Pilots ready for take off

MIDN Neil Amey and SBLT David O’Toole with COMAUSNAVAIRGRP CDRE Geoff Ledger after their pilot graduation recently. Photos by CPL Kirsty Chambers

By FLGOFF Nigel Harrington

Two RAN pilots were amongst the latest group of ADF pilots to graduate from Number 2 Flying Training School, RAAF Pearce, Western Australia.

SBLT David O’Toole, MIDN Neil Amey and seven RAAF pilots were awarded ‘wings’ at a graduation ceremony for 193 Pilots Course’.

Twenty six year old SBLT O’Toole joined the RAN in 1995 as an avionics technician. Prior to pilot training he undertook postings to 816SQN and HMAS Newcastle.

While aboard Newcastle he participated in operations including Brancard, Interfet East Timor, Rimpac 2000 and Solomon Islands.

MIDN Amey, from Adelaide, was an award winner for 193 Pilots Course. He received the BP Australia trophy for the highest academic marks of the course.

Reviewing Officer for 193 Pilots Course graduation, former Deputy Chief of Air Force AVM (ret) Brent Espeland, recognised the efforts students and staff put in to pilot training to attain the high standards set by 2FTS. He encouraged graduates to continue to seek excellence throughout their military careers.
Postings for RAN pilots are to the Squirrel helicopter at 723 SQN in Nowra.

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