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Graduate preparing for new life as pilot with Cathay Pacific
A Buckinghamshire New University graduate is spending seven months in Adelaide, Australia, training as a Cadet Pilot with leading airline Cathay Pacific before taking on a permanent position as a pilot with the firm, based in Hong Kong.
Darren Palmer, 24, graduated with first-class honours in BA (Hons) Air Transport with Commercial Pilot Training in 2009 and said he was 'hugely excited' about landing the job with Cathay Pacific and fulfilling his dream of working as a pilot.
The ambitious graduate said he would be completing ground-school and flying training in Adelaide, as well as gaining a Type Rating to ensure he is qualified to pilot long-haul flights for Cathay Pacific, which flies passenger and cargo flights to 140 destinations in 36 countries worldwide.
Once fully qualified, Darren is likely to be piloting Boeing 747 or 777 aircraft to all corners of the globe.
He said: "I am fulfilling a dream by becoming a pilot. Some people want to be doctors or lawyers or police officers, but I always knew from about the age of six that I wanted to be a pilot and I am extremely proud to have achieved it. Now I can't wait to get started.
"I have tailored my education and degree around the goal of pursuing a career as a pilot and now I am entering what you could call a period of on-the-job training to ensure I am fully prepared to pilot an aircraft. It really is quite a life-changing opportunity."
Darren, originally from Rainham, in Kent, studied at Wycombe Air Centre and undertook flight training in Orlando, Florida, during his three-year degree at Bucks New University, in High Wycombe.
He said: "Studying at Bucks New University provided me with the platform to go in to a career in the aviation industry and gave me a solid foundation on the principles of the industry, as well as the confidence and skills to know I could gain a job in my chosen line of work.
"The difference with Bucks compared to other institutions is that you can build a one-to-one relationship with your lecturers, who take a keen interest in your development. In my case this has carried on after my studies as I have kept in touch with them."
Darren has also worked at Gatwick Airport for Menzies Aviation, a global provider of passenger, ramp and cargo handling services, as a Turnround Coordinator and Dispatcher, as well as flying privately on a freelance basis.
Dr Jenny Tilbury, Departmental Manager, Travel & Aviation at Bucks New University, said she was sure Darren would go on to enjoy a successful career.
She said: "Darren, a mature, committed student who took responsibility for his learning and made optimum use of every opportunity extended to him, was always destined for success.
“I am proud of the role that Bucks New University played in helping Darren prepare for his future career and appreciate the fact that he keeps in regular contact with me. Hopefully it won't be long before I find myself in the capable hands of Captain Palmer on a long-haul flight.”
