I have been flying since November 1969.

I commenced learning to fly with PIPEAIR Flying School at Moorabbin in November 1969 after leaving High School and working as a traineeLand Surveyor for a number of years. At that time the solo rate for a PA 28 was $12.60/hr (dual $16.80/hr) Short sightedness unfortunately prevented me from a career with the Fleet Air Arm (RAN).

Whilst at High School I was a member of No.17 (Caufield) Flight of the AIR TRAINING CORP and later a member of the AUSTRALIAN AIR LEAGUE (Carnegie Flight).

My CPL and Instructor Rating training was completed with CAMPBELL-HICKS Flying School (at Moorabbin) in 1971 - I count myself very fortunate to have been instructed by Doug Leckie (Ex RAAF), Roy Goon and Noel Lyons - all very widely experienced, dedicated and skillful pilots.

After working as a flying instructor for some time I completed an AG Rating with HAZELTONS at Cudal (NSW) in 1973 under the expert guidance of Pat Henman.

Between 1973 and 1982, I spent time charter flying in TANZANIA and AG flying in Western Victoria, Southern England and the SUDAN. One of the highlights of that time was flying our AG planes from the UK to the SUDAN and back for the 1977/78 cotton spraying season.

Since 1982 (drought year!) I have been very actively involved in my own theory coaching business - preparing students for both fixed-wing and helicopter exams at all licence levels. I am very proud of the pass rates my students achieve and the quality of instruction I provide. Many of my students have gone on to become very successful, prominent members of the Australian Aviation Industry.

I do not work to "dumb down" the theory syllabus, nor to have students scrape through their exams with bare passes. Several of my past students have averaged in the 90's for their 7 CPL subjects. I have now taught aviation theory for just on 25 years, so my involvement in the industry is definitely "long haul".

There are a great many ill-informed pilots out there in the industry with a very shallow knowledge base - they did'nt study with me!