David Jacobson commenced flying training in 1965, aged 17, at Moorabbin Victoria. He was awarded a Commonwealth Flying Scholarship on the way towards a CPL and C-Grade Instructor Rating. He instructed on numerous light aircraft, most notably Victa, Beechcraft, Cessna, Piper, Auster and Tiger Moth, at Moorabbin and Tyabb, becoming foundation CFI at Longwarry, Victoria, before joining Trans-Australia Airlines TAA in January, 1970.