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Secondary school student open day 31/5/2011

Deslee Douglas- President BFC

BFC Open Day

What a great day. A total of 42 students from Eaglehawk, Weeroona, Crusoe and Bendigo South East Secondary Colleges, and Catholic College attended. Everyone got to have a fly, and the word ‘awesome’ was being used as they came back into the club rooms. A guided tour of the airport took place, again students were delighted with what was available. A big thanks to Alan Barton who gave up his time to speak to each group as they came through, and allowed the students to wander through his hanger looking at the planes. A tour of the Ambulance facility also took place, and again thanks to Sam, Adam andKelvin for the very informative presentation. (And the Air Ambulance happened to make an appearance right on cue!!). We had the Bendigo Advertiser and Bendigo Weekly there, and WIN News. A great way to promote the club and its activities.

A big thanks needs to go to the pilots who helped out, Col Hokin, Col Douglas, James Cartwright and Wil Quint. They must have done a great job because all the students wanted to go up again.

Thanks also to Nevile Boyle who put on a good BBQ for everyone, and all the other club members who helped out – John Crowe, Greg Morse and family,Brian Baker, John Turner, Frank. A big thanks to Gary Phillips and Brian Brennan for organising the day. We could not have asked for a better day for flying.

It was wonderful to see so many young people so excited about flying, and enjoying the day.

Deslee Douglas
President
Bendigo Flying Club.

Will Quint (instructor) ready to take to the air with his first student.

Garry Phillips - Flying School

Report on the Secondary School Student Educational Flying Program Day with the (BFC) Training Organization, Teachers and Students.

All I can say is awesome, today not only the sun shone, but the club shone also.

The day started with Brian Brennan welcoming and introducing the students to the student educational program.

Along came Koos with his computerized power point demonstration and chat to the students about a number of aircraft industry topics, this had the students riveted for 25 to 30 mins.

After Koos we initiated a short flight for all the students using Tecnam 1 and 2, club Archer BIU, Colin Douglas Cherokee 140, taking 8 students at a time. this went through till about 12.30 and finally and well deserved the teachers had a short flight, thanks to pilots Colin Hokin, Will Quint, Colin Douglas and James Cartwright, with our gate security and usher John Turner and Greg Morse.

At the time the students were flying Greg and Jarmon had students flying the simulator, they were very enthusiastic about this little venture, some students couldn’t wait to have a second go, while the simulator was being flown, Brian Baker, myself and Jim escorted 7 to 8 students at a time around the airport looking at different aircraft around the airfield including Colin’s Hokin, John Crowe, Neville Boyle and Brian Baker’s aeroplanes before stopping off at Alan Barton’s hanger with numerous types of aircraft completed and under construction, Alan did a marvelous job discussing the different aircraft to the students. We came across Graeme Serjeant on our tour and explained to the students Graeme’ activities on the airfield along with Goulding Airmotive, and Bendigo Aviation Services.

Now Lunch time had arrived, we all had a sausage sizzle thanks to Neville, Kim, Frank, John Crowe and helpers.

Lunch now completed we were all off to converse with the Hemi 3 Air Ambulance Helicopter, at their hanger paramedic Kelvin, Pilot Sam and navigator and winch operator Adam for the Helicopter, they gave a very informative discussion about the full operation, skills and careers from their daily emergency work. Luckily for us all there were no emergencies at the time. Thank you to Kelvin, Adam and Sam.

The Air Ambulance King Air landed for a patient transfer at the time we all were walking to the Helicopter hanger, Jarmins eyes were like fifty cent pieces at the time including some drooling about the King Air.

Back to the clubrooms for the finale, the Information session to hand out Information Booklets, answer questions and thank the teachers’ students and BFC members for the great day had by all.

Thank you Brian Brennan, Paul and the two lady teachers, Koos and Deslee for the media work with the Win TV news and Bendigo Weekly, the Win news article was terrific for our student program and BFC.

I found the students very courteous and well behaved making it a pleasure for the cause

If I have missed thanking anybody I sincerely apologize, only to say again - thank you for this more than great day at the Bendigo Flying Club. Secondary School Student Educational Flying Program.

Sincerely Garry

For and on behalf of the Bendigo Flying Club (BFC) (RAA) Training Division

Comments and Thanks

"Well done, Garry. Great to put out this summary so soon after the event. It was a brilliant day in every way - the students were still very excited when we got back to school. It was a very generous but highly effective strategy to get each of the students - and teachers - into the air." Brian Brennan Education Consultant

Thanks to you and your staff too Brian, you all put a lot of effort in, the students were very easy to look after, I spoke to quite a few they are interesting people listening to what they have to say. Look the credit goes to us all, we did a good thing yesterday, I am extremely pleased with the day and the achieved result. I think we all gain quality information and experience out of these programs. Garry Phillips BFC Flying School

Alan Barton "I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your involvement in our Open Day yesterday. The Club appreciates the effort and the time involved in participating in this day. The feedback we have had from the students was very positive. They were very interested in what you had to say and enjoyed the opportunity to have a wander around your hanger looking and the different aircraft. This was a great opportunity for young people to see firsthand what it is like to be involved in the aviation industry. We hope you will consider being involved in any future similar days" Deslee Douglas BFC President

Gary "Excellent summary you put together on what was an "awesome" day yesterday and I can honestly say I was proud to be a BFC member yesterday. Proud also to be working alongside willing and enthusiastic fellow BFC members and committee members and yes, you put it so well - BFC and its members "shone" yesterday and certainly enthused more than one student judging by the comments I had from some of them. A key success driver was the good organization and if we continue along this road, the "sky is the limit" for our club." Koos De Wet BFC Comittee.

LEARN TO FLY - Information booklet.