Alumni Profile 

Kristin Hunter

What appealed to you about UNSW and your degree?

Originally I wanted to go to ADFA and join the Air Force and I went down that path heavily in Year 11 but realised it was not for me. I thought it would take too long to get into an airline because of the service period. No one in my family flies but we were fortunate to travel a lot when I was a kid growing up. I am not sure where the thought came from originally but at about 13 years old, I became very conscious of wanting to be a pilot. I liked travelling and I liked the Science aspect of it. I didn’t want a desk job and it seemed to fit. I always wanted to go to university and in researching I found UNSW who had aviation degrees. I attended an Open Day at Bankstown Airport, and that was it for me.

What is the most valuable thing you took away from your time at UNSW?

All the friendships that I have made as both a student and an instructor.  The nature of the flying degree is so structured and intense. You are spending every day of the week together for three years, which is kind of like school, more so than other degrees where you are not doing the same lectures all the time. So, you develop a closer bond and obviously, you have that shared interest in aviation, which is a bit different as it is far more of a passion than a degree. 

Where has your career taken you? 

I started instructing with the FOU upon graduation in 2006 and did that for about six years. Then I went to Qantaslink as a First Officer on the Dash 8 in Perth for a year. I came back to Sydney and became a Qantaslink Captain. I started at Qantas Mainline in 2018. Currently, I am an A330 First Officer based out of Sydney. 

This has a great network that we fly to, mainly Southeast Asia which means there is not much of a shift in time zones so not too strenuous on the body. The network also has good food and great crew to fly with.

There are so many fellow alumni that came through Qantaslink and are now with Qantas so there is a sense of family, even with UNSW Aviation alumni that I didn’t graduate with, there’s immediate comaraderie. We have a sort of secret handshake. 

What innovations do you think the industry needs? 

From a selfish perspective, better fatigue management, which requires more research.  Despite all the feedback pilots are asked for, nothing ever seems to be adequately implemented. There’s a lot more work that needs to be done in that space.

What would your advice be for those currently studying or considering the study of Aviation at UNSW?

For those currently studying a flying degree, take every opportunity that you can to go flying and get another endorsement under your belt. Be flexible with your plan. Don’t just think you are going to get a Qantas traineeship or wait for one. Don’t rest on your laurels. Everything you do helps to propel you forward and as we know, the industry can change overnight.

For those considering the study of Aviation at UNSW, it is a very rewarding program, but it is one you don’t want to do on a whim. It requires dedication and hard work. It is not difficult, but it is intense in terms of the commitment you need to get through the program. You won’t get a three-month summer vacation during your second year which is when most of the flying training is done. However, getting your wings on Wings Night is well worth all the hard work.