Our Trainers

Name: Rick Calvert-Jackson

Position: Senior RPAS Instructor

Flight time (hours): 120 +

Qualifications: Certificate III in Aviation (Remote Pilot, Visual Line of Sight), RePL (Remote Pilot Licence) (Fixed Wing <7KG / Multi Rotor <25KG), Commercial Pilot (Aeroplane) Licence, Certificate IV in Training and Assessment.

How many years have you been flying drones?

3 years

Rick’s background:

Rick has a background in the aviation industry. He began instructing on a 737 simulator for two years while completing his Commercial Pilot’s License and his Instructor Rating. Rick then joined a fixed wing surveying company and worked as an instructor, teaching individuals how to use fixed wing drones for surveying and mapping operations and also conducting RePL training. Rick then joined UAVAIR in April 2016 and was one of our first trainers to join the team. Rick is now one of UAVAIR’s Senior Training.

What is your favourite things about being a trainer?  

The satisfaction gained from passing on information to those willing to learn and then witnessing them implementing their new skills.

What is the best piece of advice you would give to someone wanting to enter the industry?

Make a plan on how you plan to use the data collected and then be ready to adapt.

Name: Jay Hircock

Position: RPAS Instructor

Flight time (hours): 50

Qualifications: Certificate III in Aviation (Remote Pilot – Visual Line of Sight) – AVI30316, Certificate IV in Training and Assessment – TAE40110, Diploma in Workplace Health and Safety – BSB51312

How many years have you been flying drones?

1 year

Jay’s background:

Jay’s experience within the workplace includes Retail, Hospitality, Disability Services, and Gaming, but is mainly based in Construction and Rail. Starting as a Labourer with Daracon in 2007, he moved between Civic Construction, Subdivisions, Roads, Rail, and Mining sites while obtaining his Diploma in WHS and Cert IV in TAE. He considers working as a WHS Advisor and WHS Coordinator with Laing O’Rourke as a great experience, increasing his knowledge and interest in both safety and training. Outside of work, he loves sport of all kinds and the technique, teamwork, and camaraderie that is involved with it. And of course, flying his Phantom 4 Advanced drone around Newcastle.

What is your favourite things about being a trainer?  

Helping people develop within the dynamic, innovative and exciting sector of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) operation is brilliant. It gives me a sense of pride to know that we are producing quality industry and recreationally based pilots.

What is the best piece of advice you would give to someone wanting to enter the industry?

Being professionally trained by a quality institute such as UAVAIR has given me a wide knowledge base and a nationally recognised qualification to operate an RPA system.