Our small team is built upon passion, professionalism and providing our guests with the best experience possible! Beginning with our engineers who have spent much time developing and enhancing the aircraft to ensure your flight is a comfortable experience; our multi-talented pilots – foremostly for their piloting capabilities, who will also act as knowlegable reef guides and boat skippers; to our operations staff, who look forward to welcoming you with genuine enthusiasm and assisting to help make your experience top notch.

David Macfarlane - Chief Pilot
Dave worked as a diesel mechanic for nine years to support his aviation habit which commenced with Peter Bini Advanced Flight Training in Moorabbin. In 1993 Dave started working for Super Spread Aviation in aerial agriculture. He continued seasonal work as an agriculture pilot until 1998 before he relocated to the beautiful Whitsundays. Dave flew for Skydive Airlie Beach during 2002, before being employed by Air Whitsunday in 2003.

Chad Banfield – Senior Pilot
Chad joined Air Whitsunday in April 2006. He has been flying for 18 years, and floatplanes for over 4 years. A keen sailor and open coxswain, flying seaplanes was the ideal way to combine his passion for aviation, the marine environment and the outdoors. Chad has been involved in commercial aviation since 1990, including six years as chief pilot of his own aviation business Werbil Aviation in the Grampians in western Victoria.

Lee Haskell – Deputy Chief Pilot
Lee joined Air Whitsunday in late 2006. He has been flying for 7 years, with the last 2.5 of those years in floatplanes. Lee has worked for Sydney Harbour Seaplanes, Aerolane Seaplanes in Nelson Bay NSW and has also spent some time flying in Cairns. Lee has an extensive instructional background, obtaining top level flight instructor rating.

Drew Daniell – Line Pilot
Drew joined Air Whitsunday in April 2008. After flying in the outback low level cattle mustering, Drew then moved into aviation tourism flying AirVans off the beach at Fraser Island. His next step was a move to Tasmania to fly floatplanes into the Gordon River. A big move North saw Drew in Broome flying around the Horizontal Waterfalls. He is now continuing his passion for aviation tourism flying our seaplanes all around the wonderful Whitsundays.

Dan Mewing – Line Pilot
Dan Mewing started flying at the age of 17 and his first stint as a commercial float plane pilot was with Akuna Seaplanes in Port Macquarie flying small 172 and 206 floatplanes. His next job saw him flying the signature yellow seaplane in the Warner Brothers production Fools Gold… he also moonlighted as Kate Hudson’s stunt double. After his brief stint in showbiz Dan travelled to Broome and flew around the expansive Kimberly’s showcasing the area from Broome and Derby to the Horizontal Falls. During this time Dan also was involved in Medivac flights and transporting supplies to remote barramundi and pearl farms. After two seasons in this remote part of Australia, Dan decided it was time for a sea change and ventured to Airlie Beach to join Air Whitsunday in late 2009.

Mark Muscat – Line Pilot
Mark gained his commercial license in 1999. His first job was flying passengers over the Great Australian Bight on Scenic Tours. A mix of charter and scencic flights with Kakadu Air in C207′s and Airvans followed. A love for the sea and flying, Mark commenced a professional seaplane course which he gained extensive experience resulting in a start with Air Whitsunday Seaplanes in November 2009.

Dan Bolton – Line Pilot
Dan started flying at the age of 18 and received his floatplane endorsement on his 20th birthday. Dan’s aviation career until joining Air Whitsunday has been flying with his father at Bay City Seaplanes in Geelong with aviation enthusiasm running in the family … his grandfather being a spit fighter pilot in WW2. Dan has now spread his wings, stepping away from the family business to become the newest member of the Air Whitsunday family. Dan looks forward to a long and momentous career in the float plane industry and we look forward to helping him on his journey.