Tillsonburg air cadet earns pilot’s license through scholarship

Warrant Officer Second Class Addison Mabee proudly displays her wings, signifying she has her pilot’s license. The local cadet earned her pilot’s license at no charge this summer. (Jeff Helsdon Photo)

Jeff Helsdon, Editor

A member of the 153 Varnavair Royal Canadian Air Cadets is now a licensed pilot.

Warrant Officer Second Class Addison Mabee of Delhi, a five-year member of the air cadets, earned her glider pilot license last year. This year, she was successful in completing her full pilot’s license through a program with the Royal Canadian Air Cadets at no cost.

She was one of only 24 cadets nationwide to take part in the program. Mabee had to write a qualifying exam and then go through an interview process.

“It was a lot of questions about your personality and leadership style as well as what you’ve done in your squadron,” said the 17-year-old.

Although not the first to earn a pilot’s license from Tillsonburg cadets, Mabee is the only one to complete the feat recently.

“It was a challenging experience because I was the only person in our squadron who had done power or glider, so there was no way to know what to expect,” she said.

Mabee was at CFB Gagetown in New Brunswick from June 30 to August 15 at the Cadet Training Centre Argonaut. Each day consisted of flying and ground school, six days per week.

“We had to be ready to go to breakfast by 6 a.m. and lights out by 10 p.m.,” she said, adding flying started at 8 a.m.

Although the training was conducted at a military base, it was delivered by the Moncton Flight School, a civilian company. Mabee flew a Diamond DA-20, which is manufactured in London. This two-seat aircraft has dual controls so the instructor can override the student at any time.

The first step in the training was the basics of flight, travelling straight and level. Then she graduated to completing turns. By the second flight, students were taking off and landing.

“They demonstrate everything first, and then you take over,” she said. “There wasn’t much they had to do after that.”

Mabee admitted it was a little scary, learning to fly at 17 and being away.

“Having the glider training the previous summer, it made it a lot more calm for me,” she said.

To earn a pilot’s license, 45 hours of flying are needed. The course allotted that much time. She has been trying to gain more hours since returning home, but the weather last fall and this winter hasn’t helped.

Mabee’s next goal is to get her night rating so she can fly at night, followed by her commercial pilot’s license. The latter requires 200 hours of flight time. In the long term, Mabee would like to study mechanical or aerospace engineering and is awaiting a response.

“I applied to a military college,” she said. “That was my top choice. That would mean I have to spend the summer in basic training.”

Being accepted to military college means there is no cost for her schooling, but there is a service commitment with the Canadian Armed Forces in return.

Beyond college, Mabee would like to fly fighter jets, or be a civilian flight instructor. If she achieves the former goal, she will be joining an elite few, as only seven Canadian women have been fighter pilots.

Cadets needed

Tillsonburg 153 Varnavair Air Cadets are recruiting new cadets aged 12 to 18. Training is weekly from 7 p.m. to 9:15 on Thursdays from September to June. There is no cost for the program.

The program offers opportunities for survival training, band membership, sports programs, glider flights, pilot training, and earning a pilot’s license. For more information, scan the attached QR code.