Soaring to new heights

Year 10 Fairholme College student Claire Willis is on a flight path to an extraordinary career in aviation, driven by her ambition to pilot private and corporate jets. Currently pursuing a Certificate III in Aviation, Claire’s journey has been shaped by her love for flying and family ties to the skies.

‘I had the opportunity to do the Certificate III that Fairholme offers,’ Claire shares, ‘but I decided just to go flying. I thought it would get me closer to my career goal.’

That career goal? Earning her private pilot’s license, then commercial, with the ultimate dream of flying private or corporate jets. ‘I haven’t told anyone that yet actually,’ she confesses with a smile.

When asked about her dream to pilot private jets, Claire is refreshingly candid. ‘Celebrities often charter private jets to travel wherever they want, whenever they want. I think it’s more appealing than being an airline pilot – it’s like being a limo driver in the sky.’

Claire’s passion for flying comes from her upbringing. A rural boarder from a family with strong ties to aviation, Claire’s father owns a Bonanza A36 aircraft, which they often use to travel for school or business trips to Hervey Bay.

‘We’ve flown on holidays before in Dad’s little plane,’ she recalls. ‘Growing up, I would spend hours watching the spray planes at home.’

Balancing her aviation training with life as a boarder has been no easy feat. Claire has been attending lessons every Tuesday since the start of the year, with additional Saturday sessions when weather permits.

So far, she’s logged 18.2 flight hours, steadily working towards the 30 to 40 hours required for her recreational license. ‘It’s all competency-based, so it might take me a bit longer doing just one day a week, but I’ll get there.’

Learning to fly has been a natural progression for Claire. Her first memories of the cockpit are from childhood. ‘Dad’s phone wallpaper is me as a little kid trying to reach the yoke,’ she laughs. ‘That’s always been a good reminder of how far I’ve come.’

Despite her passion, there are challenges. ‘Landing is the hardest part. Trying to get every little bit right takes practice, but I’m not nervous about it. If something were to go wrong, it would likely be while I’m in the air, not during landing.’

Thanks to Fairholme’s Pathways Program, Claire has been able to pursue her aviation dreams while still in school. ‘It’s incredible to have the opportunity to leave school every Tuesday and do something I love. I feel really lucky.’

Claire’s next step is earning her recreational license, which will allow her to fly within 25 nautical miles of Toowoomba.

After that, she plans to work towards her private pilot’s license, enabling her to travel from town to town and city to city.

For Claire, flying isn’t just about the mechanics – it’s about the freedom and the people she meets along the way. ‘One day, I’ll be able to go anywhere and everywhere,’ she says.

‘And that’s what I love about it.’