Congratulations Mike Jones; 20,000 hours

[Binoculars]

The title says it all. A man who has put his whole life into GA, who has trained umpteen people to earn a living far greater than he has ever earned himself. He has just passed 20,000 hours, and none of them scored by sleeping in the back of a 747.

Mike, you are a legend not only of Mackay, not only of Queensland, but of Australian GA. Congratulations mate, shy though you may be, you know you have the respect of everybody in the industry.

I think the annual income of all those you have trained would be the GDP of a small island country. Well done, from somebody who's never achieved anything near what you have. :ok:

[Mr. Hat]

20,000 hours in GA?

This Man dead set deserves a medal.

Would love to hear some stats like EF's and so forth.

[Capt Snooze]

'who has trained umpteen people to earn a living'

Including hosties in a certain island nation............... :cool: :cool: :cool:

Congratulations on the 20 Mike !!


Snooze zzzzzzzzzzzz

[Capt Fathom]

There are many happy customers, both private and commercial, flying all around the world, who have benefited from Mike's dedication and generousity.
GA is a tough business, and we are lucky to have people like Mike who are prepared to stick with it!

Well said Binos! :ok:

[bushy]

Thanks Binoculars for recognising the efforts of a G.A. man. Finally we have one of the "professionals" who appears to be unbiassed and gives credit where it is due. And congratulations to Mike for hitting 20,000 hors.
G.A. is an honourable profession, and there are quite a lot of serious G.A. people who spend a lifetime flying small aircraft, providing essential services to people who have very few options. This is the most important flying in Australia, and the experienced bush pilot is a specialist and an asset to Australia. This flying soon sorts out the men from the boys.There are about 12000 civil aircraft on the register in Australia, and only a few hundred of them are big ones. Most are G.A. Yet Australias aviation is controlled by a few operators of big aircraft And we have a flood of young pilots who think that G.A.is only there to give them some quick hours in their logbooks, and something to whine about. And the white shoe brigade are continually trying to get G.A. regulated out of business, so they can sell bigger, unsuitable aircraft and get government subsidies..So, sadly, many of the older pilots become demoralised and quit. And G.A. is very sick. What is needed is not subsidies or concessions. Just a fair go. And a regulator that we trust. And more people like Mike.

[Utradar]

Contratulations Mike on the 20,000 hours,

With an ARN of 00000?? or there abouts, this guy is truely a legend of aviation and instruction.
Not that he'd ever view PPRUNE :p hey Mike? this milestone, among many others is worthy of a mention! From his modest little set up in Mackay, he has dedicated hours of his profession to other aviators.

Well done Mike!:ok:

[MAXX]

I never really got to know Mike very well but did do some of my early flight training with him back in the late 1980's.

Alot of the things he taught me I still use today,a wealth of knowledge from a quiet achiever.

Congratulations and glad to have known you if only briefly.

MAXX

[ace4bars]

Congrats Mike, maximum respect...

How about a Big Up for yours truly, just cracked 815 hrs and still hungry!

Ace4bars