Yearn to fly 'came from gene pool'

When Donald Sabanal, 24, told his mother he wanted to fulfil his childhood dream of flying planes, he finally found out who his father was.

"She broke the news to me that my father was a pilot in the United States air force. I didn't know anything about him before that."

Now, four years after the revelation, Mr Sabanal has followed in his father's footsteps and proudly accepted his wings at the Massey University School of Aviation graduation ceremony yesterday.

Mr Sabanal's first ever flight, from the Philippines to New Zealand at the age of 5, sparked a yearning to fly, but he could never pin down why. "I thought maybe it's something in the gene pool."

His parents met while his father was based in the Philippines, but like thousands of airmen and soldiers he had to return to America on his own.

Mr Sabanal graduated with a Bachelor of Aviation alongside nine fellow pilots – Massey is the only university in the country to offer the degree, which is world renowned.

Mr Sabanal plans to take off into the sunset next week to embark on his next mission – landing a job and working towards his ultimate goal of becoming an international pilot.

Mr Sabanal and his high school sweetheart and wife, Arlene, 24, are looking forward to moving back to Whangarei with their three children, Matai, 6, Melina, 4, and Carlos, 2. It's been quite tough for the young family moving to a city and not knowing anyone, which is why Mr Sabanal was awarded the Craig Merryweather Memorial Scholarship for his sheer hard work and "stickability".

Flight instructor Ross Monson received the Skywards Award for Outstanding Airmanship, which is only presented to a student or staff member who prevents a dangerous situation ending in disaster.

About three weeks ago, Mr Monson, 25, and a student were flying above Pahiatua in a Diamond DA40 when the single engine started to "run rough".

He took control of the situation, made a distress call, flew back over the Tararua Ranges and safely landed at the Palmerston North International Airport, where the school and its $8.5 million fleet is based.

Vice-chancellor Steve Maharey asked the graduates how pilots manage to keep their voices calm in grim situations. The answer: "The interruption you get between the two announcements is when they scream."

Air Vice-Marshal Graham Lintott presented their wings, offered words of wisdom and welcomed them into a "fairly exclusive club".

"In aviation you never stop learning and when you do it's time to quit," he said. "Please make the most of your opportunity and always savour your special view that you will have from your new office."

The school also celebrated the arrival of two brand new Diamond DA42 twin engine aircraft, which arrived from Canada last week.

GRADUATES

Jenna Arriola

Ivan Campbell

Jason Cheung

Christopher Head

Reza Ali

Robin Parsons

Cendra Perkasa

Rupert Robertshave

Donald Sabanal

Paulson Yiu

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