ABOUT ME
David Bonnici
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I've been passionate about aviation ever since I could remember but for various reasons never indulged my dream to be a pilot. Then one day, when I was 45, I was sitting, eating lunch on a bench at Essendon Airport watching a Cessna 172 take off (that's what avgeeks do) and thought "why can't I do that?" A few weeks later I had a trial instruction flight and was hooked. Finally I was no longer a spectator of aviation, forever looking upwards: I was now a participant.
What followed was quite a bumpy journey through flight training that included five flying schools at four airports, 15 individual instructors, several aircraft types and two aviation categories and a year off before finally becoming a licensed pilot: and it was all totally worth it!
Much of the content dated prior to September 2019 was originally published in Australian Pilot or Sport Pilot magazines, and detailed the trials, tribulations and joys of my flight training in both GA and RA-Aus.
I have a Recreational Pilots Certificate and about 120 hours in my logbook, but I'm about convert to my RPL when I'll be taking my flying the next level to include controlled airspace flying and collecting other endorsements, all of which will be documented here through further writing, photos and videos. I hope all this will serve as a guide to aspiring pilots, particularly anyone who thinks they've left it too late to acquire the flying bug.
I'm hoping to track down more articles about my early flight training and Point Cook and Bacchus Marsh, and my stint at Ballarat. To get an overall look at my flight training progression, here's my flying progress so far.
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April - September 2012: Started flight instruction at Point Cook with Moorabbin Aviation Services on behalf of Point Cook Flying Club. I progressed very well through the initial training, but unfortunately my instructor left and it was going to be some time before I could resume instruction, so I switched schools.
Aircraft: Piper Warriors -
November 2012 - June 2013: Moves to TVSA at Bacchus Marsh. Plenty of circuit pounding but just couldn't get to solo stage. I didn't really enjoy it here (the school has since been sold) and missed not having an aero club atmosphere.
Aircraft: Cessna 150 and 152. -
August 2013 - March 2015: Skythrills, at Lethbridge. First solo and got past training area solo only for the school to close its doors.
Aircraft: Cessna 172 -
April 2015 - June 2016: Ballarat Aero Club: Back in the circuit to get used to Ballarat Aerodrome, which is one of Australia's busiest uncontrolled airports. Had trouble staying current and had to revise things a lot, and actually went backwards as I never got to solo in the training area.
Aircraft: Cessna 172 and Piper Warrior -
July 2017 - February 2019: Golden Plains Aviation: After a year off I went the RA-Aus route. My previous training came in very handy and I gained my Recreational Pilots Certificate in November 2017. I decided to take a break from training and just enjoy flying around alone or with a passenger before starting cross country training in September 2018 and getting my endorsement in February 2019.
Aircraft: Tecnam P92 Eaglet/Echo Super -
Since then I have been hiring Tecnams from Golden Plains Aviation, but am currently in the process of converting to my RPL - WATCH THIS SPACE :-)