1. Rob Akron Engineer / Pilot
Mob: +49 1745 737 614 Dutch Nationality
E-mail: RAkron@gmx.de
SUMMARY:
Aerospace engineer, pilot, and yachtsman exposed to a variety of industries including Aerospace
and Maritime. Experience across Materials, Composites, Design, Training, and Assessment. Broad
international experience having lived in Asia, Middle East, South America, Europe, and Australia.
Traveled and lived in many countries being exposed to different cultures, values and morals.
Diverse cultural background and fluent in multiple languages. Interpersonal & leadership skills
required for project engineering tasks has proven of distinct advantage when liaising with clients,
contractors and suppliers. Engineering background lies across large project engineering, reliability
and condition monitoring, workplace morale, training, and composite work. Further professional
experience in teaching, instructing and assessing, including corporate team building and
international postings. Confident personality.
LANGUAGES:
English, German, Dutch, Spanish, Japanese, Chinese (rudimentary), French (rudimentary)
QUALIFICATIONS:
1. Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical) - University of Western Australia 2004 – 2008
Industry Applied Honours Thesis - Reliability & Condition Monitoring 2008
2. Commercial Pilot (Fixed wing and Helicopter ~ 840 hrs) ME, IFR, Formation, Aerobatic, Low Level
3. Qualified Workplace Assessor - TAA04 Training and Assessment Competencies, TAFE WA
4. Dangerous Goods Certificate trained - Airsafe Transport Training
5. Yachtmaster and Instructor – CWO IV all disciplines, IVW Netherlands and Yachting Western Australia
6. Maritime Training and Assessor Qualifications – TAFE WA, Department of Transport, Western Australia
7. TDM30101 Cert. III in Transport and Distribution - TAFE WA
SUMMARY OF SELECTED EXPERIENCE:
Commercial aerobatic formation flying of Chinese airforce training aircraft (trained by air force instructors)
Honours thesis in Change Management and Reliability Engineering
Project Management work across various industries at various levels
Familiarity and interest in Reliability Engineering and asset time life value
Experience and qualifications in training and assessment across various industries
Owner/manager of businesses at various times
SELECTED WORK SUMMARY:
Fighter Combat International Feb 2007 – Dec 2011
o Formation Aerobatic, Warbird and simulated dogfight charter pilot
o Trained to standard by current Australian Airforce Fastjet Instructors including Test Pilots
o Low cycle time, high intensity flights – Demo Reel Available Upon Request
Sandwell Services Pty Ltd Feb 2008 – Jan 2012
o Mechanical/Project Engineer
Large scale project work and structural calculations.
Attitude Aerobatics Jun 2007 – Jun 2009
o Aerobatic charter pilot – Demo Reel Available Upon Request
o Line charter pilot
UWAMotorsport FSAE team Jul 2004 – Jun 2008
o Composite, sheet metal, hydraulic work, and design
o Driver – Demo Videos and Images Available Upon Request
WABike Trials Jun 2004 – Dec 2009
o Entertainment / Events company. Display rider, presenter, and team manager
o Professional Demo Reel Available Upon Request
Skydive Express/WASkydive Jun 2007 – Jan 2011
o Paradrop pilot (“meatball launcher”)
o Significant coordination required with CTA
o Operations from (very small) dirt roads at aircraft operational limits
Phoenix Aviation Jan 2003 – Feb 2003
o Basic Student Work Experience
2. OTHER PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENTS:
- Johns Hopkins Science Scholarship Award
- SAT score 99th
percentile
- Various Distinctions - Australian School Science Competition, and others - Perth WA
- 2nd
place UWAlocal Weir-Warman Robotics competition - Perth WA
- Further sporting podium placements - Sailing, indoor climbing, bike riding, motorsports
- Personal Challenges
Head Hunter Trail, Malaysia 2007
Mt. Kinabalu, Malaysia 2007
Mt. Pico Bolivar (5007m), Venezuela 2001
PERSONAL INTERESTS: Aerospace, Maritime, Scuba diving, Skydiving, Bike riding, Boating
REFERENCES:
The following references include Flight Test Officers, Wingmen, Engineering Managers, and Employers. Further
references across specific industries can be provided upon request.
Capt. Trent Robinson Adam Mathews
Chief Flight Instructor Principal Reliability Engineer – Rio Tinto
Advanced Cockpit Flight Training Mob: +61 (0) 407 039 410
Mob: +61 8 6397 3315 adam.mathews@riotinto.com
Capt. Jeremy Miller C.M. Skip Lissiman
Chief Pilot - Fighter Combat International Executive Officer - West Australian Yachting Foundation
Captain Kingair – Royal Flying Doctor Service Americas Cup Champion – Australia II
Mob: +61 416 084766 Tel: +61 8 9386 9488
Fltlt. Capt. Ian Gonsal, “Gonz” Rosco McGlashan – Order of Australia
Sr. Captain, Cathay Pacific 747-800 “Fastest man on Earth”
RAAF Qualified Test Pilot & Check Captain Aussie Invader 5R – Landspeed Record Project
Contact Strictly Upon Request Contact Strictly Upon Request
3. EXPANDED EXPERIENCE:
Chronik Entertainment, Akron Technical, RWTH Nov 2012 - Present
Set up of two companies and furthering of language and technical studies
NRW, Germany
Germany was selected as a central location to further personal cultural, language, and industry knowledge and contacts. This was
achieved through language courses and a Master's study at the RWTH top national technical university. Additionally, two companies
were set up with the intent of gaining knowledge and a long term aims of winning future contracts across the Aerospace, Maritime, and
Corporate fields in both the technical (Akron), and the entertainment sectors (Chronik). In the event further favorable opportunities
become available from established organizations, these companies can be mothballed or dissolved.
Project Control Costs: ~€30,000
Managing Up: Nil
Managing Level: Pilots, Business owners, Financiers, and Asset owners
Requirements included:
Learning the language to C1 proficiency within four months prior to application
Analysis and selection of appropriate business structures in Germany and wider Europe
Networking with industry contacts and understanding of industry tender processes
Commencement of a Masters in Economics and Aerospace Engineering
Aussie Invader Nov 2011 – Nov 2012
Contract Engineer
Aussie Invader 1000Mph Landspeed Record Team
Perth, Australia
The Aussie Invader team is attempting a world landspeed record attempt with the intent of breaking the current record held by the
British Thrust SSC team at 763 mph (Mach 1.002). Their intent is to attempt this using a 9 tonne hypergolic (self-igniting) rocket fuel
powered vehicle with a design speed of 1000 mph.
Personal Project Control Cost: Nil
Managing Up: 1 Person – Owner / driver
Managing Down: 4 peers at primary level
Responsibilities Included:
Manual work on vehicle shaping
Liaising with potential suppliers and sponsors in the Aerospace, Maritime and Airforce
Analysis of axle design and suggestions of alternate designs
Rough analysis of vehicular aerodynamics
Note: After significant time spent examining the project design and intent, disagreement over the reliability of the current axle set-
up resulted in an amicable separation from the team. (It was felt the project could not progress unless all team members were
aligned, and personal opinions unfortunately did not align with that of the current vehicle set-up from a safety point of view.).
Current tentative run scheduling is for 2015, and I wish them all the best.
Sandwell / Citic Pacific Feb 2008 – Jan 2012
Project Engineering - Breakwater & Pipelines
Cape Preston Project
Perth, Australia
Project Engineer
Responsible for mechanical design, preparation of tender packages and procurement, and project engineering for all items related to
design and construction to large (1.8m) diameter pipeline within a breakwater. Pipe and roadway was designed for extreme overhead
loads (100 Tonne Haul Trucks) in unpredictable soil and settlement conditions of the breakwater. Project was introduced after
construction start due to scheduling issues, and as such, dealt with dynamic project conditions and requirements.
Personal Project Control Cost: $~20 Mio AUD.
Managing Up: 2 Persons – CEO and Lead Project Engineer
Managing Down: 4-10 peers in Engineering team at corporate office + site
Responsibilities Included:
Project Engineering of suitable pipe material, jointing methods, contractor selection, procurement of material
Mechanical analysis of suitable pipe material and jointing methods.
Mechanical design of selected pipe material and jointing method.
Design and review to AS 2566, AS 3571, AWWA, DNV standards.
Preparation of project design criteria and tender packages.
Note: After a late change in project management, materials selection recommendations were followed but supplier and installer
recommendations were not (for cost saving purposes). During initial pressure testing after breakwater construction, the pipeline
failed due to a missing sealing joint, and a breakwater section washed away.
4. Fighter Combat International / Advanced Cockpit Flight Training Feb 2007 – Dec 2011
Pilot
Jandakot Airport, Western Australia
Aerobatic Pilot, Corporate Coach
Fighter Combat International (Now Warbirds WA) is an organization set up by Australian air force pilots for the purpose of
giving the general public the opportunity to experience air force type operations in a controlled environment. The
organization would take individuals, groups, or corporate groups out for multi-aircraft formation acrobatic flying
experiences, culminating with a simulated dogfight between aircraft. Aircraft types used were ex- Chinese air force CJ6A
Nanchangs, Unlimited class Extra 300L's, L39 training jets, and various others. Depending on operations passengers would
experience +4G and -1G forges with aircraft separation of three feet (1m). The E300 is rated to +-10G, however this was
not suitable to most passenger operations.
In general, all pilots were current or ex-airforce instructors, with two civilian pilots being selected, trained, and assessed for
operations by air force instructors. Personal entry was around CPL 300hrs.
Four flights per day, 3-5 aircraft per sortie - (mostly weekends)
Project Control Cost: ~$460 AUD per flight (CJ6's)
Managing up: 2 Managing Directors
Managing down: ~15 airforce QFI's, 1 Passenger per aircraft, 3-4 aircraft and pilots per sortie. At least 1 ops briefing to all
passengers per day (rotated). Multiple passengers in other commercial flight operations
Responsibilities Included:
Managing the safety, enjoyment, and thrill of all passengers on individual flights
Flying the aircraft in Close Formation and Aerobatic Situations - (including personally owned aircraft of referees)
Depending on the event; coordination of pilots and planning of the overall sortie
Swan River Sailing Nov 2003 – Jul 2012
Yachtsman - Corporate
Swan River, Western Australia
Yachtsman, Corporate Coach
Swan River Sailing is an organization which brings together the worlds top athletes in the field of competitive sailing and
matches them with a corporate group on a racing yacht. Among the yachtswomen and men are many Olympic gold medalists and
several America's Cup winners, in combination with top motivational coaches. Among the clients are countless international
companies and corporations.
Aim of the organization is to demonstrate the value of taking individuals in their specific specializations and optimizing their
overall work as a team. Barring unforeseen factors, the best overall team will inevitably win any competitions, however non-
competitive events are also organized.
Up to three events per day, 18 yachts, 7dpw in summer.
Project Control Cost: $800 – 1400 per yacht, per event.
Managing up: 1 Executive Officer
Managing down: 1 coach per yacht per event, 11 passengers per yacht
Responsibilities Included:
Managing the safety, enjoyment, and education of all passengers on individual yachts
Sailing of the yachts
Depending on the event; coordination of coaches and event
WABike Trials Jun 2004 – Dec 2009
Owner / Manager
Western Australia
WABike Trials was a specialist entertainment group in Western Australia performing acrobatic mountain bike displays at various
local government, city, state, and corporate events. Events attended included Telstra Rally Australia, Gravity Games, Perth Royal
Show, and countless local and statewide events.
Project Control Costs: Individually negotiated per event. Rates at $500 per rider per show, general maximum four shows per day.
Managing up: nil
Managing down: 3 riders, plus event crews
Responsibilities Included:
Scouting, liaising with, and negotiating event contracts
Designing show, managing display riders and crew
Media management pre- and during events
Selection and implementation of advertising and promotion methods
Note: WA Bike Trials and other experiences and contacts have now been implemented in the formation of Chronik Entertainment.
A more generic entertainment company targeting events and corporate entertainment.
5. University of Western Australia Jul 2004 – Jun 2008
UWAMotorsport FSAE Team
Perth, Australia
Reserve Race Driver & Design Engineer
University 3rd
year project completed on the implementation of aviation maintenance systems to motorsports teams. Mechanical
design background in UWAmotorsport team during first two years of engineering study. Designed and manufactured oil sump
baffling for Motorsport ’02 and ’03 racecars. Throttle body airbox, shifter ram connection, oil breather covers, composites work.
Further work on '04 and active as driver and reserve driver.
Managing up: 2 team leaders
Managing level: ~20 peers
Additional: Several Australian air-force pilots and aviation business owners
Responsibilities Included:
Technical analysis, materials selection, and design of various diverse metals and composites components
CAD design, structural and aerodynamic simulation work
Vehicle testing and race driving