COL PAY AWARD FOR A LIFETIME OF SERVICE TO GENERAL AVIATION
Rod Birrell
Rod Birrell built his first aircraft while at secondary school (glider, solo build), and completed his ab initio training at Lilydale Airfield Victoria. He completed his CPL at Nationwide Aviation Academy at Cessnock NSW and was instrumental in forming the Hang Gliding Federation of Australia (HGFA). His Airline Transport Pilot Licence theory was completed at RMIT after which he built two more sport aircraft.
Rod was a flying instructor at both Moorabbin Aviation Academy and Lilydale Flying School. He was an IFR charter pilot with SAATAS Darwin (now Air North) and then progressed to fly with TAA/Australian airlines flying Fokker F27 and Boeing 727 aircraft. He is a founding member of the Australian Ultralight Federation (now Recreational Aviation Australia – RAAus) and served as the Operations Manager with the AUF.
Birrell has served several stints on the board of RAAus and has had a significantthe direction and future of the organisation.
