Andrew Habersberger, RAAF Pilot

Andrew Horn, Virgin Blue First Officer

Andrew completed his Night and Instructor Ratings with us prior to our employing him for a period of two years after which he flew for a charter company based in Cairns and from there onto Kendell Airlines prior to obtaining his current position as a First Officer with Virgin Blue.

Andrew Price Qantas Airline Pilot

A First Officer with QANTAS, Andrew worked inthe outback as a charter pilot after completing his Commercial training with us. He obtained his Second Officer position with Qantas a mere 5 years after commencing his training with us.

Belinda Wallace, Qantas Airline Pilot

Belinda commenced her flying training with us at Bacchus Marsh and flew her first solo flight whilst in year 11. After completing her VCE and some further training, Belinda obtained a position as an Ansett cadet at Tamworth after which she obtained a position with Impulse Airlines before joining Qantas about two years ago as a second officer.

Brett Stapleton, Flight Officer

First Officer with Cathay Pacific Airlines

Craig Devitt, Qantaslink Pilot

Craig Nugent, Airline Pilot

1993:

My name is Craig Nugent I am 18 years old. I have now been flying with TVSA for about a year and a half. I started flying at the end of Year 11, using the Christmas holiday period to get as much flying in as I could and obtained my GFPT just before the beginning of Year 12. I then put further training on hold so I could concentrate on my final VCE year.

1995:

Now a year and a half down the track I am involved in classes three nights a week at TVSA's Moorabbin school to complete the theory component of the Commercial Pilots Licence. When I finish classes at the end of June, I will start up flying again and hopefully obtain a CPL by the end of the year. The next step will probably be to get an instructor rating and become an instructor and do some charter work. After gaining enough experience on light aircraft and working my way up to larger aircraft, I one day plan to land a job flying for one of the major airlines.

The cheap flying rates, friendly easy going atmosphere and the professionalism of the instructors makes TVSA in my opinion, one of the best flying schools around. If you take the time to compare their rates and the level of service with other schools, you will find that TVSA is second to none.

Craig completed his twin IFR Rating after working as a single-engine charter pilot for Derby Air Services for a year. In November 1998, he was offered a position as First Officer flying Metro II's for Skipper Airlines in Western Australia.

So six years after his first flying lesson, Craig is well on his way up the aviation career ladder.

Craig, far right, is pictured on his first Charter job flying Flightcampers to Moorabbin Tower.

   2001:

Craig joined fellow students, Dave Belcastro, Luke Murphy and Chris Riddell at Cathay Pacific Airlines as a second officer.

David Belcastro, Cathay Pacific Airline Pilot

First Officer with Cathay Pacific Airlines. David worked for a short time as a Flying Instructor after completing his training with us and was then employed by a variety of outback charter organisations before being employed by Cathay Pacific Airlines shortly after he turned 26

David Canobie, Flying Instructor, King Island Airlines Pilot

David commenced flying training with TVSA in 1993 and obtained all of his licences and ratings with us. He has logged some 7000 hours as a highly valued Flying Instructor and is now working as both an Instructor and for King Island Airlines.

Dion Courtney, Navy Helicopter Pilot

Dion obtained his Commercial Pilot Licence with us before obtaining a position with the Royal Australian Navy to be trained as a Helicopter Pilot.

Geoff Cobden, Qantaslink/Jetstar Pilot

Geoff completed his Commercial Pilot and Multi Engine Command Instrument Rating some seven years ago. After flying charter around the outback and a stint with Airlines of South Australia, he obtained aposition with Qantaslink as a First Officer on the new Dash 8 and is based in Cairns.

Jade Granger, Qantas Airline Pilot

Jade attended our very first Flightcamp in December 1992. She attended all Flightcamps whilst completing  VCE. Jade completed all of her training with us prior to being employed by us as a Flying Instructor for 3 years after which she worked for a period of 2 years as a senior Instructor with British Aerospace Flight Training in Adelaide before being offered her second officer position with Qantas.

John Arrigo, King Island Airlines Pilot

John was the first student to complete our Trainee Commercial Pilot course, logging some 1,100 hours before being offered a position with King Island Airlines.

Luke Murphy, Airline Pilot, Cathay Pacific Airlines

Luke commenced his flying training with us in 1990 whilst still in secondary school. He trained full time with us after completing his VCE. Luke paid for his own training,completing his CPL and Multi engine Instrument Rating within 3 years of leaving school.

Three years ago Luke commenced employment with Cathay Pacific Airlines after working for an out back construction company for several years flying the "boss" around to various jobs in a Piper Saratoga, then Charter in the twin engine Cheyanne Aircraft before finally flying a Metro for Jetcraft Corporation.

Luke is now training for his First Officers position with Cathay after flying as a Second Officer with them for two and a half years. 

Mathew Michell RAAF Pilot

Mathew attended all Flightcamps whilst completing his VCE and obtained his Private Pilot Licence before commencing his tertiary education at the Australian Defence Force Academy. Mathew obtained several awards during his fliying training with the RAAF including Dux of the Hawke lead in fast jet trainer course at RAAF Williamtown. He is now flying the F111 from Amberley.  

Matt Fryer, Army Helicopter Pilot

Matthew obtained his CPL and  Instructor Rating with us. He was promoted to the position of Grade 1 Flying Instructor with us before joining the Australian Army where he is now a Captain and  Helicopter Instructor flying Chinook Helicopters.

Melanie Dow, Flying Instructor

Melanie has been flying for some time and flew solo on her 16th birthday.

She worked after school and on weekends to pay for her flying training. Being a cadet in the AirTC (Air Training Corp) and reaching the rank of Flight Sergeant was excellent preparation for applying and being awarded a Defence Force Scholarship and gaining entry to the Australian Defence Force Academy in Canberra. Prior to starting her studies in January 1999, Melanie passed her Private Pilot Licence and was endorsed in a Piper Twin Commanche which she and a friend flew from Melbourne to Monkey Mia in Western Australia.

Melanie joined a growing band of ex-students at ADFA and studied for her Commercial Pilot Licence part-time.

 2001:

After completing 2 years at ADFA and passing flight screening for the Air Force, Melanie decided that the academic life was  not for her and decided to come home to complete her CPL and Instructor Rating. She has now been instructing since July 2001 and has her Grade II Instructor Rating. In December 2002, Melanie was endorsed to fly a Piper Chieftain aircraft.She has just passed her Instrument Rating theory exam and has passed 2 ATPL subjects with sittings for the other subjects happening shortly. At 21 she has just started her second log book with almost 1500 hours total flying experience.

Nick Werner, King Island Airlines Pilot

Nick completed all of his flying training with us at TVSA and worked for us as a Flying Instructor for almost three years before being employed by King Island Airlines.

Paul Granger, Qantas Airline Pilot

1998:

Paul commenced flying training with us in 1995, obtaining his Commercial Pilot Licence, Multi-Engine Endorsement and Instructor Rating with us. With TVSA's guidance and assistance, he has just obtained his command on King Island Airline's EMIIO-Bandierante and is 'rocketing' ahead in his career at full speed.

1999:

   In 1999, Paul obtained a position with Kendell airlines as a First Officer flying the Metro II.

2002: 

In early 2002, Paul  commenced employment with Qantas as a second officer on the 747 flying International routes.

Peter Dow, Chief Flying Instructor

Peter commenced Flying Training at Longwarry Flying School, a short bush strip in Gippsland, Victoria in 1974. His training to Instructor Rating was completed in December 1980. He has owned and operated TVSA since March 1982, operating from Longwarry, Moorabbin, Point Cook and Bacchus Marsh. Peter has in excess of 7000 Instructional hours behind him and over 4000 hours of Charter and RPT flying experience.
The flying he does for King Island Airlines in their Chieftain and Bandeirante aircraft means he is well placed to be the CFI of a "Commercial Pilot" training organisation.

No other flying school in Victoria has such a person responsible for maintaining the high standard of training required for the M/E, IFR Commercial Pilot. Peter, as CFI, also is a Civil Aviation Safety Authority authorised Test Officer.

Richard Chen, Commercial Pilot

B747/737's with China Air in Taiwan.

Rory Houston, RAAF Pilot

Rory flew with TVSA as an Air Force cadet during years 10, 11 and 12.  After completing his VCE, he attended our Bacchus Marsh School of Aviation and obtained his Commercial Pilot Licence full time over a six month period before deciding to join the RAAF direct entry. We are currently waiting to hear which squadron he has been posted to.

Samantha Webster, RAAF Pilot

Samantha attended several Flightcamps in 1993 and 1994 during which she first flew solo. After completing her VCE she was awarded a scholarship to ADFA and went on to complete her flying training at RAAF bases Pearce and Richmond and is currently flying the Hercules aircraft for the RAAF.

Stefan Wood, Chief Pilot

Stefan commenced his training with us at Bacchus Marsh in 1991 on a part time basis and on completion of his CPL in 1993, decided to head north to Darwin via the eastern seaboard.

He commenced work with the Daly River Mission in June 1993 where he worked for 12 months before passing that job onto fellow TVSA student Chris Riddell. Stefan had obtained a position at Wave Hill station where he logged 280 hours of flying in four months. With over 1000 hours under his belt Stefan started up his own charter business in the Territory.

Stefan's Charter business is now operating fifteen aircraft and he has employed several ex-TVSA students. In 1998 Stefan was awarded the Northern Territory's Young Achievers Business Award. In 1999, Stefan was awarded Young Australian of the Year in the Career Achievment section.

All this in just eight years after his first flying lesson!

   In 2003, Stefan and Northern Air Charter are still going strong and are one of the few companies who will give young Commercial pilots their first jon in the industry.    

Steve Bolle, Chief Pilot of Northern Air Charter

Flies for Northern Air Charter owned and operated by Stefan Wood.

Stuart Morris Qantas Airline Pilot

Stuart attended all Flightcamps whilst studying for his VCE at Carey Grammar over 1993 and '94. He completed his Commercial Pilot Licence with us and went on to become a Flying Instructor  and charter pilot before joining Kendell Airlines after which he was offered a position as a second officer with Qantas.

Tim Baker, Flight Operations Inspector

Tim completed his PPL, NVFR, CPL and Instructor Rating with TVSA and was the first Grade 3 Instructor employed by us.

In the 15 years since then, Tim has worked for us in various capacities, Instructing, Charter work and as a Theory and Testing Officer. In between times he has been the CFI of 3 Flying schools and has logged some 8 thousand hours.

Towards the end of 1993, his dedication and hard work finally paid off and he commenced flying for Southern Australian's Dash 8 aircraft. Tim  retained his relationship with the school and often volunteered his time to assist with the running of our Flightcamps to encourage more young people to pursue a career in aviation.
Tim has also established an IFR theory correspondence course which has been running for 3 years now.

Tim is now a flight operations inspector. We are sure that Tim will continue on and up the aviation ladder whilst he is assured of our continued support and best wishes for the future.

Tim Highett, Virgin Blue Captain

Captain on a 737 with Virgin Blue.

Todd Vance, Qantas Airline Pilot

Todd completed his Commercial Pilot Licence, Instructor and multi engine Instrument Ratings with us in the early 90's. He was employed with us for several years and obtained his Grade 1 Instructor Rating. Todd was an extremely popular Instructor with Flightcampers, the Australian Air Force Cadets as well as the older students.

In 1996, he ventured North and flew twins and worked for Stefan Wood at NAC and was the Chief Pilot for another Charter company before being employed by Qantas in

1999 as a second officer on the 747 "Classic" aircraft.

In December, 2002, he was promoted to First Officer on the 737 flying domestic routes.

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Tom Coakley, Helicopter Pilot

S76 Helicopter pilot with Lloyds.

Wayne Cudmore, Commercial Pilot

Flying a Convair for Cairns Jet Base.