Actually retired, not just talking about it, did it
Posted: Mon Jul 5 2021, 13:38
Ladies and gentlemen, yes, I have actually retired. Not just from flying but the whole shooting match. It’s about 3 or 4 years earlier than I wanted but my health has made it too difficult to go to work and do my job.
So I just wanted to say thank you to everybody, the good, the bad and the ugly, and the two ugly blokes know who they are.
I have enjoyed 31 years in an industry that can be difficult but oh so rewarding. I’ve met and worked with the best, I’ve been fortunate enough to have only worked for great bosses, I’ve flown only good aircraft, I’ve been to places most of my childhood friends still just dream about and had a ton of fun.
I’ve taught a lot of people to fly, a lot of them are well respected pilots in their field. I’m proud of everyone of them. I’ve taught private pilots to fly and they're still flying safely today, and I’m proud of them too.
I have flown billionaires, Royalty, movie stars, politicians, my wife, (and she thinks the dog could do a better job) and average people. I’ve always treated them the same, hello mate, I’m Terry your pilot.
I have done all manner of flying, instructing, media, aerial photography, gravity/GPS survey, fire fighting, Chief Pilot a couple of times, Chief Flying Instructor a couple of times, corporate, general charter, joy flights, EMS, external loads, ferrying aircraft.
No accidents, some close calls, but my decisions were based on me going home at the end of the day.
I’ve given good advice, made so many stupid comments and listened to anyone who offered an opinion. I didn’t know it all, no one does, I know enough to keep myself and those with me out of the poo.
I’m not disappointed with anything I’ve done or said, or thought. I’ve usually just said what I though, no filter, I’ve never sugar coated anything because I wanted people to know what I thought. If they didn’t like it, okay but they knew were they stood with me. It’s a small industry and thieves and liars shouldn’t be in it.
I’ve flown in every state except Tasmania, I’ve flown in India, Fiji, the USA, I’ve flown 13 types of helicopter, single, multi, piston and turbine.
I watched the clowns in Canberra try to drive us down, stupid, confusing, unworkable rule changes “because of safety”. I’ve seen academics and shiney arses, ex-military fools get control and most of them have no or very little experience in aviation.
Now don’t get me wrong when I talk about ex military people, I have great respect for the military, huge respect, they put themselves in harms way for me. It’s the ones who get out and forget they are out that I have issues with, Civil aviation is not military aviation, two different games.
I object to the fact these academics and shiney arses think they know what my job is. I object that they are saying what I’ve done in the past isn’t good enough or that it’s wrong. Especially when not one of these academics or shiney arses has flown a helicopter, taught anyone to fly, done any work with a helicopter, but they know better.
I’ll leave the industry but I’ll be watching from the sidelines. I’ll stay with slapper as long as the cancer allows me to. I’ll keep slagging off the caa as long as they deserve it. I’ll try to post positive comments rather than negative stuff.
So again, thanks to each and every one of you, without you my life would have been boring, you’ve provided me with endless entertainment, lots of laughs, tons of fun, adventure, satisfaction and more good friends than I can poke a stick at.
Terry McGowan
So I just wanted to say thank you to everybody, the good, the bad and the ugly, and the two ugly blokes know who they are.
I have enjoyed 31 years in an industry that can be difficult but oh so rewarding. I’ve met and worked with the best, I’ve been fortunate enough to have only worked for great bosses, I’ve flown only good aircraft, I’ve been to places most of my childhood friends still just dream about and had a ton of fun.
I’ve taught a lot of people to fly, a lot of them are well respected pilots in their field. I’m proud of everyone of them. I’ve taught private pilots to fly and they're still flying safely today, and I’m proud of them too.
I have flown billionaires, Royalty, movie stars, politicians, my wife, (and she thinks the dog could do a better job) and average people. I’ve always treated them the same, hello mate, I’m Terry your pilot.
I have done all manner of flying, instructing, media, aerial photography, gravity/GPS survey, fire fighting, Chief Pilot a couple of times, Chief Flying Instructor a couple of times, corporate, general charter, joy flights, EMS, external loads, ferrying aircraft.
No accidents, some close calls, but my decisions were based on me going home at the end of the day.
I’ve given good advice, made so many stupid comments and listened to anyone who offered an opinion. I didn’t know it all, no one does, I know enough to keep myself and those with me out of the poo.
I’m not disappointed with anything I’ve done or said, or thought. I’ve usually just said what I though, no filter, I’ve never sugar coated anything because I wanted people to know what I thought. If they didn’t like it, okay but they knew were they stood with me. It’s a small industry and thieves and liars shouldn’t be in it.
I’ve flown in every state except Tasmania, I’ve flown in India, Fiji, the USA, I’ve flown 13 types of helicopter, single, multi, piston and turbine.
I watched the clowns in Canberra try to drive us down, stupid, confusing, unworkable rule changes “because of safety”. I’ve seen academics and shiney arses, ex-military fools get control and most of them have no or very little experience in aviation.
Now don’t get me wrong when I talk about ex military people, I have great respect for the military, huge respect, they put themselves in harms way for me. It’s the ones who get out and forget they are out that I have issues with, Civil aviation is not military aviation, two different games.
I object to the fact these academics and shiney arses think they know what my job is. I object that they are saying what I’ve done in the past isn’t good enough or that it’s wrong. Especially when not one of these academics or shiney arses has flown a helicopter, taught anyone to fly, done any work with a helicopter, but they know better.
I’ll leave the industry but I’ll be watching from the sidelines. I’ll stay with slapper as long as the cancer allows me to. I’ll keep slagging off the caa as long as they deserve it. I’ll try to post positive comments rather than negative stuff.
So again, thanks to each and every one of you, without you my life would have been boring, you’ve provided me with endless entertainment, lots of laughs, tons of fun, adventure, satisfaction and more good friends than I can poke a stick at.
Terry McGowan
