Key PointsAutistic man Hayden McDonald desires the broader group to have a greater understanding of autism.He’s flying round Australia in a lightweight plane, stopping in regional cities alongside the best way to talk with locals.McDonald flies recreationally and believes the medical course of required to work as a pilot is just too inflexible.
A 22-year-old autistic man from regional Western Australia has taken to the skies on a mission.
Hayden McDonald is an element method by means of a solo 14,000-km journey that may see him circumnavigate the nation.
He took off from his hometown of Esperance on 8 September.
Alongside the best way, he hopes to dispel misconceptions about neurodivergent individuals and immediate a rethink of the “rigid course of” required to acquire a pilot’s licence for personal or industrial functions.
The full journey is predicted to contain 80 hours of flight time and canopy 14,000 km. Supply: Equipped
McDonald, who began flying on the age of 15, has a leisure pilot’s certificates.
On his journey, he’ll cease in 35 cities and plans to talk to high school and group teams in most of these about autism acceptance and his expertise with flying.
As a younger baby, he was mute and did not discuss till the age of 5. Whereas public talking may be daunting, McDonald feels he has an necessary message to share.
He desires individuals to grasp autistic persons are not “damaged” and do not want “fixing” – concepts he labelled as a part of the “medical mannequin”.
“It sees individuals as damaged or disabled, a burden on another person, that we now have this burden to bear, however I would like individuals to maneuver to extra of a social mannequin, which makes use of sensible help and options tailor-made to that particular individual’s wants,” McDonald stated.
“It needs to be supporting us and ensuring that most people meets us midway.
“So sure, all of us have to study some abilities, however most people must have the understanding that we’re completely different and make lodging.”
McDonald stated he was bullied and made to really feel excluded for being completely different when at school, and he does not need different college students to really feel this fashion.
“We have to make it possible for there’s some schooling in place [so] that the neurotypical youngsters can perceive what autism is and settle for that we’re completely different.
“We have now completely different quirks, however that is what makes us us.”
McDonald’s neurodiversity means he’s very analytical and has a robust deal with routines and habits.
“It makes me strategy the world in another way. I really assume otherwise,” he stated.
Lots of loud and high-pitched noise also can give him sensory overload.
This implies McDonald has to have a great sense of self-awareness, taking inventory of how he’s feeling, to make sure he’s match to fly.
Hayden McDonald’s solo flying journey is difficult however offers an fulfilling sense of freedom. Supply: Equipped
He’s additionally utilizing checklists to tick off duties which are required to be accomplished.
McDonald acknowledges that coping with unplanned circumstances may be further difficult, however says his willpower helps him problem-solve.
As an example, one morning he had problem beginning his airplane as a result of low temperatures. Challenges like this examined his endurance however elevated his sense of independence.
Like many different autistic individuals, McDonald is used to masking, a time period that refers back to the observe of concealing or minimising sure traits to slot in with societal norms.
When talking to SBS Information, he stated he’d solely simply realised that his journey to this point had already introduced him an enormous sense of happiness and freedom.
“I am really taking the masks off and actually really being who I’m,” he stated.
McDonald, who at present works as an airport operations assistant in his hometown, goals of flying for the Royal Flying Physician Service.
Nevertheless, he believes the Civil Aviation Security Authority’s (CASA’s) present medical certificates course of makes it unattainable for him or another autistic individuals to acquire the required documentation to fly planes professionally.
Whereas CASA informed SBS Information that neurodiversity was “not an computerized exclusion to gaining a pilot’s licence and all instances are reviewed on their advantage by a professional aviation medical skilled”, McDonald believes the method is just too inflexible for these on the spectrum.
“I would like CASA to vary the discriminatory medical course of. I’m not saying ‘scrap the medical course of’, as a result of nobody desires to compromise aeronautical security, however realistically the system must be modernised to have higher flexibility,” he stated.
CASA’s spokeswoman stated the authority was dedicated to discovering methods to help individuals to have the ability to fly safely.
“We work with medical specialists and aviation medication consultants around the globe on how our trade approaches medical certification for neurodiversity.”
For now, McDonald is concentrated on the skies forward of him.
He hopes to reach again in his hometown someday in November.
*McDonald prefers to be referred to
