Charlie flies high at Air Activity Centre
Published Wed 09 Apr 2025
Words by Rover Scout Charlie from 1st Epping Rover Unit
Through Scouting I have achieved one of my lifelong dreams of becoming a fully licenced pilot. I’ve been interested in aviation since a very young age, always looking up and seeing the big airliners fly across the sky.
My first taste of being in a light aircraft was when I was a Cub Scout and my Unit went to the Scouts Air Activities Centre (AAC) in Camden for an activity flight to Warragamba Dam. Being in that aircraft further stoked the passion and drive to becoming a pilot and wishing one day to become like them. When I was in Scouts, I organised another day trip to the AAC during our planning meeting to once again take to the skies and fly. Going there a second time and being much older, I got the opportunity to talk to the pilots about pathways to getting my licence. They told me that once I turned 15, I could attend their Air Venture flying camps to start learning how to fly and get my licence.
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When I was in Venturer Scouts, I attended that camp, and it was the best time of my life! I decided to continue with my training and first went solo at 15 years old and subsequently got my Recreational Pilot’s Licence (RPL) at 16. I was able to fly a plane before driving a car! I have now obtained my Private Pilot’s Licence (PPL) and am currently working towards my Commercial Pilot's Licence (CPL) during my uni breaks.
I am also an Air Activity Leader at the AAC, volunteering most Sundays and assisting on the ground with various duties such as dispatching aircraft, aerodrome walks, and airside loading operations. Helping out on these days gives me great satisfaction working with aircraft, but also I’m able to give the young kids the opportunity to take to the skies and feel the thrill, excitement, and opportunity to go flying as I once did those years ago.
