Careers & Pathways

Dates to Diarise

Year 12 VTAC Timely Applications

throughout August and September

VTAC SEAS and Scholarship Applications

opens August and September

 

Work Experience Program at the Zoo in 2020 (Year 9-11 Students)

Applications are now open for students and must be provided to the Careers Centre by Tuesday, 10 September – see Compass NewsFeed for details.

Year 11 student chases his dreams of being a Royal Australian Airforce pilot

Cadet Sergeant Mark Hargreaves (year 11 student at DSC) knew he wanted to become a pilot at a young age after he read the Encyclopedia of Modern Military Jets in Grade 3. He was drawn to how the aircrafts looked and amazed by the aircraft technology. Chasing that dream, Mark was recently the first Australian Air Force Cadet (AAFC) to fly the new Diamond DA40 NG light aircraft. 

When did you want to become a pilot?

I knew I wanted to become a pilot when I read the Encyclopedia of Modern Military Jets in grade 3 and was amazed by the technology and the look of the aircraft.

 

Where did you learn to fly?

I learnt to fly a plane on a 2-week flying course provided by the Australian Air Force Cadets at RAAF Base Williams (Point Cook). In these two weeks, I went from having zero flying experience to been able to fly the aircraft (DA40 NG) by myself in a circuit. In these two weeks, myself and nine other cadets from around the country were taught how to control the aircraft, how to deal with emergency ranging from an aerodynamic stall to landing with an engine failure. Once we passed all the requirements and passed the First Solo Checkride we were sent out by ourselves to take-off and land the plane without anyone in the plane with us.

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Recently you became the first Australian Air Force Cadet (AAFC) to fly solo in the AFFC’s new DA40 NG. What was that like?

When my flying instructor SQNLDR Gary Presneill got out of the aircraft and secured his seat belt I was over the moon with excitement as I knew I was about to fly solo for the first time. 

 

When he was clear of the aircraft, I went through all of my checks and started the engine, just like I normally would when I had an instructor. The first time I realised I was truly alone was when I was doing a control check and I didn’t have to lean past my instructor to see the control surfaces moving.

 

The flight felt very similar to a flight with an instructor on board, except there was no-one watching my every move, and I had to make all the decisions myself.

 

When I landed the plane and had taxied it back to the parking spot, I looked across and saw all my course mates, staff and RAAF officers on the porch cheering me on, as I opened the canopy, which is something I will never forget.

 

What is your dream job?

My dream job is to be a Royal Australian Air Force pilot either flying the new Joint Strike Fighter, the F-35A Lightning II or the C-130J Hercules.

 

Chelsea Rohrlach

Marketing Communications Officer

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