Australian former pilot and member of the Safe Landing community, Geoff Collis, featured in this article in ABC (Australia) and mentions our organisation!: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-08-11/eltham-pilot-turned-baker-quit-flying-for-climate-change-vic/106945332
After 42 years and 25,000 hours of flying, Geoff Collis loved aviation. But eventually, the climate crisis made it impossible for him to continue.
Looking at the amount of fuel he was responsible for each year, Geoff started asking himself how he could justify continuing. His estimate was around 2.4 million litres of jet fuel a year.
During the COVID pandemic, Geoff began an unexpected second career, taking up an apprenticeship at a bakery in Melbourne’s north-east.
He returned to flying in 2023, but eventually decided he could no longer continue in aviation.
“I don’t think I can, in clear conscience amidst the climate situation we’re facing, be part of the industry anymore.”
For Geoff, the problem wasn’t a lack of love for flying. It was the growing gap between that love and what he believed the climate crisis required.
He became increasingly critical of what he saw as insufficient action on aviation emissions, describing much of the industry’s response as “tokenism, spin and greenwashing”.
“I’m not the only oddball”
Finding Safe Landing was an important part of that awareness and transition.
Connecting with current and former aviation workers who were wrestling with the same questions helped Geoff realise that he wasn’t alone.
“There was a huge sense of like, ‘Wow I’m not the only oddball who’s feeling this way.”
Geoff believes that individual choices can also help challenge the assumption that flying is always the automatic choice.
“I think it’s about leading by example … or showing people alternatives to the automatic response to air travel.”
Today, Geoff is still baking, and is engaged in advocacy work around sustainable aviation policies in Australia.
His story is a reminder that the climate debate around aviation isn’t abstract. It is also about the people who work inside the industry, and the difficult questions some of us are asking about its future.
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If Geoff’s story resonates with you, and if you would like to join a growing community of aviation workers who are attempting to navigate a more sustainable flightpath for the industry we love – please sign-up to receive our newsletter and a welcome email: https://safe-landing.org and join our Whatsapp announcement and discussion groups so that you can interact with other community members.
Our next “Welcome Aboard” call for new members to introduce yourself, meet us, and find out more about Safe Landing and how to get involved is on Thurs 24th September: https://safe-landing.org/welcome-aboard-thursday-24th-sept-2026/
Hopefully see some of you there!