Photograph by Rodney Mass
At the recent Flying NZ annual general meeting, an inaugural scholarship was awarded by John Pearce, a former president of the Royal New Zealand Aero Club and former director of Aviation Services Ltd. The scholarship is the result of a board decision by Aviation Services Ltd to recognise the services given by John Pearce to both Aviation Services Ltd and the aviation community.
The John Pearce Aviation Services Ltd Flying Scholarship is worth $4000, along with free of charge exams necessary to achieve a private pilot licence. It is awarded to a young person whose personal circumstances mean he or she would not normally be able to participate in aviation.
The 2011 scholarship has been awarded to Shane Davies, a Young Eagles member of the Hawke’s Bay and East Coast Aero Club. Shane will begin his flight training at the HBECAC and president Bruce Govenlock expressed his delight that a Young Eagle from that club became the first recipient.
Flying NZ executive secretary Dave Bishop says, “Flying NZ is grateful for the support that Aviation Services Ltd has given to encouraging youth in partaking in aviation activities throughout aero clubs, and also for the recognition that Aviation Services Ltd has given to the service of John Pearce through this scholarship.”
Also presented at the AGM was the inaugural RNZAC Service Award, to Rod Miller, CFI/manager of the Rodney Aero Club for 38 years. He was also the club’s first club captain from 1963–66 and president from 1966–72.
When the Rodney Aero Club found its fuel situation reduced to the mini tanker, Rod undertook to get a Hazardous Goods Licence so he could fuel up the tanker at North Shore airfield. He took the old Holden out of the garage, made it roadworthy again and fitted it with the necessary in order to tow the mini tanker.
Currently he has seven student pilots. One of those can only fly on Sundays, so while Rod usually has Sunday off he makes an exception for that one student, who attended this year’s Nationals at West Melton. In attending the Nationals, Rod gave of his time for free, not charging his students for his time during the dual flights there and back.
He had encouraged three of his student pilots to enter competitions at the Regionals, two of them being placed on the day, and Rod then encouraged them to enter the Wildcard competitions at the Nationals.
- Published in the August 2011 Issue