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New Zealand Defence Force "I got the flying bug and the Air Force was by far the best and most appealing way to make it a reality." conditions. When evacuating the Rena we had to cope with rough seas and poor visibility as we got people to safety." The most common cause of death for aircraft pilots and flight engineers is transportation incidents including crashes, and according to the Civil Aviation Authority there were eight fatalities in aviation accidents in 2011. Undeterred from this risky business, the Wellingtonian was always keen to pursue a career in aviation. "I got the flying bug and the Air Force was by far the best and most appealing way to make it a reality." Mary joined the Air Force six months after finishing high school in July 2005. She went through Initial Officer Training in Woodbourne for six months then started her Wings course in Ohakea at the start of 2006. "Once I completed my Pilot Training on the Airtrainer and King Air aircraft I was awarded my brevet and was posted to 3 Squadron, where I started flying the Sioux then I converted to the Iroquois. I have now been flying the Iroquois for three years and am about to begin a conversion on to the Air Force's new A109 helicopter. "The Iroquois is a great Helicopter to fly. I have done so many different jobs around the country and overseas, and although the helicopter itself is an older model it is still going strong and is super reliable." Now based in Ohakea in the Manawatu, Mary says the hardest thing about her job is also the most rewarding: keeping up with the qualifications required by the Air Force. "The constant study and amount of time it takes to learn everything you need to be a competent aircraft operator can be hard. Every year each aircrew member goes through what we call in the Air Force, a Cat (Category) check. Once you are qualified on a particular aircraft type you are required to upgrade or renew your qualification each year. This involves a lot of study on all different aspects of your job and also requires a practical flying test during the day as well as the night. As you become more qualified you are given greater responsibility. I am now at the level where I can take a helicopter on a job somewhere in the country and be in charge of the crew and the machine. "People definitely make the job! It's like one large family and everyone looks out for everyone else. That along with some amazing flying around beautiful places in New Zealand a lot of people wouldn't even know existed. You also have the opportunity to play sport socially and competitively. I really enjoy netball and basketball and I represent the Air Force in both sports. Getting paid for doing something you love, and sharing that with some awesome people, definitely makes it easy to get up in the morning!" As well as the people Mary appreciates the measures the Air Force takes to ensure the safety of its employees. "The Air Force has a very strong safety culture. We have a reporting system that captures incidents and potential incidents, HER MAGAZINE | February/March 2012 | 25 New Zealand Defence Force New Zealand Defence Force New Zealand Defence Force