Flying by the seat of her pants
Not many people can claim to have travelled at 600km/h in an aircraft 3m from another plane, but flight officer Aimee Mocatta is one of them.
The Royal Australian Air Force’s Number 2 Flying Training School student has been at Albany Regional Airport for the past two weeks, along with 13 other students normally based at RAAF Base Pearce.
Ms Mocatta, from Bunbaberg, Queensland, has been flying in paired and solo flights in one of the eight Pilatis PC9/A trainer aircrafts brought down to Albany.
“It’s been fantastic, we have two flights a day, so more flying time here than at Pearce,” she said.
“Albany is a beautiful place to fly.
“I’ve been with this group of guys for four years, so you get used to being the only girl.”
The only female in the group, Ms Mocatta is 21 weeks into her practical course at Pearce, following a four-year Australian Defence Force degree and basic flying skills course at Tamworth, New South Wales.
Qualified flying instructor Gareth Gordon, one of seven instructors who have come to Albany, said each day four planes would fly four times in formation.
“Flying in formation is a core skill — you don’t go into combat by yourself,” he said.
“Flying in Albany exposes students to different air fields, Albany also has a different climate to experience.”
Mr Gordon said as part of the course the students, comprising both Navy and Air Force members, would extend their current understanding of flying operations, on their way to being able to fly fighter planes, air transport, maritime and naval helicopters.
