Scotch College

Charles Davison flies high

Charles Davison, seventeen years of age and a member of Davidson House, flew solo in a Piper PA28 Warrior on Sunday 12 May. Charles, who is training for his unrestricted Private Pilot's Licence at Civil Flying School at Moorabbin, was encouraged by his instructor to take the test within ten hours of commencing his licence, which he started in mid February. Normally most students require twelve to fourteen hours prior to flying solo.

On Sunday 2 June, Charles completed his second solo flight and had to undertake an emergency landing, when his Piper aircraft experienced a jammed throttle. His instructor who was watching from the ground with the Air Traffic Control Officer, was very impressed by Charles' discipline and control under what were very difficult and frightening circumstances.

Once Charles has completed his licence, he will be able to commute to Flinders Island, where his father has a property located near the Scotch College Scuba Diving Camp, at Killiecrankie.

Charles, who is completing Year 12, commenced at Scotch College in Year 4 (1994) and started Mandarin Chinese in 1996, at the Scotch College Language Centre, under the guidance of Mr S Liu and Dr L Zheng.

During his time at Scotch, Charles has represented the school in football, rowing and the cadet corps and was appointed co-ordinator of the Year 11 School dance.

Charles has also worked as an official at Sandown International Motor Raceway, where his Father is the Promoter and undertaken patrols as a qualified surf lifesaver at Portsea Surf Beach.

Charles has written to Mr Gao Bao Shan, Headmaster of Beijing Middle School who recently visited Scotch, to undertake a GAP year in 2003.