision not to let him fly again was upheld following a two-day hearing last a second time, the pilot started the process of applying for a Judicial Review of the CAA of the men who died were told on Friday the application had been turned down. Caroline and Bob Schilt, who lost their son Jacob in the disaster, said they were "greatly relieved" by the said: "It seems to us that justice has finally been served by the refusal to renew his licence."It has taken 10 years to finally bring peace to the 11 families whose lives were torn apart by this avoidable tragedy."Anthony Mallinson lost his father, retired engineer James Graham Mallinson, in the said: "This will hopefully now enable us after nearly 10 years to finally be able to grieve for all of our loved ones in peace and we would now ask Mr Hill to fully respect that." Phil Grimstone, who lost his son Matthew, said: "Obviously we are relieved and hope that will now be the end of this."We believe that there is nothing to stop Mr Hill applying for a flying licence in another country."Given the reasons the CAA gave for rejecting his licences here we hope that he is never allowed."The CAA said it understood that Mr Hill's application for judicial review was refused.A spokesperson for the Judicial Office confirmed this to the BBC, saying Mr Justice Fordham had refused permission for the added: "The claimant has not renewed for an oral reconsideration hearing, so the matter has been closed."
