A newly purchased twin-engine aircraft at the MAF Training Centre in Mareeba is allowing students to reach new frontiers.
After 27 years of cross-hiring multi-engine aircraft for students to complete their Commercial Pilots Licence, the Training Centre now has its own aircraft once again.
Gavin Cochrane made history when he became MAF Training Centre’s first student to complete a flying qualification called a Multi Engine Instrument Rating (MEIR) on the centre’s recently purchased Vulcanair P68R twin-engine aircraft.
Hard work and perseverance have paid off and the qualifications now take Gavin a few steps closer to the long-held dream of a flying career.
“When I found out I’d passed, it was obviously a proud moment,” said Gavin. “But it took a couple of days before my achievement really sank in. I know my family are super proud of this moment, as I am.”
Gavin’s aviation path has been long and sometimes meandering, bringing him from his native Scotland to Australia and through a couple of vocations before he made it to the MAF Training Centre in Mareeba, where he is enrolled as a Central Queensland University (CQU) Bachelor and Graduate Diploma of Aviation student.
MAF partners with CQU to allow students training for mission or commercial aviation to gain a degree level qualification, industry relevant flight training and be eligible for fee help. The MAF Training Centre partnership with CQU has been a winning combination for Gavin.
The MAF Training Centre is set up to take you on whichever path it is that you want to be going on.
Gavin’s aviation path has been long and sometimes meandering, bringing him from his native Scotland to Australia and through a couple of vocations before he made it to the MAF Training Centre in Mareeba, where he is enrolled as a Central Queensland University (CQU) Bachelor and Graduate Diploma of Aviation student.
MAF partners with CQU to allow students training for mission or commercial aviation to gain a degree level qualification, industry relevant flight training and be eligible for fee help. The MAF Training Centre partnership with CQU has been a winning combination for Gavin.
“All of the theory is done in CQU, and then all of the flying is done with the flight providers, like MAF Mareeba,” he said. “My experience with Mareeba has been nothing short of amazing. The standard is really high, and the training that's provided backs up everything I've learned in university.”
Head of Training, Andy Little, said, “We’re excited to partner with CQU in the delivery of flight training at Mareeba.
“It means we can deliver our specialised remote area flight training, and allows CQU to graduate those students with a Bachelor’s Degree in Aviation.”
The Vulcanair P68R aircraft further broadens the Training Centre’s horizons by allowing students to complete all aspects of commercial pilot training on MAF-owned aircraft.
Andy said, “We need pilots who can operate the relatively simple Cessna Caravans in quite complex environments and flying the P68R, a complex multi-engine aircraft, in our simple operating environment in Mareeba will give students the skills they need to one day fly a Cessna Caravan in mission.
“With the P68R, we can provide excellent training to prepare our other students for industry work here in Australia, or abroad in places like Papua New Guinea.”
Students like Gavin appreciate the plane for the flying experience it affords.
“When I first saw the video of the aircraft getting delivered here, I couldn't believe that was the aircraft that I was going to fly,” Gavin said. “It looks stunning. It is a beautiful aircraft to fly.”
Gavin’s focus is now on the future and the pathways that have opened with the completion of his training, and he values the diversity of options presented by MAF.
“The MAF Training Centre is set up to take you on whichever path it is that you want to be going on,” said Gavin. “The training that you do here sets you up and gets you ready for commercial standard operations, whether it be missionary, whether it be the airlines, or whether you want to stay in general aviation.”
Andy echoes Gavin’s enthusiasm for the Training Centre and the multiple pathways it opens for students.
“We’re excited to build into students going into industry, especially those looking to fly in remote areas,” said Andy. “And we’re hopeful to see some of those students go on to support or work in mission aviation in the future.”