For Flight Lieutenant Ariel White, a typical day as an air vehicle pilot at 9 Squadron means helping shape the future of Air Force aviation one mission, one flight plan and one team at a time.

Originally from Canberra, her journey into the Air Force began when she was a curious teenager, drawn in by the energy of an Australian Air Force Cadets parade night.

“I went along with a friend just to watch, and something clicked for me immediately,” Flight Lieutenant White said. 

“There was this sense of discipline, teamwork and excitement that I’d never experienced before. I joined that night, got my solo gliding licence a year later, and that was it – I was hooked on flying.”

Now she’s part of a small team pioneering one of Defence’s most advanced capabilities, the MQ-4C Triton remotely piloted aircraft system, from RAAF Base Edinburgh in South Australia and RAAF Base Tindal in the Northern Territory.

“As an air vehicle pilot, I’m responsible for safely operating the aircraft, planning missions and coordinating with my crew across multiple sites. It’s a complex puzzle, but that’s what makes it so rewarding,” Flight Lieutenant White said.

“The Triton can stay airborne over many hours and over vast distances.”

'At 9 Squadron, I get to combine that passion with purpose, contributing to something that’s going to define the future of Air Force aviation.'

Each day brings new challenges and new opportunities to innovate.

“No two days are the same, and that’s what I love. You’re constantly learning, testing new procedures and helping shape how future crews will operate,” she said.

“A typical day could involve simulator training in the morning, mission briefs in the afternoon or flying operations from our forward base.”

After graduating from ADFA and completing the Pilots’ Course in 2015, Flight Lieutenant White went on to fly King Air 350s, serve as an aviation physiology training officer, and later, fly P-8A Poseidon aircraft with 11 Squadron before joining 9 Squadron.

“I’d flown crewed aircraft for years, so moving into remotely piloted aviation was a big shift,” she said. 

“But being part of something brand new, something we’re literally writing the manual for, is incredibly fulfilling.”

Ariel said the culture within 9 Squadron was what set it apart, describing it as a forward-thinking team built on trust, collaboration and a shared passion for innovation.

“The squadron leadership really understands balance and morale,” she said. 

“Even though we’re not deploying together like traditional aircrews, there’s a strong sense of unity and purpose. Everyone here genuinely wants to see the capability succeed.”

Outside of work, she channels her love of the sky into sport skydiving and instructing with the ADF Sports Parachuting Club – an adrenaline-filled reminder of the joy that first drew her to aviation.

“Whether it’s flying or skydiving, I’ve always felt most myself in the air,” she said. 

“At 9 Squadron, I get to combine that passion with purpose, contributing to something that’s going to define the future of Air Force aviation.”