By Michael Brooke
From a very young age, Callum Wallace has always wanted to fly. “I am pretty sure I would have a been Air Canada pilot by now, but I am red green colour blind” he confesses. “Everyone told me that I had no chance to fly.” This led Callum to pursue a different career path. At the age of 19, after trying less than a year in college, Callum dropped out. He realized it wasn’t for him, so he decided to get his real estate licence. This turned out to be a smart decision. Over the past seven years, Callum has built up a successful business selling commercial real estate.
Just over three years ago, one particular real estate client would change his life forever. “This man had a warehouse in Oakville and he told me about an alternative test you can take if you are colour blind. If you pass it, Transport Canada will overlook that restriction and let you become a pilot.” After an extensive search, Callum eventually found someone to administer the test. He passed (with flying colours!) and soon began his quest to become a pilot.
Right away, Callum started taking flying lessons at the Burlington Airport. His first instruction flight was in December of 2019. He quickly got all his licensing completed and flew his first solo flight in March of 2020. The next day, COVID restrictions hit and closed everything down for several months. In August of 2020, Callum received his pilots licence. “Flying is the easy part” he says.”It’s all the huge amount of theory that can be extremely challenging.”
The average pilot flies about 100 hours per year but Callum spends significantly more time than most. “If I’m not selling real estate, I am at the Burlington airport.”
Callum relishes challenges and he soon found out about something called World Fight. This challenge is about solo-circumnavigating the world in a small-single engine aircraft. By sheer coincidence, a neighbour and his partner had done it as a duo to raise money for Sick Kids Hospital in 2014. “As I heard about their adventures, I knew this was something I wanted to do.”
Flight for Hope
The World Flight is the ultimate flying challenge and Callum says this moment is the perfect time for him to take it on. But Callum’s mission is not just about flying solo. It’s also about working to promote the charity “Home Suite Hope.” This organization is based in Oakville and helps mothers with children overcome homelessness and financial hardship. It is a four year programme that offers both housing and college tuition. Upon leaving, mothers emerge strong and independent with skills for a promising career.
Callum has worked with Home Suite Hope and has actually helped clients find shelter. “Through this mission, which I am calling “Flight for Hope,” I want to bring awareness to the affordable housing issue. I also hope to raise a million dollars for the charity.” In addition to this money, Home Suite Hope will be able to receive seven times the amount in matching funds from the federal government. Plans are underway to purchase a building that will have ten residential units, a daycare along with in-house learning.
The plan is to start the journey in May of 2023 with Callum piloting a Beechcraft Bonzana. This plane can fly for five hours on one tank of fuel. For a good part of the mission, this will be sufficient. However, there are some very lengthy parts including a flight from Hawaii to California. He will fly over the ocean for fifteen hours non-stop as there is no where to land to refuel. “I have to modify the aircraft and bring in extra fuel tanks” explains Callum. “They are called tip tanks and I will attach them to the wings. I also have to remove the back seats of the plane to add an extra fuel tank. This should give me about sixteen hours worth of flying time which should be enough to make it across the Pacific Ocean.”
As he flies solo around the world, Callum will visit over 30 different places. This includes Greenland, Egypt, Pakistan, Bali, New Zealand along with Canada and the USA. “It’s more of a logistical and planning feat than it is to actually fly” he says. While North America, Europe and Australia have lots of people who fly, many other countries flying is not really a thing. You have to look professional. Thankfully, I have local handlers who will assist with any problems and get me the fuel I require.” But not everywhere he lands will have fuel. For example, he’s shipping 2 barrels of fuel when he lands on Christmas Island (located 2600 km from Perth, Australia). “It’s a half gravel runway and I’ll siphon the fuel into my tanks when I arrive.”
Callum estimates it will take about 200 hours of flying to accomplish his task. This equates to about 75 days but it doesn’t account for any delays. “I’m not trying to set a world record for time, so I will assess each day and decide if it’s safe to fly.” Worldwide, there are about 135 people who have accomplished an around the world solo mission. Callum will be the fourth Canadian who will be able to put this on his resume.
The flight will be live tracked and people can follow Callum in real time. Despite the enormity of the trip, Callum seems completely unphased and exuded calmness. “My father has accepted the fact that I am going on this mission and my mom tends to avoid any conversation” he admits. “But they are happy to come up in the plane with me to fly around Niagara Falls.”
While Callum’s mission is indeed extraordinary, there is one other goal he feels is equally as important: ”I want to be able show other people that they too can take their passions and do good for others.” To find out more, please visit Callum’s website flightforhope.com.
Micheal Brooke is a Toronto-based writer.
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