About

Darling Downs Aero Club has been providing practical flight training in Southeast Queensland since 1946. Training students in order to be issued a CASA Pilots Licence.

The Team

Our professional team is here to help you with any questions or concerns.

Our flight instructors have real-world experience and aim to teach you safe and practical operating skills. Our in-house engineer makes sure our aircraft are maintained to an impeccable standard. 

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Flight Instructors

Kathryn Organ-Moore - Head of Operations/ Head of Flying Operations 

With 19 years in the cockpit and over 6,000 flying hours, Kathryn brings a wealth of experience and passion to her role as Head of Operations. For the past 14 years, she’s been a cornerstone of our team; guiding students from their very first flights through to advanced commercial and instrument rating training. Kathryn combines technical precision with an encouraging, hands-on approach to teaching.


Matt Bowtell -  Flight Instructor

Matt started his flight training with the Darling Downs Aero Club in 2013, learning to fly the entire fleet across GFPT, PPL and CPL. With a bit of Air Traffic Control experience under his belt, Matt brings both skill and insight to every flight.


Tom Pangrazio - Flight Instructor

Tom started flying as a teenager down in Melbourne and has been hooked ever since. He holds a Multi-Engine Instrument Rating and moved to the Darling Downs in early 2025 to follow his passion for flying. A dedicated and enthusiastic instructor, Tom loves sharing his knowledge and helping others experience the thrill of aviation for themselves. 


Rod Earle AM - Flight Instructor

Rod obtained his pilot's licence as a cadet while at the Royal Military College, Duntroon. Flying took a back seat for some years while Rod pursued his army career. This highly distinguished career included two tours of South Vietnam and postings to several countries. After retiring from the Army in 1997 as a Brigadier, Rod embarked on his second career as a flight instructor. 

Licenced Aircraft Maintenance Engineer

Philip Payne - Chief Engineer and LAME 


Phil started his aviation maintenance career in the Royal Air Force and has over 20 years of experience working on numerous aircraft types in Australia, South Africa and Great Britain. He's been a valuable member of the DDAC team since 2005. 

Flights

Trial Introductory Flight

A Trial Introductory Flight is a great way to decide if flying is for you. You will receive a pre-flight briefing and an introductory flying lesson. You will sit in the pilot's seat and fly the aircraft with guidance from one of our instructors.  Gift vouchers are available and make a great Birthday or Christmas present. 

Scenic Flight

Enjoy flying over Toowoomba city, the Great Dividing Range and Tabletop Mountain. Get a bird's eye view of some of the richest agricultural land in Australia and marvel at the magnificent patchwork quilt effect created by the coloured fields and farmland. Our scenic flights can be tailored to suit your individual needs. 

Charter Flight

We deliver single-engine aircraft charter flights. Charter flights are tailored to your specific travel requirements. Charters are conducted in our Cessna R182 or Cessna 172S aircraft under the Visual Flight Rules during daylight hours.

Trial Introductory Flight-30 minutes $AUD
PA-38 $190
C172 $250
Scenic Flight-60 minutes $AUD
C172-2 passengers $468
C182-3 passengers $580.50

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History

Humble beginnings

The first aircraft to land on the present site of the Toowoomba Airport at Wilsonton arrived from Warwick in 1911. By 1928 the site was well established as an airport and the Toowoomba Aero Club had been formed.


At this time, QANTAS was operating a scheduled service from Brisbane at the Archerfield Airport to the Toowoomba Airport and onto the townships of Roma, Charleville and Longreach.

  • Pre WWII

    In 1936, Toowoomba became the QANTAS base for Australia's first scheduled international flights to London. DH86 four-engine biplanes landed in a Toowoomba paddock en route Singapore. Shortly after the start of World War II, the Toowoomba Aero Club disbanded as a patriotic gesture until 1946. Under the Presidency of Dr Mervyn Hall, the club was re-established and re-named the Darling Downs Aero Club, with a view to being the aero club for the entire Darling Downs and south western Queensland regions. 

  • Post WWII

    A makeshift tent was erected in Bridge Street near the corner of Greenwattle Street. The Royal Queensland Aero Club provided Tiger Moths every weekend for flying training. Soon after, the first hangar was built in Bridge Street and became DDAC's home for a number of years, until it burnt down. By 1952, DDAC had employed a full time instructor and purchased their first aeroplane - a Tiger Moth. During this period, flying training was subsidised by the Australian Federal Government who thought it was advisable for the defence of the country to have a pool of qualified pilots available to serve in the military. The Department of Civil Aviation believed its function was to both regulate and promote aviation in Australia. 

  • 1960s

    Sir Donald Anderson ran the Department of Civil Aviation, and on a visit to Toowoomba, President Jack Kelly pointed out to Sir Donald that DDAC needed a hangar on the southern side of the newly constructed runway, and it so happened there were plenty of hangars at Oakey. The Department owned the Oakey Airport which had been a major RAAF Base during the War.


    In the mid sixties, Sir Donald arranged for the sale to DDAC, for the price of 1 pound, one of the Bellman hangars at Oakey, on condition that DDAC pay for the removal and reconstruction. Jack Kelly was a builder and arranged just that. DDAC constructed the Bellman hangar on the southern side of the Toowoomba airport in its current location on Mutze Street. 


    Not long after, money was raised to build a small brick building for the aero club on the eastern side of the Bellman hangar. 

  • 1970s

    Another hangar, which had been built next door, was purchased by DDAC in the mid-1960s and it became the central point of operations for the flight training operation and still is today. The club peaked in 1964, the last year of the subsidy scheme, flying over 6000 hours in Tiger Moths, Chipmunks, Austers, Cessna 150s, 172s and a Victa Airtourer.

Gallery

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In early 2000, DDAC extended the original office building to offer improved briefing rooms for students. Today, the principal objective of the Darling Downs Aero Club is the promotion of aviation in Australia and in particular, Southern Queensland. DDAC supports aviation in all its forms, emphasising safe, affordable and enjoyable flight. Anyone with an interest in aviation is welcome.