Instructors
Rob Marshall - is our Chief Pilot as well as an Authorised Testing Officer. Flying for over 30 years, Rob has flown more varieties of aircraft than found in Jane's Aircraft Guide. An ATPL holder, Rob's 14,000+ hours experience in training students and instructors provides an outstanding foundation for flying training excellence. Local to Camden for many years, Rob enjoys riding his horse in his spare time.
Craig Marshall - is our Chief Flying Instructor. This means paperwork! Despite the responsibilities of being the CFI, Craig will leap at any opportunity to fly and every student flying at Curtis will have the opportunity to fly with Craig. With thousands of hours experience, Craig particularly enjoys aerobatics and bush strip operations. He is an Authorised Testing Officer (ATO) and resides locally.
Jim Drinnan - Local to Camden for many years, Jim Drinnan is well known to the local aviation community. A bush strip specialist, Jim particularly loves flying taildraggers, such as the 180 and the Maule. When learning to fly a taildragger, Jim will give you many valuable tips, including getting the stick back upon landing! Any excuse to fly out to Yerranderie, the silver mining ghost town in the mountains, is quickly taken up by Jim.
Darren Friend - Born, bred and living in the local Camden area, Darren started his working career as a Mechanical Engineer with Sydney Water for the first 19 years. He started flying with Southern Cross Gliding Club at the age of 15, did some Hang Gliding at Stanwell Park in his mid 20's, then decided to learn to fly a plane with an engine in his mid 30's. Making the big decision to change careers Darren trained for CPL, M/E-CIR and FIR with Curtis Aviation and he is currrently a Grade 2 instuctor with us - lucky him!! In his 'spare' time Darren is a SCUBA diving part-time instructor, loves touring on his Sports motor bike, is a competition firearms shooter and part-time instructor, loves skiiing the 'traditional' way on actual skiis, occassionally plays around - with Archery, is a member of the NSW Rocketry Association and is working towards his High Power Rocketry certification, and the list keeps on going! Darren's ultimate goal is to captain a Spaceship. Our very own 'Rocketman'!
Tim Dugan - At 17 years of age Tim already had over 500 hours flying under his belt! He achieved his boat licence when he was 13 years old, did his firstSolo in a glider on his 15th Birthday, his first Solo in a powered aircraft in the Tiger Moth on his 16th Birthday, obtained his GFPT a couple of months later, has obtained both his PPL and drivers licence on his 17th Birthday, obtained his CPL on his 18th birthday and at 19 has now completed his Flight Instructor Rating course. Since completing his Instructor Course, Tim's ambition is to fly forever and to never, never have to do any paperwork has taken a turn to the paperwork side! Tim - licenced to fly or drive anything!
Stevan Matejka - first started flying in the 1980s and flew as much as his budget allowed. With a passion for aeroplanes, he always enjoys achieving new 'firsts', just ask Craig about Steve's aerobatic manoeuvres! Steve has an extensive training background and his love of teaching inspired him to become a flying instructor. Since then, Steve's grabbed every opportunity to spend weekends at Curtis, combining his teaching skills with his love of flying.
Dave Cooper - Dave or "Coops" as we like to call him, completed his CPL, Instructor Rating and Multi-Engine Instrument ratings here with us at Curtis Aviation. Dave has extensive experience as an OH&S Workplace Trainer and Assessor, so combining his teaching experience with his love of aviation meant he was destined to become a flight instructor. You will find "Coops" instructing at Curtis on the weekends and will jump at any opportunity to take you on a night flight during the week.