“In 1985, I joined the Mutual Benefit Fund (MBF) aged 26. Fortunately I didn’t need to make a claim BUT a single accident or medical issue could wipe out years of hard work. I contributed all I could, and 37 years later, I received a $70,000 Refund of Contributions (ROC), thanks to the MBF team who made the process seamless. A great Member Benefit!”
Enjoy your Return on Contributions (ROC) Capt. Dennis Salter
Last financial year MBF paid out over $1.8m in ROC to thirty-six Members. When you leave the Fund or reach 65, with 20 plus continuous years, you can apply for a Refund of Contributions (ROC) up to $75k (less any claims).
From Luck to Legacy – his story, his words
Every pilot starts off with a full bag of luck and an empty bag of experience. The goal is to fill one before the other runs out. That saying has guided me through over four decades in aviation.
I earned my Commercial Pilot Licence in 1982 with 175 hours, far short of the 500 needed for employment. Still, I was lucky: great mentors, parachute drops at Bachelor Airstrip, and scenic flights over Kakadu helped me build hours. By 1984, I was flying for Airnorth, from the Cessna 206 to the legendary DC-3 across the Top End, Indonesia, and PNG.
In 1988, a DC-3 flight to Port Moresby turned adventurous when an engine failed mid-flight. We made it safely, and I soon joined Air Niugini. By 1989, I was a Dash 7 Captain, training others in mountain avoidance.
The Fokker F-28, “the pocket rocket,” became my favourite aircraft in 1996. I flew her until 2000, then returned to Airnorth, commanding the EMB-120 and ERJ-170. Over 23,000 hours later, COVID-19 marked the end of my flying chapter. Fortunately, I was able to maintain my MBF Membership whilst unemployed from piloting.
Career Highlights
- DC-3, Dash 7, F-28, and ERJ-170
- Command
- Scenic flights, international routes, and training roles
Post-Flying Life
Now I drive a school bus, applying Crew Resource Management to the “little angels”. I am Vice Chair for NORFORCE NACKAROO Association, though my A-10 request for Anzac Day was politely ignored. Looking back, my bag of experience is full and I’ve still got a little luck left.
