Debbie Wardley
 

On this day in 1980, Debbie Wardley makes her maiden flight as a co-pilot for Ansett on a Fokker F27 between Alice Springs and Darwin.

Huh? So she paxed into Alice to start her first sector?

Not necessarily. My first sectors were observation. Then I flew my first. Guess it may have been similar.

I'm sure she'll be thrilled to have this bought up!

Maybe so, maybe not. But hopefully, pleased that someone remembers the milestone!

Debbie
 

The Alice to Darwin and return , then out to Ayers Rock and back, was known as the track trip.


Pax Mel to Asp, 4 or 5 days of Track trips, then Pax home.


I fly many times with Debbie as my F/O on all the F-27 services, She was great to fly with and a damn GOOD Pilot, better than a couple of the young blokes.


The last I heard of her, she was, I was told, the Chief Pilot for KLM, Internal Domestic Operations.


angry ant


( But when flying with the majority of the F/O's, Debbie and the Guys,
the Happy Ant. )

She is back in Australia working for Tiger in safety and flight ops (I think)....

Its a pity that Jetstar in their quest for gender equity didn't headhunt Deb for the CP position. It would have made a nice bookend to her career as first female Chief Pilot of a domestic airline.:ok:

Debbie's determination to have a career in RPT led her into direct conflict with Reg Ansett.

Her fight for acceptance went all the way to the High Court and led to some very significant changes to the way women were treated in the workforce.

Best wishes, Debbie!

Kaz

Currently a Captain with Tiger. Sydney based.

and also Check and Training too. They are lucky to have such an experienced pilot.

Jetstar were lucky to have her as the Manager of Safety but unfortunately they realised she had too much experience and knowledge for the Head of Safety to cope with.