Regional Shift

Alliance Airlines exists to serve these vital population centres. Founded in 2002, Alliance commenced operations with just two Fokker 100 jets. In the 16 years since, Alliance has grown to become a major operator of charter and RPT services across both Australia and New Zealand.

Today the airline offers a diverse flight portfolio. It conducts air services for a number of major minerals companies; including vital contracts for BHP. The organisation also serves the Australian Border Force, in addition to operating RPT flights on behalf of Virgin Australia.

These flights are handled by a fleet of Fokker aircraft; comprising the 5 Fokker 50s, 9 Fokker 70s and 20 Fokker 100s. A team of 150 pilots operate this Fokker fleet, under the watchful eye of Rick Heaton, General Manager Flight Operations and Alliance’s Chief Pilot.

Himself a Fokker 70 and Fokker 100 Captain; Rick Heaton’s career spans almost 40 years. He spoke with Australian Aviation in August about his career; reflecting on the challenges and rewards of a career above the clouds.

“Taking an aircraft from point A to point B and placing it on the tarmac some 1500 nm away; within 300mm of where the tarmac line says you should be; is a great source of satisfaction,” Heaton muses.

“To successfully do that, making the necessary radio calls and manipulating aircraft systems and controls; in a way which ensures safety and compliance; is what demonstrates professionalism in a crew. To me, that is the reward!”

Passion for flight

A passion for aviation, seeded in his youth, led a young Rick Heaton to enter the aviation industry in the late 1970s. A veteran of the industry today, Heaton recalls how his early career followed a fairly typical training pathway to enter Civil General Aviation.

“I started training at Hoxton Park Airport west of Sydney. After completing my Private License, I changed training organisations and went to Bankstown where I finished my Commercial License, Instructor and Instrument Ratings,” Heaton reflects. “I was fortunate to gain my first employment with the Flying School I trained at, staying there for just over 12 months.”

Honing his skills over the next year, Heaton’s career was given a significant boost when he was offered a position at Aeromill (now part of Hawker Pacific). This opportunity, which he modestly puts down to ‘good luck’, gave the young aviator an opportunity to quickly upskill.

“Like all careers, a lot is about luck and timing, and after only 12 months I was fortunate enough to get a start with Steve Padgett at Aeromil. This was pretty exciting for a young inexperienced pilot and was an incredible opportunity that introduced me to many very interesting and experienced aviators,” he recalls of those early years.

Having gained the required experience to pursue a commercial aviation career, Heaton’s career path ultimately led him to Jetstar. Over 11 years at the Qantas-owned low-cost carrier, Heaton would command both Boeing 717-200 and Airbus A320-family.

His time at Jetstar provided leadership opportunities which saw him oversee a number of key Jetstar projects. In this capacity Captain Heaton was the Project Pilot for the Boeing 717-200, Airbus A320 Family, Airbus A330-200 and Boeing 787-8, giving him experience across aircraft of various manufacturers and configurations.

Regional Shift

After more than a decade at Jetstar, Captain Heaton’s path would cross once again with his mentor and friend Steve Padgett; whom he had worked with at Aeromill. Padgett is the co-founder and current chairman of Alliance Airlines, having worked for the past 16 years to establish the carrier as a leading charter and FIFO airline.

“When coming to Alliance from Jetstar, the biggest difference that I expected to encounter was the change from RPT to FIFO and closed charter operations,” Heaton reflects of his 2015 move to Alliance.

“I had joined an organisation with very high standards, well founded operating procedures and an incredible culture. The value of the team and the individual is recognised at Alliance and we work very hard at maintaining that culture and operating efficiently.”

The change of flight profiles was coupled with a change in aircraft types, with Fokker aircraft being the mainstay of the Alliance fleet. The Fokker jet’s flight deck and systems are markedly different to the Airbus equipment Heaton had been commanding at Jetstar.

Notable differences include the Fokker’s use of a yoke (rather than the Airbus side stick), fewer LCD screens and conventional cable connections between the flight controls and surfaces. Additionally, the Fokker’s rear mounted engines and lower profile makes the ground handing and flight characteristics of the t-tail aircraft distinctly different from the more conventional configuration of the Airbus jet.

Yet despite their differences, Heaton is impressed with the Fokker, explaining that despite being out of production since 1997 the F70 and F100 are modern, well equipped and efficient.

“As with most of today’s airliners, the dominant flight deck philosophy is based on task sharing, multi crew cooperation and automation. The aircraft is very quiet in the flight deck, with the rear mounted engines and has very good performance with a range and payload balance that makes it particularly suitable for the types of operations Alliance Airlines conducts.”

Additionally, Fokker’s design and capabilities allow the F70 and F100 to service remote destinations that offer little or no ground support, with Heaton commenting that the built-in air stairs on the F70 add an extra level of versatility; as it can disembark passengers independent of ground services.

Heaton says the Fokker jets are a favourite among pilots, adding; “The F70 and the F100 are very similar to fly and are both what you would truly call a pilot’s aircraft. They handle well are a pleasure to hand fly and have a very good suite of avionics and automation available to the crew to manage flight safely and efficiently.”

‘Both what you would truly call a pilot’s aircraft.’
Rick Heaton

Flight Profiles

Alliance Airlines offers a diverse route map; from long-term mining charters for major minerals companies, to RPT services on behalf of Virgin Australia.

The airline’s focus on regional and remote flying presents pilots with a unique set of challenges, with Captain Heaton commenting that availability of freight and baggage handling services are the biggest difference between charter work and RPT flights.

Additionally, unlike many regional carriers, the airline operates across international borders with a charter presence in New Zealand that sees Alliance aircraft visit Auckland, Wellington, Blenheim, Te Anau and Queenstown.

However, Heaton explains that despite the diversity of Alliance’s operation, the unified culture of safety and high-quality service is at the core of the organisation’s success.

“Whether we are operating on behalf of another carrier on domestic and regional routes or operating on behalf of one of our mining clients, the operation is pretty much the same,” Heaton explains.

“Each of our operations are conducted to the same standard of safety and service, there is really not a point of difference between an RPT service from an operating crew point of view.”

This high standard of safety and professionalism is essential when planning and executing flights to and from airports in remote Australia, particularly those without dedicated local air traffic control towers. Yet despite these challenges, Heaton is quick to acknowledge the assistance that technology provides pilots in today’s aviation landscape.

“Remote location flying is a lot simpler these days than in the past. GNSS approaches, TCAS, ADSB and GPS have made our life a lot easier and the operation considerably safer. Other than a difference in radio procedures and occasionally having to provide our own separation with other traffic, a flight is a flight,” Heaton explains; adding, “Discipline in the aviation environment is largely about ensuring Standard Operating Procedures are followed no matter how familiar you become with a route or destination. No pilot can afford to become complacent!”

A happy career

Heaton’s love of aviation is evident from his four decades of dedicated service to the industry. During that time, he has flown a variety of types including the Citation, Learjet and Challenger business aircraft; in addition to a variety of commercial airliners. Yet despite his love of the Fokker’s he currently operates, he says he does have a soft spot for several other types.

“The Cessna Citation VII is one of the most capable aircraft I have operated. It has a fantastic swept wing, does Mach 0.83 and has a service ceiling of 51,000 feet. It also has a well-designed trailing link undercarriage that makes even my landings good,” comments Heaton with a smile.

And as for an all-time favourite aircraft, Heaton admires the SR1 Blackbird, commenting, “It was first built in 1964, with only 34 of them manufactured! They are capable of achieving speeds in excess of Mach 3 and have an incredible mission history!”

However, Heaton’s experience tells him that the secret to a happy flying career is for pilots to fully emerge themselves in the type they are operating.

“If I had any advice to give to up and coming pilots, it would be to always embrace the type you are currently flying and try to not hang on to memories of your previous types. A wise old aviator once said to me “love the one you are with”, that has always stood me in good stead.”

And in that sentiment, Alliance Airlines’ Chief Pilot sets off in command of on another Fokker 100 flight; connecting rural Australia to the world.