Chat@6 with Women in A/AA - Victoria (Vicki) Harrison | Pilot at Royal Flying Doctors Service - Queensland Section

Women in A/AA is thrilled to have Vicki as our guest speaker at our upcoming event! The evenings focus will be on the importance of the Royal Flying Doctors Service in a country like, Australia. 

Chat@6 with Women in A/AA gives you an opportunity to virtually connect with an aviation/aerospace leader in an online environment. Grab your favourite drink and listen from the comfort of your own home, as Vicki talks about her experiences as she's taken on even more responsible positions, and ask Vicki the questions you often don’t get the chance to in more formal settings. 

Who is invited 

In the spirit of keeping everyone connected, A/AA would like to extend complimentary attendance to all, not limited to our members. So if you’re in the industry or keen to be a part of it, join our Chat@6with Women in A/AA series.

How to join Chat@6 with Women in A/AA  

This event will be accessed online. Details will be emailed upon registration. If you need further information please contact us at [email protected]

Biography

Vicki is a pilot with the Royal Flying Doctor Service in QLD. She has been flying since 1990. Her interest in flying was sparked by her mother who learnt to fly in later life as a hobby. Vicki gained her pilot’s licence even before she had her driver’s licence!

From there the “flying bug” led her to join the RAAF in 1992, gaining a Bachelor of Science through the Australian Defence Force Academy, receiving various academic commendations throughout both her school and university years. She graduated from the RAAF pilot’s course in 1995 with the highest academic score of her class. Vicki spent a total of 18 years flying for the RAAF including VIP jets out of Canberra and ab initio instruction in Tamworth, but her real passion was flying the now retired Caribou aircraft. During her 8 years flying the Caribou Vicki did 3 rotations to East Timor, and multiple training and aid exercises in Papua New Guinea as a check and training Captain. This flying was both challenging and highly rewarding, and Vicki was very sad to see the Caribou’s retirement.

Fortunately, at around this time the job with RFDS presented itself – this worked well with Vicki’s desire to stay in Townsville where she had settled with her family, and the fact that her mother was a registered nurse who had always wanted to fly with the RFDS. 

Vicki has been with RFDS (QLD) since March 2010 and is qualified on both the Kingair B200 and B350 aircraft. She is a base Safety representative and has always had an interest in Aviation Safety specifically relating to Human Factors. She was also an Aviation Physiology Training Officer in the RAAF and is fascinated by Aviation Medicine and the different physiological effects on the body when you take it out of its normal 1G environment. Vicki writes a regular Aviation Safety Magazine for RFDS (QLD) including Human Factors and Aviation Medicine articles, as well as topical information relating specifically to RFDS (QLD) operations.

Up until last month Vicki has been the only female pilot with RFDS (QLD) for the 10 years she has been with the company. With the recent recruitment of two more women she is hoping this will change soon.

But Vicki’s favourite thing about her job? The flying! She has the best office with the best view. And she gets paid to do what she loves along with helping people, who are always so grateful that they (RFDS) are there. Additionally, RFDS (QLD) is a great organisation to work for - the staff are highly professional, the bosses are supportive, the aircraft are well maintained and RFDS (QLD) has an excellent safety culture.

Vicki plans on staying with the RFDS based out of Townsville for as long as they’ll have her!