Following on from his father Brett's 30 years of flying experience, high school graduate Hamish Douglass has dreamt of a career as a pilot since his first solo flight with an instructor at the age of 14.

"For me it was euphoric, like everything was together and it was all perfect, peaceful and calm," he said.

"I knew then that that was all I wanted to do. It was an amazing feeling to be up there."

Brett, who has completed more than 18,000 hours of time in flight – with 14 years spent with Virgin Australia – has returned to university to complete a Masters in Aviation with the intention to broaden the horizons and opportunity of his career.

"As a pilot I am already a valuable asset for Virgin Australia and obtaining a Masters in Aviation will only increase that value," he said.

Brett finds that Hamish's ambitions are reminiscent of his own beginnings in the industry.

"I was just fascinated with planes from a very young age and it was all I ever aspired to do," he said.

"I am very fortunate to have such longevity in the industry."

Hamish's experience in the aviation field will be very different to his father's, with the introduction of heightened technology including GPS and other advancements in safety and technology.

In an ever-evolving industry, Brett encourages aviation as a profession to not just his son but any person with a love for adventure.

"For me I'd recommend it to anyone, not just for my son, as it is such an interesting field," he said.

"Aviation is an exciting and rewarding career and is an interesting diverse industry. No two days are the same."