Australian Flying is proud to announce the winners of the 2022 CASA Wings Awards. The CASA Wings Awards recognise the achievements of flyers, instructors, clubs and services in general aviation. CASA, the Australian Division of the Royal Aeronautical Society and Australian Flying congratulate the following award winners.
Col Pay Award for a Lifetime of Service to General Aviation
Christopher Sievers
A member of HARS Historic Flight Association, a registered Aircraft Maintenance Engineers (Airframe and Engine), a Responsible Person for a number of companies with CASA, Responsible Person and Owner of a registered training organisation (Aerospace Training Services) and Lifetime Member of a number of aviation related businesses, Chris Sievers has been a GA stalwart for over 40 years.
Sievers and a business colleague started Air Affairs in the early 90s providing advisory and training services to the RAN at Nowra, which still flourishes to this day. His advanced manufacturing centre, which focuses on producing products for all three arms of the ADF, is the most successful in the country. The associated special missions work and manufacturing carried out by Air Affairs, requires a person with a clear vision, drive and leadership.
During the last 30 years Chris has employed over 30 apprentices and taken them through all their studies to become fully licenced in their field which gives them the opportunity to really make something of themselves and give them all self-pride. His "don’t give up" attitude has resulted in a company growing from five personnel and one aircraft to 175 personnel, operating a fleet of 25 aircraft. Air Affairs has many local, state and international customers.
Aero Club of the Year
Central Coast Aero Club
Fly aways, quiz shows, monthly competitions and successful lobbying have been a large part of the success of the Central Coast Aero Club. The club has been driven to modernise, with a focus on arranging Paul Bennet Airshows, installing concrete pads to flood-proof tie down areas, replacing outdated fuel delivery systems and hosting a new CASA-approved simulator.
The club has risen from a position of weakness five years ago to a position of strength and credibility. By exposing thousands of members thousands of the general public to general aviation via air shows, gaining goodwill through free charity flights for disabled children and regaining the full runway length after campaigning for tree removal, the CCAC has placed itself firmly on the WAC as a solid club.
The club is equipped to train pilots from RPL to CPL and offers and instructor rating and theory courses. The CCAC has weathered the storm of the pandemic with a positive financial outlook and continues to be a training provider for future pilots. The club actively engages with local schools as part of their STEM program, inviting students from local schools to touri the facilities and promote aviation as a future career.
Flying Instructor of the Year
Peter Townsend
Pete Townsend is a well-known figure at Bankstown Airport. Owner and founder of the Australian Aerobatic Academy, his focus is on skills training and development. The AAA is a CASA Part 141 flight training organisation specialising in high-quality primary flight training.
The academy’s mission is to provide our customers with the best possible flight training and customer service in a fun, friendly and supportive environment. AAA’s team of highly skilled instructors and pilots are experienced and dedicated professionals who have qualified themselves beyond the minimum required standards to provide you with a higher level of skill.
As an instructor, Peter places his focus on emergency manoeuvres, upset recovery training and in depth theory classes which are part of his commitment to flight safety. The AAA places is focus on aiding a pilot to learn and appreciate the limitations and understanding of the aircraft they fly.
On hearing he had won, Townsend said, “I am very surprised, honoured and humbled to receive the 2022 CASA Wings Awards Instructor of the Year award. I am extremely grateful to those who thought enough of me to nominate!
"I just do my best to make all my students the safest, most knowledgeable and proficient pilots they can be.”
Flying Training Organisation of the Year
UPRT Australia
UPRT Australia has been established for to provide the highest level of professional and unique flight training in Australia to thoroughly train private and professional pilots to identify, counter and overcome the physiological and aerodynamic effects of upset flight.
There is no CASA syllabus for UPRT. Currently, students are only required to recognise and recover from contrived stalling scenarios. The UPRT syllabus is ground-breaking in Australia as it focuses on not just aerobatic recovery but a fundamental understanding of the most crucial aspect: the human factors.
Pilot training in dealing with an aircraft upset will have little to no effect on a pilot’s ability to recover from a real situation if they cannot first recover mentally enough to fly the aircraft. This is known as the startle and surprise response and has contributed to many aircraft accidents. UPRT Australia have identified the human factor element as being the most critical part of the training and addressed it as the primary focus of their UPRT courses.
As part of UPRT Australia's training syllabus, they always present the MOS and CASA training syllabus first, then identify how it augments the training with areas of capability augmentation beyond just the required standard.
Young Achiever of the Year
Lauren Jones
Lauren Jones is an outstanding student from Griffith Aviation. She is an executive team member and leader in their student organizations. Her academic performances are one of the best in their program. She has an extremely high reputation from lecturers in aviation courses such as aerodynamics, airway design and operation, human factor, flight procedures, etc. She is recipient of Sir Samuel Griffith Connect Scholarship, Griffith University Award for Academic Excellence, NASA and Houston Association for Space and Science Education Scholarship, School academic medal, and Academic Excellence Awards.
Lauren is a part of both Griffith University Aviation Clubs – Griffith University Aviation Association (GUAvA) and Griffith University Soaring Society (GUSS). She was a member of the GUAvA subcommittee, which demonstrates her leadership and teamwork skills.
She attends events hosted by Aviation Aerospace Australia and Women in Aviation International Australian Chapter. Volunteering her time as an exhibitor at the Girls in Aviation Day made she can her love of aviation with others still considering career options. She has also volunteered as an exhibitor at the Aviation High Aerospace Experience Day and The Brisbane Airshow.
She has also conducted numerous Australian Air Force Cadets squadron visits, including in locations as far as Karrabin. She enjoys talking about aviation, particularly to her peers as well as any member of the public considering an aviation career
She currently holds the roles of both Portfolio Director of Social and Community Engagement, as well as Flight Leader. On a regular basis, she manages the logistical challenges of a multi-faceted high-performing team.
“I am humbled to have been named as the CASA Wings Awards Young Achiever of the Year; I was honoured just to have been nominated," she said.
"I have had a passion for everything aviation and aerospace since a young age, and feel privileged to have met many inspirational aviation professionals already.
"I hope that winning this award provides an inspiration to others contemplating a career in aviation."
Once again, CASA, the Australian Division of the Royal Aeronautical Society and Australian Flying congratulate these very worthy winners and thank them for their significant contributions to general aviation.