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• Khan Coleman earned top marks in his Royal New Zealand Air Force pilot training course.
• Coleman received the Wigram Trophy for the highest academic mark and hopes to join No 3 Squadron.
• He previously worked in ski patrol and search and rescue, developing a passion for flying helicopters.

A Hawke’s Bay pilot has gone from working with helicopters on ski fields to earning top marks in his Royal New Zealand Air Force pilot training course.

Now Pilot Officer Khan Coleman is on track to realise his dream career of flying them.

He was one of seven Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) students who gained their “wings” at a graduation ceremony held at RNZAF Base Ohakea, where he was awarded the Wigram Trophy for the highest academic mark on the course.

He now hopes to be posted to No 3 Squadron, learning to fly helicopters.

After leaving Napier Boys’ High School, Coleman “chased winter”, working at ski fields overseas and in New Zealand.

“I have a passion for mountains and worked for a number of years over winters in ski patrol and search and rescue, and as a summer glacier guide in the South Island.

“The part of these jobs that I loved more than anything was flying around in helicopters.

“I started learning to fly in Wānaka before starting the application process to join the Air Force.”

Coleman was accepted into the RNZAF Pilot Training Course as a student pilot in 2022, with 20 hours’ flying under his belt.

During the course Coleman sat 14 ground exams and flew 139 sorties, being assessed and marked on each of them.

“I clearly remember my first solo flight as I had to do a ‘go around’ after not getting the landing approach quite right.

“I was aware my instructor was watching me from the control tower and assessing me, but the next landing was perfect.”