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

Grade 1 Flight Instructor / Cairns Base Manager

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

Marketing Manager

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

She has four 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 International, 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! 

Makayla Ghidella

Grade 2 flight instructor / IREX and CPL ground theory teacher / Instrument rating training approval

Fresh out of school, Makayla started with the NAA in January 2023 in the cairns base. Within 3 months she achieved her Recreational pilots licence, and continued on with her commercial licence. After passing all 7 Cpl exams first attempt, she obtained her Cpl in October 2023 and moved to Townsville whilst beginning studying for her multi-engine instrument rating. In November she got her multi-engine endorsement and followed through with her multi-engine instrument rating in December. 

Upon completing her training she then became an instructor for NAA. January 2024 she began her instructor rating in house with Trace (head of flight training) and passed her flight test in April. Since then, she has been instructing on the flight line as well as teaching CPL and instrument rating ground school. Makayla has recently passed her instrument rating training approval and will now be conducting instrument training in the aircraft and in the simulator.

Whilst at a young age of 19, Makayla has obtained her RPL, Cpl, MEA and IR ratings as well as her design feature training, and instrument training endorsements.

Makayla has experience flying the following aircraft:

Single engine: Cessna 150, 152, 172, 182, American Champion Decathlon 8kcab

Multi engine: Beechcraft BE58 baron and piper navajo (PA31)

During high school Makayla competed at both a state and national level for gymnastics Queensland. She has always loved the feeling of flipping and flying and hopes to complete her aerobatic rating in the near future.

John Bearman

Grade 1 Flight Instructor