Teens get wings to fly high

Young pilots Amy Scully, Matt Clayton and Jacob McDonald celebrate going solo at the Coffs Coast Aviation Centre.

NAVIGATING the sky before they have keys to drive is an impressive feat for three local teens – and the youngest of the trio just turned 15.

The Coffs Coast Aviation Centre has seen three of its fledgling pilots fly sky high in their first solo flights.

Chief pilot instructor Mike Jelliffe said a Recreational Pilot Certificate is the qualification they'll get at course completion, meaning their private licence is one step closer and the possibility of becoming a commercial pilot is the stage after that.

Students must complete a minimum of 34 lessons before they can fly solo and for 15-year-old Matt Clayton this meant training fortnightly for the past year.

“I've wanted to fly since I was little and used to collect model planes,” Matt said. “When I went on my first solo flight, I looked across and saw Mike's headphones dangling there and then it truly hit me and I thought ‘I can't believe I'm actually doing it'.”

For Jacob McDonald and Amy Scully, flying a Foxbat 7330 was exhilarating.

Jacob said he was delighted to have been given the opportunity.

“My brother is very interested and my Dad would have loved the chance so to say I've actually gone solo is amazing,” Jacob said.

Amy is keen to get her private licence and take passengers on bigger planes.

“The best part of the course was being up there by myself, it just felt so right like I finally made it,” Amy said.

The Christian Community School students were part of the Fly Now program which gives students $1000 off the cost of the course.