After flying “choppers” Al then moved on to become a Qualified Flying Instructor on CT4A trainers at RAAF No.1 Flying Training school Cook. Al is also a Grade 2 qualified civil flying instructor. During his three years stationed at Point Cook Al participated and won the Southern Cross Air Race on behalf of RAAF.
Leaving the RAAF in 1985 Al moved into general aviation, flying light single and twin engine aircraft on charter work. In addition he contracted his fixed wing and rotary wing skillS to the National Safety council, doing rescue and fire bombing work and general transport.
The airlines were hiring in 1986 and Al secured a position with Trans Australia Airlines and went to North Queensland to operate the Nomad N24 and Cessna 404 employed with Air Queensland (formally Bush Pilot Airways),flying single pilot airline operations around Far North Queensland, and lazy afternoons flying tourists along the Great Barrier Reef.
Eventually Al went onto the Boeing 737 under the new livery of Australian Airlines and he flew the 300,400 and 800 variant of that type with 17 years under his belt. After Qantas took over Australian Airlines Al transitioned to the Airbus A330 where he operated from the Captains seat for 14 years. Al retired from active airline flying in 2020 with 45 years of aviation experience and qualifications hidden under his belt, 31 years flying heavy metal and now, thanks to the never ending passion for flight and salesmanship of Egon Mahr, 8 years experience in the mighty Yakovlev 52, “Dracs Yak”