Aviassist's Vision
Aviassist’s vision is to enable organisations to introduce, grow and mature drone programs to realise the benefits in cost, efficiency and safety.
- Ross Anderson, Managing Director
To ensure our vision is realised we:
- Measure our success by the success of organisations we work with
- Invest time in understanding our client’s operations
- Develop pathways to client success
- Remain engaged with clients, pro-actively looking for further opportunities to assist
- Evolve our organisation to meet the changing needs of the organisations we work with
- Develop our people and culture to deliver our vision
- Maintain an internal knowledge base for the benefit of our clients
- Transfer knowledge at every opportunity
- Be forward-looking to foster growth in RPAS use
- Contextualise training and deliverables to each organisation
- Maintain independence without conflict of interest
- Aim to be consistently recognised as Australia’s best RPAS training provider
Aviassist's Mission
Aviassist's mission is to provide the best drone training available on the market that is professional, relevant, and valuable to individuals and their employers.
- Ross Anderson, Managing Director
About Aviassist
Established in 2008, Aviassist is a Civil Aviation Safety Authority certified company specialising in drone training and dedicated to providing aviation expertise to Australian businesses. We describe ourselves as “your partner in aviation”, and our motto “facilitating flight” describes our commitment to ensuring any aviation activity can be made straightforward and stress-free for our partners.
Aviassist is passionate about promoting safe aviation activities and increasing business safety and efficiency using the latest technology. Civil Aviation Safety Authority approved and independently audited. Aviassist is proud to be the first choice for professional drone training and consultancy for Australia’s leading RPA operators, including government agencies, NGOs, and ASX listed corporations.
Aviassist is a company embracing remotely piloted aircraft and has pioneered custom drone training solutions for commercial RPA operations. We specialise in training those with little or no exposure to aviation and have many years and thousands of hours of real-world experience to share.
Core to Aviassist’s ethos is a deep understanding of the need for the RPAS industry to find a balance between the maturity of piloted aviation and the innovative, new-age thinking of RPAS. Aviassist achieves this by ensuring that operational staff come from a professional aviation background, have a keen interest in RPAS and have an understanding of the role of RPAS in the future of aviation.
The Aviassist team has logged over 10 000 hours of practical RPAS flight instruction and over 20,000 hours of RPAS theory delivery. They have over 40 000 hours of combined piloted aviation experience, making us one of Australia’s most experienced RPAS training providers. Combine this with our daily contact with Australia’s leading RPAS operators, ensuring our understanding of best practices remains accurate and comprehensive. Aviassist is a cost-effective, quality rich option for obtaining education relating to RPAS operations.
Managing Director
Ross Anderson, Managing Director
Ross Anderson, Managing Director
Ross Anderson has a passion for driving business efficiency through Remotely Piloted aviation. Ross is a key industry participant and has arguably enabled more operators in the RPAS space than any other individual.
Ross has a deep understanding of the industry and challenges that confront participants. An expert in human factors, a commercial pilot of more than 17 years of experience, and an accomplished RPAS operator, Ross thoroughly understands the interplay between aviation knowledge, culture, and safety outcomes.
Ross has a Bachelor of Science (Aviation) and a Diploma in Quality Assurance. Ross developed one of the first commercial drone training courses to be recognised by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and continues to work with the regulator to enable the safe use of RPAS technology to its full capability. Based in Newcastle, Ross assists with RPAS training across Australia.
Aviassist leadership team
Chad Dunn is Aviassist's Chief Remote Pilot and Chief RPAS Instructor.
Chad is Aviassist's Chief Remote Pilot and Chief RPAS Instructor.
Chad Dunn is Aviassist’s Chief Remote Pilot and Chief RPAS Instructor.
Chad is a commercial RPAS instructor with an extensive background in aviation as a fixed wing pilot and Grade 1 instructor. Having held Chief Pilot delegations across a broad scope of domestic and international operations, Chad has worked in the charter, air ambulance, photogrammetry and lidar survey, surveillance and search and rescue fields.
Chad studied Aviation Science at the University of Newcastle and has also been involved in War Bird adventure flying as an aerobatic display pilot. He is passionate about aviation and is excited to be involved in the future of RPAS operations.
Based in Newcastle, Chad is Aviassist’s Chief Remote Pilot.
Lydia Toohey, Executive Assistant & Accounts Manager
Lydia Toohey, Executive Assistant & Accounts Manager
Lydia Toohey is Aviassist’s Executive Assistant & Accounts Manager. Lydia provides high-level administrative support to the executives of Aviassist as well as managing all accounts payable & accounts receivables. Lydia has also conducted RPAS training with Aviassist.
New South Wales drone training
Craig Sunderland, RPAS training specialist
Craig Sunderland, RPAS training specialist
Craig Sunderland is a commercial RPAS instructor. Craig has a background in professional education as well as being a retained firefighter with Fire and Rescue NSW. Craig holds a Bachelor of Science (Aviation), Bachelor of Science (Physics and Mathematics) and a Graduate Diploma in education. Craig also holds a Fixed Wing Commercial Pilot Licence. Based in Newcastle, Craig leads RPAS training across NSW.
Holger Goehr, RPAS training specialist
Holger Goehr, RPAS training specialist
Based in Grafton, Holger leads RPAS training across the mid north coast and NSW.
Western Australia drone training
John Murray, RPAS training specialist
John Murray, RPAS training specialist
Part of our Perth based training team, John is a qualified senior educator having lectured in aviation at Edith Cowan University and Massey University in New Zealand. John holds a Masters of Management, Post Graduate Diploma of Aviation and Bachelor of Education in addition to a Commercial Pilot Licence and Flight Instructor Rating.
Sean Wee, RPAS training specialist
Sean Wee, RPAS training specialist
Sean holds a Commercial Pilot Licence and Flight Instructor rating in addition to a Bachelor of Aviation from Central Queensland University.
Based in Perth, Sean leads RPAS training throughout Western Australia.
Chris De Vaz, RPAS training specialist
Chris De Vaz, RPAS training specialist
Chris holds a Grade 3 Flight Instructor Rating, Commercial Pilot Licence and Bachelor of Aviation from Griffith University.
A highly experienced aviator, Chris leads is based in Perth and conducts RPAS training throughout Western Australia.
Queensland drone training
Elisha Chandra, RPAS training specialist
Elisha Chandra, RPAS Instructor
Elisha completed a Bachelor of Aviation at Griffith University and has a background in the film and media industry
Based in Aviassist’s Brisbane office, Elisha leads RPAS training across Queensland.
Michael Phillips, RPAS training specialist
Michael Phillips, RPAS Instructor
Michael Phillips has worked in the RPAS industry for over 10 years. With a strong passion from a young age, Michael won the 2015 the UAV international Outback Challenge and has extensive experience working as a professional operator.
Based in Aviassist’s Brisbane office, Michael leads RPAS training across Queensland.
Jason Tyrer, RPAS training specialist
Jason Tyrer, RPAS Instructor
Based in Aviassist’s Brisbane office, Jason leads RPAS training across Queensland.
South Australia drone training
William Scammell, RPAS training specialist
William Scammell, RPAS Instructor
Based in Adelaide, Williams leads RPAS training across South Australia.
Victoria drone training
Stephen Childs, Senior Base Pilot
Stephen Childs, Senior Base Pilot
Stephen Childs heads RPAS operations in Victoria.
With a background as a piloted Fixed Wing instructor Stephen has extensive instructional experience, in addition to a Bachelor of Aviation.
Based in Melbourne, Stephen also runs Aviassist’s nationwide IREX courses.
Jason Dollie, RPAS training specialist
Jason Dollie, RPAS training specialist
Jason is an RPAS training specialist based in Melbourne.
Amy Menzies, RPAS Consultant
Amy Menzies, RPAS Consultant
Based at Aviassist’s head office in Newcastle, Amy ensures customer success from initial licensing to organising operational support. Amy has also completed drone training and holds a Remote Pilot Licence for Multirotor aircraft up to 25kg.
Sara Miller, Training Coordinator
Sara Miller, Training Coordinator
Based in Aviassist’s head office in Newcastle, Sara coordinates the annual schedule of Training Events at Aviassist. Sara works closely with venues, clients and staff to ensure all training is executed safely and efficiently.
Natalie Perkins, Customer Service
Natalie Perkins, Customer Service
Based in Aviassist’s head office in Newcastle; Natalie ensures Licence and Certificate Applications are processed smoothly and efficiently. Natalie has also completed her RePL training with Aviassist.
Deb Benseman, Customer Service
Deb Benseman, Customer Service
Based in Aviassist’s head office in Newcastle; Deb ensures Licence and Certificate Applications are processed smoothly and efficiently. Deb also holds a <25kg multirotor remote pilot licence.