The First Officer

A story of a boy who is taught to fly a light aircraft.

The Peninsula Aero Club and the Story of First Officer

All flying is carried out from the Peninsula Aero Club‘s airfield at Tyabb on Melbourne’s beautiful Mornington Peninsula.

Review by Australian Flying

Australian Flying is arguably Australia’s foremost Aviation magazine. Read what it had to say about First Officer.

“Peter R Fitton’s First Officer may not be the book for a pilot, but if you know a vibrant teenager who only needs a gentle nudge to fire their imagination, this is certainly the book to do it.”

“As well as laying out the training path for young people, First Officer also covers flights around Victoria . . . . not outrageous adventures, but the staple day trips and overnighters that Victorian pilots regularly do.” The story does have a sting in the tail with its climax, something that readers will enjoy.

“Peter R Fitton has written First Officer as a way of preaching to the unconverted, and inspiring young teens to consider embarking on an aviation adventure of their own. Aviation desperately needs the participation of more young people, and First Officer has the potential to be part of the solution.”

The Melbourne Region with Port Phillip and Western Port Bays

The small town of Tyabb lies to the south-east, close to the shore of Western Port Bay.

Unlike Melbourne’s Port Phillip Bay where most of Melbourne’s residential and industrial development is spread around its shoreline, Western Port Bay is very different. The greater part of it is undeveloped. Agriculture, rural towns and unspoiled shoreline are the norm. The development that does exist tends to be concentrated close to the town of Hastings. The small town of Tyabb is close by.

First Officer and Australia’s future

According the International Air Transport Association, their twenty year forecast indicates that passenger numbers will double by 2037.

The biggest driver of this growth will be China, with India, Indonesia, Thailand and the nations of the east Asia region close behind. The Boeing Aircraft Corporation foresees a demand for more than 800,000 new commercial pilots throughout this period.

Australia has stood at the forefront of aviation since the days of the Wright Brothers. It has been an aviation pioneer. Flight training standards are well-practiced and enforced. Many neighboring countries rely on Australian flying colleges to provide the initial flight training to their future airline pilots.

And it all begins in the cockpits of light aircraft.

First Officer’s story is for young people, both male and female. An extremely bright aviation future lies ahead for them, but success will require that they succeed in the science based courses at schools and universities.

The next twenty years will be a challenging period for Australia. Success and prosperity are beckoning, but they need to be earned. Application and hard work are the keys to success.