While most kids his age are riding skateboards, 15-year-old Jayden Varnavelias is flying in the skies.
A member of the Australian Air League - Riverwood Hornets, Jayden completed his first solo flight on last week in a Cessna 152, VH-SOX.
The Peakhurst High School student started flying glider planes at the age of 11 and then moved on to the motorised aircraft at the age of 14.
Jayden’s passion and dream is to attain his Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL) and become a commercial airline pilot for a major airline company.
He is starting Year 10 this year and dedicates every Sunday to flying lessons at Camden Aerodrome working his way up to attain his Recreational Pilots Licence.
Jayden’s mum, Izabela said he has always had an interest in aviation.
“Even as a toddler with Playstation, if the characters couldn’t fly he wasn’t interested,” she said.
Noticing his interest in aviation, Izabela and husband Nick steered him towards the Australian Air League.
“When he flew his first glider aged 11, I was a bit nervous but he was with an instructor,” Izabela said.
“When they landed the instructor told us that Jayden was a natural at flying.
“At the age of 14 he flew his first motorised aircraft with an instructor. He has up to 30 hours of flying time now and his instructor said he was ready to fly solo.”
Before he flew solo, Jayden had to sit a written exam.
He then went on a nine day flying camp with the Air League at Camden where he was due to fly solo for the first time.
“Parents aren’t allowed to attend,” Izabela said. “We know he would be flying solo, we just didn’t know when.”
Jayden described his first solo flight as exciting.
“I was I bit nervous. As I was taking off I kept looking at the seat next to me and couldn’t believe I was on my own,” he said.
“Being up there by myself, there was a lot of adrenaline. As I landed the control tower congratulated me.”
Jayden wants to take his flying experience all the way and get a commercial licence so he can fly for the airlines, hopefully for Qantas or Emirates.
Mum Izabela believes he will achieve his dream.
“He is very confident. He thinks on his feet and he has no fear.
“He will have his pilot’s licence before he has his driver’s licence.”
Jayden summed why he loves flying, “It’s the feeling of being up there and in control, moving yourself around through the air.”
