Chances are if you’ve flown over the majestic tourist sites of Kakadu or visited other iconic Top End landmarks, Cameron Marchant may have been at the controls.
Cameron is also a familiar face to CASA audiences. With his extensive experience, trademark smile and natural on-camera presence, he’s appeared in several CASA presentations and videos – including Flying in the wet season, which explores the unique challenges of operating under visual flight rules (VFR) in the Top End.
Now, the Northern Territory aviator’s contributions have been formally recognised with the prestigious Australian Flying/CASA Wings Col Pay Award for a lifetime of service to general aviation. Named in honour of Col Pay – a pioneer of Australian agricultural and warbird aviation – the award celebrates individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the industry.
‘I’m aware of the contributions that Col Pay made in his career to aviation, so it’s quite humbling to be recognised with this award,’ Cameron says.
‘For me, it’s more about the team that I work with – nothing I do actually happens without them. This award is a reinforcement and validation of what my team does, not just in supporting me, but in the work they do every day, contributing something positive to the industry.’
Cameron’s aviation journey began with a childhood dream of becoming an airline pilot – but his path took a different turn.
‘I was always that little boy who wanted to be a pilot. The original vision was to fly for an airline, but as I progressed, I realised there was a lot more to aviation than that,’ he says. ‘Somewhere along the line, I had an epiphany, joined the military as a helicopter pilot, and eventually transitioned into general aviation when I wanted my own life back.’
That decision shaped a career defined by variety and purpose.
‘Seeing the variety of general aviation work and how meaningful it can be really influenced my path,’ he reflects.
In 2015, Cameron co-founded his business, Flight Standards, with Ben Mackney. The company aims to bridge the gap between airline-focused commercial pilot training and the practical expectations of general aviation operators.
He saw firsthand how newly graduated commercial pilot licence (CPL) holders often lacked the operational readiness required by chief pilots in their first flying jobs. Flight Standards delivers vocationally focused training to better prepare pilots for real-world flying conditions.
The company also provides charter services that connect remote Northern Territory communities with Darwin and has expanded its reach with a satellite training base at Archerfield in Brisbane.
Cameron’s commitment to general aviation continued when he and 3 partners acquired specialist scenic flight operator Kakadu Air. As head of flying operations and training and checking, he oversees both fixed- and rotary-wing operations – creating valuable opportunities for first-job pilots to gain experience and build their careers.
For those considering aviation as a career, Cameron offers simple but insightful advice.
‘If you’re technically minded and enjoy working with people, it’s a wonderful career path,’ he says.
‘You might start out thinking you’ll end up in one role, but I can almost guarantee that won’t be the case. As you go down the road, you’ll discover other niches – aviation is an industry full of them.’
About the Wings Awards
The Australian Flying/CASA Wings Awards celebrate the achievements of exceptional individuals and organisations in the general aviation sector.
The awards are run in partnership with Australian Flying magazine and recognise those who go above and beyond to make general aviation safer, stronger and more connected.
Nominations for the 2025 awards are now open, and more information is available on the Australian Flying website.
