20,000 Hours In The Air

A local pilot has been recognised by the Burdekin Aero Club for his contribution to local aviation.

Neil Hoffensetz was presented with a handcrafted timber propeller, made by fellow Burdekin Aero Club member Steve Mcguire, to commemorate 20,000 hours flying and 17,000 hours instructing in light aircraft.

Neil trains emerging pilots out of the Ayr Aerodrome and is considered a legend of the club and the industry.

“I’ve done a fair bit of flying over the years,” said Neil.  

“I meet a lot of people and deal with people, so I enjoy meeting the people.”

In the words of an experienced pilot: “The contribution of a person who spends almost their entire career in the right-hand seat of a light aircraft shouldn’t be underestimated.”

This message was echoed recently when the Burdekin Aero Club recognised Neil Hoffensetz for his contributions as an aviation trainer at Ayr Aerodrome.

Neil’s flying career started with training for his private licence in Ingham in 1968.  

He said his love of flying came from sitting in the passenger seat of his mother’s cousin’s plane in Ingham.

“I just took a liking to it,” Neil said.

A commercial licence and instructor rating soon followed, while work as an electrician funded the venture.

In 1975, Neil accepted the position of instructor and charter pilot with the Burdekin Valley Aero Club as it was then known.

Neil left the Aero Club a year later to start Ayr Flying Services with Kevin Campbell, providing charter flight and air work, marrying his wife Toni that same year.

To train in his own right, Neil required a B Grade Instructor Rating which was attained in 1977.

Nowadays, prospective pilots will contact Neil before they embark on their piloting journey.

“I’ll show them in black and white what the requirements are, what the steps are, how to go about it all,” Neil said.

“They do some flying on their own, but most if it is dual training under instruction.”

People have travelled from all over the country to experience Neil’s tutelage, the furthest coming from Western Australia, while many come from southeast Queensland, western Queensland, and Townsville.

Some of Neil’s students have even gone on to become commercial pilots working across the world.

“I feel very proud of them,” Neil said.

“All those guys worked hard for what they achieved.”

Burdekin Aero Club Treasurer Kerry Paronella, a pilot and club member of four years, was trained by Neil.

“Neil made it very easy because there was never any pressure,” he said.

“There was always corrective advice, assistance, and knowledge.

“He’s just a gentleman while training.”

“Every interaction with Neil is a learning experience, whether it is when standing in the hangar hearing a radio call or observing the weather conditions,” added Bill Mein, fellow recreational pilot, and friend of Neil’s.

“The long-term background and the knowledge, from the regulations to the laws of physics, meteorology, and the application of fundamentals, cover it all.

“To echo the often-heard comment, ‘We are so lucky to have Neil here.’”

‍

Neil Hoffensetz has trained countless pilots, some of whom have gone onto careers with commercial airlines. Photo credit: Sam Gillespie