Our Staff

Chris is the Chief Flying Instructor and Chief Pilot of Bendigo Aviation Services. He commenced flying commercially in 1960, and has flown aircraft ranging from Tiger Moth bi-planes to Boeing airliners.  Chris has over 17,000 flying hours and is approved by Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to train and flight test to all available levels.

"Ever since I can remember I have had a fascination with flight and after being sent solo as a young boy (commercial flights with TAA as a passenger) I was well and truly hooked for life. I started with model aircraft but this didn’t get me off the ground, I wanted to fly! When I was old enough I learnt to hang glide, after a few years with a bit more money saved I moved on to ultra-lights (which I still fly). Working full time in a non aviation field gave me the funds to gain my private pilots license and after a few more years I then had enough hours in my log book to start my commercial training with Bendigo Aviation. After completing my commercial I gained my instructor rating at Bendigo, left my old job and started flying for a living and have not looked back. I now fly for Bendigo Aviation as an instructor as well as a twin engine aircraft charter pilot, and I love it. Who knows where I’ll end up but I know it’s all up from here."

"I took my first lesson when I was 16 years old, with Bendigo Aviation. I was introduced to the world of aviation by my father; he took an interest to eradicate a fear of flying! I was scared of heights, so I thought why not give it a go. I flew whenever I could get the $235 dollars together, which was almost once a month, Meantime studying year 12. On completion of year 12 I travelled to Melbourne and completed my Private Licence. Missing Bendigo Aviation Services family atmosphere I returned to complete a Commercial Pilots Licence, Night VFR rating and Grade 3 Instructor Rating. I completed the instructor rating in August 2008 and began flying for the first time as an employee at BAS, and I’m still scared of heights!"

"Ever since I went to the first Avalon air show as a young boy with my family I wanted to be a pilot. It wasn’t until many years later that I finally did something about it and started my flying training, and I’m proud to say I completed all of my training out of Bendigo aerodrome with Bendigo Aviation. My training was stretched out over a number of years – I got my GFPT in 2003, my PPL in 2005, and finally my NVFR, CPL and Grade 3 Instructor Rating in 2008. On completion of the instructor rating, I was lucky enough to be offered a job here at BAS. Now I fly for a living, and I love it."

Should you call Bendigo Aviation Services during the week, there is every chance you will be talking to Hayley Steel! Hayley is the Operations Manager at Bendigo Aviation Services. While highly skilled in administration, Hayley is also working towards her GFPT licence in BAS' Piper Warriors. Outside of flying, she is also very fond of good-looking, head-turning cars and usually the hottest car in the car park will belong to Hayley!