Four show the way

Navigators’ Course award winners Pilot Officer Mark Whiteside, Pilot Officer Alexander Cave, Flying Officer Brian Brown and Pilot Officer Nathan Broome. Photo by CPL Katrina Johnson

FOUR newly graduated navigators have already put themselves on course for successful careers.

They received the major awards at the graduation of No. 118 Navigators Course at the School of Air Navigation, RAAF Base East Sale, on March 25.

Pilot Officer Mark Whiteside was awarded the Australian Institute of Navigation Trophy for best practical navigator, the Sale R&SL Trophy for best all round sportsman and the Hawker Siddeley Aviation Trophy for Dux of the course. Flying Officer Brian Brown was awarded the Wellington Shire Trophy for best leadership qualities and Pilot Officer Alexander Cave was awarded the BAE Systems Trophy for highest academic assessment in ground school.

FLGOFF Brown and PLTOFF Cave have been posted to No. 292 Wing for conversion on to the AP-3C maritime patrol aircraft; PLTOFF Broome has been posted to No. 36 Squadron for conversion on to the C-130H; and PLTOFF Whiteside has been posted to No. 5 Squadron (RNZAF) for conversion on to the P3K maritime patrol aircraft.

The parade marked the completion of nine months of training in the fundamentals of military aviation and mission management at the School of Air Navigation. Air training was conducted on the B200 Kingair and the Hawker Siddeley 748 aircraft.

Reviewing Officer Commodore Geoff Ledger, Commander Australian Naval Air Group, RAN, told the graduates, “This is the start to what is an exciting period in Defence with the introduction of more complex and capable aircraft that will provide the ADF with viable aviation weapons platforms well into the 21st Century.”

CDRE Ledger congratulated the graduates on their achievement, which “signified the culmination of this first phase of their careers as professional military aviators”. He encouraged them to continue the high level of professional competency and commitment.

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