But maybe that story would have been different if school had been a couple of thousand feet in the air – where Oliver’s head was.

You see, the talented young local’s just returned from an intensive 10 months down at the elite Australian Airline Pilot Academy in Wagga Wagga where he was named top of his class.

“I was actually so surprised that I missed my name being called out,” Oliver said.

The academy, wholly owned by Regional Express (Rex), was founded in 2007 after a nation-wide pilot shortage.

Each year the academy takes on around 20 new cadets (out of thousands of applicants) to train up to be commercial freight and passenger pilots.

The top gun almost missed his chance to fly professionally when the academy initially declined his application because of a deficit of ‘life experience’.

But they gave him an eleventh hour opportunity to ‘test drive’ the course in order to see if it was really for him.

“I just wanted to prove to them that I could do it,” Oliver said.

And he did.

Oliver registered the highest overall achievement on exam pass rates, flying performance, theoretical knowledge and attitude at the academy in 2017.

Cadets complete an intensive training program, from ab-initio, to graduating with an Australian Commercial Pilots Licence and Multi Engine Command Instrument Rating issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). 

After training is completed, new commercial pilots are then contracted for seven years with the company – and Oliver can’t wait to be in the first officer’s (co-pilot) chair of his Saab 340 36-seat turboprop.

Oliver, who’s had his (recreational) wings since before he was legally allowed to drive, has had a long love affair with flying.

“I just love the three-dimensional freedom and the beauty,” Oliver smirks – apparently this line is a classic in-joke amongst his aviation colleagues.

“I worked at Highway Bake from grade 10 onwards and I loved the workplace, but I realised pretty early on that I didn’t want to be a baker.

“Dad works in the mines so he flies a lot. I think that’s what initially sparked this interest: going to pick my Dad up at the airport.

“When I was 16 I went out to the Aero Club up at Coffs to get my 40 hours of flying up for my recreational licence and I realised it was what I wanted to do.”

Oliver fondly remembers the thrills of taking his mates up for a cruise after school.

And smiles as he recounts all the times he’s synced his cockpit headset to bluetooth so he could prank call his grandma or mates just as he’s about to fly over their houses.

“They’d get a call from me saying ‘I’m 1000 ft above you, look up!’,” Oliver said.

Oliver also recalls how at the academy, when Oliver and his colleagues were trying to build up their solo flying hours, they would each take off from Wagga and all organise to meet up in Cootamundra, say, for lunch.

And he struggles to get out between giggles (mine) how one time he was directed to land on an airstrip in the middle of a paddock.

“As we got closer I could see these little white fluffy things running all over the landing strip and I realised they were sheep.

“I had no idea how I was supposed to land like that, but I was advised to chase them off the runway.”

“So here I was, cruising at 50 ft and zigzagging across the paddock to herd the sheep off, and thinking to myself ‘I can't believe I’m doing this’...it was awesome!”

But it wasn’t all fun and games at the academy: Oliver was immersed for six hours a day in aerodynamics, meteorology, navigation, and air law. 

After the theory component, cadets were tasked with procedural practical training which included real-world scenarios like flying in bad weather, into busy airports, and total instrument approaches (done in low-vision).

A typical day concluded with a session in the flight simulator or a night flight.

“It’s a lot calmer at night – the air is more stable,” Oliver said.

Oliver said his parents are extremely proud of his achievements and have supported him at every stage throughout his journey.

And as far as job and financial security goes, he’s laughing all the way to the bank.

“Basically I’m set up for life,” Oliver said.

“It’s got really good career progression to major commercial airlines – they will actually head hunt you if you’ve got the hours.”

There is still a shortage of qualified instructors, regional pilots and larger carrier pilots across the country, and Oliver would highly recommend the academy course as a career path.

“If you have the right attitude and determination it’s worth giving it a go,” Oliver said.

“And you know what? Not once did I get asked my ATAR throughout the whole process. It’s attitude that counts for everything.”