Former pilot Cran Middlecoat and aspiring pilot Blake Kootoofa shake hands in the ultimate show of aviation encouragement. Photo: Supplied.
It is not easy studying to become a pilot when your nearest flight training ground is a nine-hour drive away, but one Western Cape College (WCC) student has gotten the boost of encouragement he needs to keep flying towards his dream.
Year 9 student Blake Kootoofa has been presented with a set of epaulettes by former pilot and motivational speaker Cran Middlecoat, promoting him to honorary first officer.
Mr Middlecoat, who is also the owner of school STEM workshop business It’s Rocket Science, visited WCC as part of National Science Week, and took the opportunity to encourage the next generation of aviators.
“I can no longer fly, because I was diagnosed with cystic brain disease in 2016, which resulted in having to have neurosurgery in 2020,” he said.
“It’s now left me with very minor brain damage, which is enough to not let me fly, so now I really enjoy connecting with young people like Blake, to inspire them to pursue a career in aviation.”
Epaulettes, the ornamental shoulder pieces worn on a uniform, showcase the rank of the pilot, with two gold stripes for second officer, three gold stripes for first officer, and four gold stripes for captain.
Mr Middlecoat, who was a senior first officer with Qantas before he retired, took on the aviation community tradition of a senior pilot handing over epaulettes to a junior pilot once they had finished their training and achieved their next rank.
“I lost my medical before I became a captain, so I still have my three gold bars, which I earned, and I encourage young people to pursue their career by giving them a set of epaulettes,” he said.
“I say to them, ‘you’re going to have some tough times, it’s going to get really hard, and so every time it gets hard, look at those epaulettes, imagine them on your shoulders, and put it into perspective, and you’ll get through those tough times’.”
As an aspiring pilot growing up in a remote community, Mr Kootoofa said he did not usually have the opportunity to meet people in the aviation industry, adding the encouragement and epaulettes meant the world.
“Living up here, especially in a town with not many pilots at all, unless they’re cattle pilots living out on stations, it really did mean a lot,” he said.
“First officer is one of the bigger, significant ranks you get as an airline pilot, [so, getting the epaulettes] is very significant, especially from an experienced pilot like Cran.
“It’s inspired me to not give up on my journey and absolutely keep going; it gave me a glimpse of what could be my future in the next couple of years.”
He said in a town where most young people were interested in things like sport and fishing, the journey to becoming a pilot could get lonely at times.
“There’s not really anyone to talk to about it, or explain my interest to,” he said.
“A lot of the times, when mates are at footy or doing other sports or other hobbies, I’ll be studying, doing exams, or reviewing.
“With the epaulettes, [Cran] gave me his business card to reach out to him, even with just a conversation.”
Mr Kootoofa, who underwent his introductory flight around this time last year and has been continuing his training since, said he was largely supported by his parents, but also worked part-time at the Weipa Bowls Club to contribute financially.
“It’s not just the lessons that are expensive though, there are a lot of applications and exams that have to be paid for, all upwards of hundreds of dollars,” he explained.
Mr Middlecoat said he was thoroughly impressed with Mr Kootoofa’s determination and work ethic, adding that the epaulettes were not something he gave out “willy-nilly”.
“I was impressed by his dedication, the fact that he’s going to such an effort,” he said.
“Young people, it’s just all too hard sometimes, and if they can find an excuse not to pursue their dreams, sadly, a lot of the time they will, but Blake is absolutely not like that.”
