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Flying Instructor - Craig Peterson
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During a flying career spanning 20 years, Craig Peterson has taught pilots in Saudi Arabia, completed rescue missions over the Pacific Ocean, and was even involved in a drug bust in a rainforest near Cairns.
''My attraction to this industry is a bit hard to explain,'' said the father-of-three. ''Early on in primary school I developed a burning desire to fly aeroplanes in the airforce.
''I have absolutely no idea where it came from or why it stuck with me, but it just got stronger and stronger as I got older. I had decided on my career from a very young age, and nothing else came along to tempt me from that path.
''It is a bit unusual to be both a helicopter and an aeroplane pilot. Most people choose one or the other and stick with it. There are some different skills required for each due to the different control set-ups.''
Mr Peterson (37), of Mount Pleasant, has been a pilot and lecturer at the Western Australian Aviation College for the past year.
His flying career began in the Royal Australia Air Force in 1985 as an enthusiastic 19-year-old.
After Mr Peterson graduated from his initial flying training course, he was selected to fly the Iroquois battlefield helicopter in Townsville. After four years he was posted to fly an aeroplane called the P3C Orion in Adelaide.
''Whilst flying Orions I was involved in a search and rescue mission in the Pacific Ocean. On a routine patrol through the area we were contacted by the rescue coordination centre saying two fisherman from the island of Nauru were missing. We were able to steer a nearby cargo ship towards the men''s dinghy.''
After three years flying Orions, Mr Peterson was selected for training as a flying instructor.
He completed his flying instructor''s course in East Sale and then worked as a flying instructor in Perth for two years, after which he was re-posted to East Sale to teach other air force pilots to be flying instructors.
''During my military time there was always the chance of being called upon to go into dangerous situations or areas, and the training in itself was quite dangerous at times, but that is all part of the deal.
''The flipside is the great sense of fulfilment you get from serving your country in the armed forces.''
Mr Peterson left the air force in 1997 and to work for a British company called British Aerospace (now BAE Systems) in Saudi Arabia. This company had a contract to train the Royal Saudi Air Force pilots how to fly.
''Some of the funniest moments I had in the air were with my Saudi students. The system in Saudi is different in that some of the trainees had been forced into the military by their parents.
''Some of them had no interest in flying whatsoever, in fact some were absolutely petrified of flying. When I would take them flying for the first time in their lives the different reactions were amazing.
''I had a couple of guys lean over and grab hold of me because they thought they were going to fall out of the plane. Others would grip my leg with their hand out of pure fear. It was difficult to teach someone to fly while they were holding on to you and refusing to look out of the window!''
Mr Peterson worked as a flying instructor in Saudi for five years before returning to Perth to work for the aviation college.
He lectures all subjects included in the official CASA (Civil Aviation Safety Authority) syllabus up to and including the ATPL (Air Transport Pilots Licence) subjects. The ATPL is the licence a pilot needs to fly the large jets for airlines like Sky West and Qantas. Aerodynamics, air law, navigation, meteorology, aircraft technical systems, human factors and flight planning are among the things he teaches.
''My work is my hobby as well,'' Mr Peterson said. ''The best part about my job is the fact that I get to spend all day talking to other people who share a similar interest.
''There is also the satisfaction of helping other pilots along their way to fulfilling their own goals. Watching the younger pilots develop throughout their time at the college is very satisfying as an instructor.''
During his career Mr Peterson has been involved in many search and rescue missions as well as cyclone relief missions in Western Samoa in 1990.
''One interesting incident happened in 1988 up in Townsville when I was flying helicopters. The police contacted the air force with a missing persons'' report. A man had gone bush walking in the rainforest near Cairns. It turned out our survivor was actually cultivating drugs in the forest, so our rescue mission quickly turned into a drug bust!''
As well as every part of Australia, Mr Peterson''s flying career has taken him to New Guinea, Fiji, Marshall Islands, Solomon Islands, Singapore, Malaysia, Hawaii, USA, Canada, UK, New Zealand, New Caledonia, Cocos Island and Christmas Island.
''The highlight of my career to date was meeting my wife Robyn. She was an air force lawyer and we met while we were both posted to Adelaide.''
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Acknowledgements |
Content courtesy of Louise Allan-Johnson. |
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