NAA Crew

Trace Palmer

Head of Training / Grade 1 Flight Instructor / Charter Pilot / Multi Engine Training Approval

Trace has worked in the aviation industry for more than 13 years. He is the Head of Training, and is passionate about providing quality training to students and supporting new pilots into the aviation industry.

Trace holds design feature training endorsement, and multi engine instrument rating with multi engine training approval. Previously, Trace worked as an instructor and skydive pilot in New Zealand, where he gained experience mountain flying, low flying and operating tail wheel aircraft.

Prior to fulfilling his life ambition of becoming a pilot, Trace worked in logistics and heavy industry in Australia and New Zealand.

He has experience flying the following aircraft:

Trace Also conducts: 

• Instrument Training Approval
• Night Training Approval
• Instructor Training Approval

David Jensen

Hello, my name is David Jensen, and I'm a new recruit to the TFT fixed wing instructing team. I'm currently working out of the Cairns Flight Training Centre.

My aviation experience includes gaining my PPL in my home country of New Zealand, moving to Australia in 2006 and doing my night VFR at Parafield, South Australia. I self studied all my CPL theory subjects, then moved to Melbourne and did my CPL and Instrument Rating in three and a half months. I acquired my Flight Instructor Rating a few years later at Mareeba QLD. My first aviation job was instructing RAAus and G.A. in Moruya NSW. Since then I've also worked as an instructor for Bob Harris in Innisfail, QLD. I am now a Grade 1 GA instructor, and a Senior RAAus instructor. I have nearly 2000 hours instructing experience. All in G.A.

A couple of things I have learned about aviation from instructing: 1) Every day you can learn something new about flying. In that regard I am still very much a student of aviation myself. 2) Just when you think you've seen it all, a student will surprise you with something new.

I am also a lecturer for Central Queensland University in their Aviation Dept. Teaching theory courses dovetails nicely with flight instructing. It's great to teach students in the classroom, and then grab the keys to an aeroplane and teach them in the air.
My passion and dream, even in my previous career - High School teaching - was always to be a pilot. I'm still a teacher. As an instructor it's a privilege to be able to encourage others on their aviation journey.

Georgie Arnold

Georgie Arnold is our creative Social Media Marketing Manager and looks after all things online at National Aviation Academy. 

She has two years experience as a Marketing Manager and a whole lifetime of experience in aviation as she has been born and raised in the industry. 

Georgie is a Commercial Helicopter and operates scenic flights for our sister brand Townsville Helicopters. Whilst we haven't convinced her to join the fixed wing side (yet) she loves finding new and trending ways to promote the NAA brand to our audience. She is very passionate about educating everyone about the enormous amount of career pathways in aviation and also manages our other sister brand - Aviatrix Australia, a platform encouraging aviation for all, especially women. 

If you're looking for a brand sponsorship or wanting to pitch an exciting collaboration idea then Georgie is your girl! She also does freelance work if your brand / business is looking for short term contract work.