Pride of NZ Awards: Patience vital in the clouds

Murray Foster says teaching flying is a real challenge. Photo / APN

Pilot gives free lessons to share his passion for flying and says the secret is in staying calm

Community Spirit category: Patience is hugely important when you are a teacher. But it's probably even more vital when you're a flying instructor.

Northland pilot Murray Foster has been giving flying lessons to pupils of all ages for several years now - for free.

Flying has always been a much-loved hobby for the 80-year-old, who worked as a local mechanic for many years and is a senior training officer at the Dargaville Aero Club. He gives flying and theory lessons to dozens of people throughout the year and currently has 25 pupils, aged from 14 to 80-plus.

"Strangely enough, I've got a lot of old people [as students]. I've got to spend a lot more time with younger people. One of my oldest is 84 and he's really, really good," said Mr Foster.

Teaching came naturally, he said, as he loved to work with others and enjoyed being able to share his passion. "It's a ... real challenge. People think it's simple, but it's not."

Mr Foster said the secret to being a good flying instructor was being able to calm yourself in sticky situations and, above all, being patient. "That's one thing you've got to be - patient. You can't shout and yell. If you give them five things to do and they do one that's correct, you major on that. Don't tell them about all the other things. You can tell them later ... but emphasise the thing they did right and that's how you win."

Mr Foster said he would provide the service for as long as he could. "When you're my age, you can't really plan things. But I love this and I'm going to keep at it."