Australia’s first woman pilot examiner tests the water

By Abbey Cannan

Australia’s first woman Chief Flying Instructor (CFI), and first female CASA designated Pilot Examiner, has rekindled her spirit for flying on International Women’s Day.

Firsts are things that Mary Earnshaw seems to do with finesse, wiith over 10,500 flying hours in her logbooks she has a deep passion for all things aviation.

Mary, who now lives on the Sunshine Coast, was born in regional WA and pursued a flight career in her 20s.

She became a Grade 1 Flight Instructor at the Royal Aero Club in Perth in the 80s and continued up the ladder to become Australia’s first female Chief Flying Instructor.

“At the time it was a big honour,“ she said.

“I wasn’t suppose to be flying an aeroplane…