Enhancing our Training Fleet
Our six new DA40s are making a real difference to student progression. Now operating 16 DA40s, we produced our best month for flying hours since before COVID, with 1,146 flying hours safely flown in October. In terms of student progression, the current second year students completing CPL and IR are further ahead at this point of the year than any cohort in recent memory. We are on track to exceed our target of 10,000 hours for the year.
To further enhance the basic training, UNSW has invested in a True Course DA40 XLT Virtual Reality Simulator. The device includes a training package that guides students through all sequences and the students can compete against themselves and the cohort to improve their performance.
The VR simulator is onsite and will be commissioned in the next few weeks.
We continue our effort to reach out to budding pilots in high schools via the Knox Abbotsleigh Flight Academy. Two FOU flying instructors attend the academy every week during school term to deliver basic instruction to the students in the simulators the schools operate. The 2025 program culminates in a visit for the students to the FOU where they undertake aircraft familiarisation, safety and career development activity, and experience in both our FRASCA DA40 and Projet PS4.5 simulators under the guidance of our MCC and flying instructors.
Wings Night 2025
It was an incredible evening on Friday 18th July celebrating our UNSW School of Aviation Flying students who graduated with their Wings!
A big congratulations to the 2022 Flying cohort. The student presentations made it clear that this journey has been both highly challenging and deeply rewarding, filled with memories and hard-earned lessons that will serve our young graduates well as they soar toward their aviation career dreams.
Resilience was the evening's defining theme, and our graduates embodied this essential quality in earning their wings. We were honoured and privileged to hear from keynote speaker Qantas Captain Simon Tuma, who shared invaluable wisdom from his 40+ year aviation career, emphasising that success and resilience in aviation comes down to always asking: "Is it safe? Is it legal?" Our Head of School Professor Brett Molesworth reinforced this message, noting that nothing exemplifies resilience more than how our industry has overcome post-COVID challenges. Aviation truly is a resilient industry.
Huge thanks also to our guests, First Officer Glen Hunter from the Australian and International Pilots Association (AIPA), and First Officer Steve Hungerford and Rob Close from Australian Federation of Air Pilots (AFAP)and Australian Air Pilots MBF who continue to support our highest-performing students year after year by attending and generously sponsoring prizes across various categories of excellence. Our 2026 prize winners were:
AFAP & AAPMBR Dux Volans |
Riley Lunz |
AIPA Best Pilot |
Joshua Lee |
AIPA Most Improved |
Clarissa Barono |
UNSW Best Safety & Teamwork 2nd Year |
Edward Shi |
UNSW Best Safety & Teamwork 2nd Year |
Karl Smith |
A big thank you to Arjun Ram J. who managed the MC duties with aplomb, and to Donna Diaz and Lucie Thomson for all the hard work in organising the event.
The evening concluded perfectly with our Director of Flying Operations Unit Malcolm Good and his quote from Back to the Future, "If you put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything," a fitting reminder that with resilience, you can reach your dreams. Congratulations to the 2022 Cohort!
Open Day at the FOU - Aviation is Back
Unprecedented demand saw UNSW Aviation’s Flying Operations Unit double its Open Day briefing sessions at Bankstown Airport this year. Attendees were more than triple past years, which was a sign that aviation – and in this case, flying, is well and truly back in demand for future students. Over 350 students joined us at Bankstown Airport Limited to find out more about our flying programs (including the drone program) in a briefing presented by Director of Flying, Mr Malcolm Good, see our facilities including our hangar, flight simulators and of course, our state of the art aeroplanes, and chat to some of our wonderful flying instructors. A big thank you to Qantas pilot Wayne Daly, a great friend of the school, who had a line of future pilots eager to chat to him. Wayne also gave a nice testimonial about how our graduate pilots are regarded by the industry!
Master of the Honourable Company of Air Pilots Touches Down at UNSW
The Flying Operations Unit at UNSW Sydney welcomed distinguished guests from the Honourable Company of Air Pilots (HCAP) on Wednesday, 12 November, as part of the organisation's Australian tour.
Master John Denyer, accompanied by his wife Kate Denyer, along with Adrian Young and Robert Dicker, were hosted by Head of School Professor Brett Molesworth and Director of Flying Mr Malcolm Good for a visit celebrating student excellence and the strong ties between the historic aviation guild and Australia's next generation of pilots.
Inaugural Prize Presented
The highlight of the visit was the presentation of the inaugural Honourable Company of Air Pilots Australia Region Prize. The Master awarded the prestigious prize to Edward Shi, recognising him as the top student in aviation safety—a testament to his dedication and academic excellence in this critical field.
"This prize represents our commitment to fostering the highest standards of safety and professionalism in aviation," the Master noted during the presentation.
Celebrating Student Milestones
The Master also had the honour of presenting First Solo Certificates to five students, acknowledging a significant milestone in every pilot's journey. The first solo flight represents a transformative moment when student pilots take to the skies independently for the first time—a memory that stays with aviators throughout their careers.
During the visit, the Master shared valuable insights into the history and mission of the HCAP, an organisation with roots dating back to 1929 that promotes excellence in aviation. He also had the opportunity to connect with fellow Australian member and UNSW Flight Instructor Tessa Beyersdorff, strengthening the bonds between the Company and its members down under
A Bird's Eye View of Sydney
A special highlight for the Master and Kate was a scenic flight over Sydney, including a pass over the new Western Sydney Airport currently under construction. The flight offered a unique perspective on the city's expanding aviation infrastructure and the exciting future of the region's aerospace industry.
The visit marks the fourth leg of the Honourable Company of Air Pilots' Australian tour, demonstrating the organisation's ongoing commitment to supporting aviation education and celebrating the achievements of student pilots across the country. It also marked the beginning of a new partnership with UNSW Aviation.
The Honourable Company of Air Pilots is one of the Livery Companies of the City of London, dedicated to promoting and protecting the highest standards of aviation knowledge, skills, and professionalism.
