Heydan Chan has always been drawn to the allure of the sky.
"(Flying) was just a childhood dream that I wanted to achieve growing up," he tells AAP.
That dream has now become a reality, with the Papua New Guinea Defence Force soldier receiving his 'wings' after 12 months of training in north Queensland.
Lieutenant Chan achieved his commercial pilot licence from the National Aviation Academy in Townsville, as part of the PNGDF pilot training continuum supported by the Australian Defence Force.
He is the first Papua New Guinean to graduate.
"In fact, I think there may only be one other Papua New Guinea pilot who has a CASA commercial license," his mentor, Squadron leader Bob Knight told AAP.
Lieutenant Chan's story is one of perseverance, dedication and faith.
He grew up on the island of New Britain in PNG's north before joining the national defence force nine years ago and coming to Australia in mid-2024.
The man that arrived was quiet, withdrawn and without any prior flying experience, Mr Knight said.
"He automatically waited for cues from the other two candidates who had flown before. It wasn't until they started to struggle that he realised he had to come out of his shadow," he said.
"He says that his faith is probably the thing that got him through it but personally, I think it's his single-minded determination and just his long-term dream to be a pilot."
The bulk of Lieutenant Chan's flying involved operating a Cessna 172 before his final test in a Cessna 182.
Passing the final hurdle is no easy feat as every element from 12 months of intense training can be thrown the pilot's way.
Lieutenant Chan operated the aircraft in a 3.5 hour cross country navigation exercise where an instructor can give the pilot any emergency situation to overcome.
"With all the emergency procedures it becomes second nature when you do it over and over again," says Lieutenant Chan.
"It's basically training you up to fly the aircraft when there's an emergency and in the event it actually happens, you are in a better position to safely put the aircraft down."
After 12 months of intense training Lieutenant Chan is looking forward to some time with his three-year-old son back home.
He will then undertake an aviation medicine awareness course in Australia before returning again to PNG to do a conversion to their aircraft where he will officially get his PNG wings.
Australia and PNG have been in treaty talks with a bilateral agreement set to create a framework for the two militaries to step up their co-operation across security areas.
Part of that involves Talisman Sabre - a biennial exercise usually involving US forces - taken to PNG.
"Looking forward to any opportunity with our bilateral partners," Lieutenant Chan said.
"They've really helped us in capability and skills as well. So in that way, we are able to understand each other out in the operational field and work alongside each other better."
