FLYING HIGH
What a fabulous vocational and social gathering The Rotary Club of Canterbury had in place of our normal meeting on Monday 28th September. We gathered at The Auburn Hotel and then travelled to the Aviation Department at Swinburne University. Michelle Critchley, a valuable and productive member of our Rotary Club, arranged it all.
Dr Salim Hijazeen, who has recently completed his PhD at Swinburne University, teaches aviation students, two of whom dropped by to experience the often-hilarious moments of members of The Rotary Club of Canterbury attempting to take off and land a plane. The real star of the evening was Angus, Doug Hawley's grandson, who calmly and professionally managed the procedures involved in landing and taking off from Hong Kong Airport, with bird strikes and lightning strikes.
The equipment used to teach virtual flight skills is expensive, and it is to the credit of Swinburne University that Dr Hijazeen encourages students to experience the passion which he himself discovered at the age of five at the Avalon Air Show. It was a most enjoyable and engaging experience to watch Dr Hijazeen explain and respond to all the questions asked.
For Michelle, congratulations on organising an incredible event for members of The Rotary Club of Canterbury. For Dr Hijazeen our members are extremely grateful for your patience in giving us the opportunity to participate in the way pilots learn to fly and control the panel and levers. I learned much about flying and the way people become part of the aviation industry.
