The surprise resignation of aerial patrol chief pilot Warren Gengos leaves the service without an Air Operator’s Certificate and literally takes it out of the sky.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Despite this Mr Gengos – a 70-year-old aviation veteran with a difficult-to-match set of qualifications – says he is certain he has made the right decision.
“My whole emphasis as chief pilot and chief flying instructor is the maintenance of a safe organisation,” he told the Mercury. “It was imperative to me that the organisation be safe, be able to continue operating proficiently and not cut any corners. But in the end I felt that it was the right thing to put a stop to it.”
Mr Gengos, 70, offered his resignation on February 29, with one month’s notice.
But on Thursday he brought forward his departure date for reasons he will not fully explain – for now.
“I can’t discuss it,” he said.
“Things are happening at the moment that I’m not controlling, but once they’ve sorted themselves out ...”
Mr Gengos was not involved with piloting the highly-visible Bendigo Bank Aerial Patrol plane. He took to the skies with NSW Air - the commercial arm of the Australian Aerial Patrol.
Fees collected from NSW Air’s charter flights and flying lessons flowed to the largely volunteer-run aerial patrol, making it – the Mercury understands – the patrol’s main source of funding.
Mr Gengos retires with 50 years’ flying experience and a raft of industry approvals. He does not believe the patrol will quickly or easily find a replacement.
“I’m not sad to retire. I’m sad I’ve left the organisation at this time because it’s now without an operating certificate and probably won’t get one for some time. CASA would certainly have a lot to say if someone else wanted to start operating [the patrol].”