Where are they Now – Amanda Deed (OH 2013)
Amanda Deed (OH 2013) has nearly a lifelong connection with Haileybury, after being at the School when girls were first introduced in Prep.
She studied a Bachelor of Science at Monash University, however a fascination and a love of aviation was never far from her mind. Amanda has been around aviation all of her life. She remembers when she was in Year 3, her teacher, Ms Wells, thought she was making up stories when she would tell her about her incredible adventures flying around Australia.
Whilst finishing her Science degree, Amanda commenced flight training at Lilydale Airport. From the moment she took the controls for herself, she knew there was no going back. Amanda had caught what pilots like to call the “aviation bug”!. To help pay for her training, she began working at the airport as the Office Manager of the flying school. She thoroughly enjoyed getting to know all the students and instructors, gained extensive knowledge about the industry, and dreamed about the time when aviation would become her career.
Amanda studied hard for her written exams while keeping up with her flying. She successfully obtained her Private Pilots License at the end of 2019. This meant she could take friends and family for flights anywhere in Australia. To start working as a pilot, you need to acquire a commercial pilots license, which means written exams and flight tests to ensure your knowledge and skills are of the highest standard. Whilst working towards her Commercial Aeroplane License, she was given the amazing opportunity to also study and fly for her Commercial Helicopter License at Moorabbin Airport. Having a great deal of support and encouragement from family and friends along the way, at the start of 2021, Amanda obtained her Commercial Licenses for both planes and helicopters.
Since then, it has been a whirlwind of even more adventures. Amanda packed up and moved to Uluṟu to commence her first job as a commercial pilot which saw her flying joy and charter flights around the Outback. Read more at bitly link
Sunsets were her favourite time to fly… watching the amazing colour changes on Uluṟu as the golden sun slowly descended in the sky was ”breathtaking!”.
Amanda has assisted in a search and rescue with the NT police to find a missing person after harsh rains and flooding hit the area. They were able to locate the man safe with his vehicle using the aeroplane and then go back later to retrieve him with the helicopter. “Working in Central Australia was incredible and I felt so lucky to have been given the opportunity” she humbly noted.
Amanda returned to Melbourne late last year to upgrade her skill set with an instrument rating and she is currently studying for her airline exams.
In between all of this, Amanda set off on an ‘Australia in a Day’ challenge. Amanda is part of the Australian Women Pilots Association and with a group of 3 other ladies, they flew around Australia in a day to raise funds for a scholarship to help up and coming female pilots with their training. The flight had to be completed between dawn and dusk and their mission was to visit every state and mainland territory. Flying west to make the most of daylight, they started at Flinders Island TAS, then to Mallacoota VIC, Canberra ACT, Cootamundra NSW, White Cliffs NSW, Moomba SA, Birdsville QLD, Ayers Rock NT and finished their mission 20 minutes before last light in Forrest WA! A total of almost 15 hours of flying between them. The ladies raised enough funds to support the scholarship for the next 3 years, all while watching the magnificent landscape change before their eyes during the day!
“Aviation has already taken me to so many amazing places, and I strongly encourage anyone who has wanted to give flying a go to pursue that dream because you never know where it might take you!” Amanda concludes.
What an incredible young lady you are, Amanda! We can’t wait to hear more about your adventures at your Class of 2013 10-Year Reunion on 12 May.
