On gilded wings
by Linda Hein
Civil
Aviation graduate Debra Tran had always dreamed of soaring through
the clouds. Now she can fly there as the first ever female
Vietnamese-Australian qualified pilot.
Initially a Bachelor of Commerce student, Tran knew her career was about to take a huge turn when her imagination literally took flight after seeing a group of UniSA aviation students dressed smartly in uniform.
She transferred to UniSA’s Bachelor of Applied Science (Civil Aviation), the only tertiary qualification in South Australia that integrates the theoretical aspects of flying with an actual flight training program at the University’s Parafield Aviation Academy.
At the same time, Tran took Japanese classes to gain a multilingual competitive edge when she enters the commercial workforce.
Tran admits that the program is hard work, but said she thoroughly enjoyed the learning and practical experiences.
"It’s really exciting and well worth it," she said.
"The most exciting part was the flying training but the program also combined the practical knowledge with the theory, like basic aerodynamics, aircraft systems, meteorology, navigation, and flight planning.
"The first time flying without an instructor is an amazing feeling."
Three years on, Tran has successfully completed her formal qualification and has a solo licence and private pilot’s licence under her belt.
She is now training towards both her commercial pilot’s license
and instructor
rating so she can work as a qualified flight instructor, building up
the experience that’s vital for flying with an international airline
like Cathay Pacific or ANA Japan Airlines.
"You need experience and confidence to go higher up commercially – teaching others really helps with that."
Tran also hopes to complement her civil aviation qualification with studies in medicine to become a Flying Doctor to help people in remote and regional communities. But no matter where her new career path takes her, Tran says she will always be a strong ambassador for the aviation industry.
"From my positive learning experiences and the success and personal achievements I have gained so far, I would definitely encourage students - especially females - to consider aviation as a career path, particularly as a career with a difference."