MEET OUR TEAM

Phil Sweeney - Director

Phil has an Australian Private Pilots Licence and a life long passion for aviation. Phil's extensive business experience includes creating and running the Retail Software Development Company, Magenta Retail, which has many large retail clients throughout Australia, New Zealand and South East Asia; a former partner with accountancy firm KPMG; and interests in various aviation related businesses including maintenance, charter and aircraft leasing.

Nathan James - Chief Flight Instructor

Nathan has been providing flight training to private and airline sponsored students for 10 years and in this time has gained almost 4000 hours of instructional experience with instrument and multi-engine training approvals.
His instructional experience includes positions at  Australian College of Aviation in  Melbourne and China Southern Flying College at Jandakot WA. Nathan has extensive experience in syllabus design and instructor training and specialises in training of overseas students.

Merv Brewer – Advanced Training / Approved Testing officer

Merv has amassed 7000 hours flying experience on aircraft ranging from two seat trainers to jet aircraft. Merv has successfully trained many students who are enjoying careers in organizations such as Quantas, Cathay Pacific, Jetstar, Sunstate, Air Vanuatu and The Royal Flying Doctor Service. Merv is an Authorized Testing Officer (ATO) with approvals for Student licence, PPL, Night VFR, CPL; all Instrument  ratings   including  Multi Engine instructor approval; Granting instructor instrument training approval; and Chief Flight Instructor and Chief Pilot approvals.

Tony Hope -  Ground Training Manager

Tony has 35 years teaching experience including 18 years as an Aviation Theory teacher in Australia. Tony teaches Aviation Theory from Basic Aeronautical Knowledge through to Instrument Ratings. He also holds a Commercial Pilots Licence and many endorsements such as Sea Planes and Aerial Agriculture. Tony brings a wealth of experience to his students with his classroom and practical flying background.

Jeff Harris - Operations Manager

JJ has five years of Ops experience in the Aviation Business and is Australian Wings Academy's full time Operations Manager. Starting in Operations with Seair Pacific, JJ then completed his CPL and Instructors Rating and worked at Air Gold Coast as Instructor/Ops Manager, before moving on to Operations Manager at Jetcraft. JJ is responsible for arranging all flying operations, managing instructor work loads and aircraft scheduling.

Gannon Hempel - Advanced Training

Gannon is a Grade One Instructor  with 15 years experience in the aviation industry. He has approximately 4000 hours and holds an ATPL(A) and CPL(H). Previously a helicopter pilot in the Australian Army, Gannon now specialises in Multi-Engine IFR Instructing, Advanced Flying Training and Commercial Pilot Training.