AIPA ‘Stick With It’

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Special bonus episode, recorded live in the legendary 747 Captain Cook Lounge at the Qantas Founders Museum in Longreach, QLD.
When Qantas took delivery of its first 747s in the 1970s, the upper deck "bump" behind the cockpit wasn't just for the cockpit crew — it housed the Captain Cook Lounge: seating for 15 passengers, a stand-up bar, and décor that should have come with a volume control.
Host Capt. Andrew Taylor sits down with Capt. Dave Thiess (ret) and Capt. Don Hill (ret) inside this very lounge to talk about the Qantas Founders Museum — the nostalgia, the pride, and the volunteers who keep its history alive — before diving deep into the origins of Qantas and the role it's played in shaping modern aviation.
Guests: Capt. Dave Thiess, Capt. Don Hill (ret)
Host: Capt. Andrew Taylor
Recorded at: Qantas Founders Museum, Longreach QLD — 747 Captain Cook Lounge
#Qantas #Aviation #747 #AviationHistory #QantasFoundersMuseum #PilotPodcast
Fly safe and stick with it.

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As wealth grows, the questions that matter most start to change. In this episode, Robbie Parkinson and Stephen Furness from MGD Wealth explore how high earning professionals and families can think more strategically about building, managing and protecting wealth over time — moving beyond short-term performance and individual investments toward thoughtful portfolio construction, diversification and long-term decision making.

Stephen and Robbie unpack how sophisticated investors think about risk, return and opportunity on an after-tax basis, and why portfolios often evolve beyond traditional shares, cash and property as wealth increases. The conversation also explores the role private markets can play within a well-structured portfolio — not as speculative or exclusive investments, but as tools to improve resilience, flexibility and long-term optionality for individuals and families.

What we cover:
- How wealth objectives change as income and assets grow
- Why success in investing should be measured by outcomes, not benchmarks
- The difference between chasing returns and managing long-term risk
- Why diversification becomes more important as portfolios get larger
- How sophisticated investors think about asset allocation
- What private markets are and why they exist within portfolios
- The role of private markets in diversification and resilience
- Understanding risk beyond market volatility
- Why after-tax returns and structure matter more than headline performance
- Using wealth to create optionality — flexibility, choice and legacy

Whether you're navigating growing wealth for the first time or looking to refine an existing strategy, this episode offers a grounded, practical look at what it really takes to build wealth that lasts.

Financial disclaimer:
The above information is general information only and should not be taken as constituting professional advice from AIPA. AIPA does not refer its members to any individual financial institution, financial group or financial adviser, or endorse or recommend any individual financial institution, financial group or financial adviser, or endorse or make recommendations about any financial advice, product, plan or scheme. AIPA excludes any liability for any loss or damage suffered as a result of a person acting in reliance upon any information disseminated to AIPA members. If you require financial, legal and/or taxation advice, you should obtain your own independent, professional advice.
Fly safe and stick with it.

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In this episode, we sit down with proud partners of AIPA, MGD Wealth, Nathan Huehne and Ian Fraser break down how lending strategy and wealth planning work together to build long-term financial success for airline pilots.

Nathan unpacks the lending side: how banks actually assess pilot income (base, allowances, overtime), current credit conditions, smart debt structuring, and the borrowing constraints unique to pilots.

Ian covers the wealth strategy side: financial stewardship, classifying good vs bad debt, using equity effectively, the power of compounding, and managing risk along the way.

What this episode covers:
- How lenders assess pilot income (base vs allowances vs overtime)
- Current lending environment (rates, APRA buffer, DTI limits)
- Managing borrowing capacity and credit constraints
- Financial stewardship and the role of discipline
- Good debt vs bad debt vs deductible debt
- Balancing mortgage repayment vs investing
- Equity release and structured borrowing
- Compounding returns and dollar-cost averaging
- Interest-only vs principal & interest strategies
- Risk management, buffers, and stress-testing
- Federal Budget impacts on pilots (tax, housing, super, cash flow)
- Real-world pilot scenarios and decision-making frameworks

Whether you're early in your flying career or sitting on equity and wondering what to do next, this episode gives you a practical framework for making debt and wealth work together — not against each other.

Financial disclaimer:
The above information is general information only and should not be taken as constituting professional advice from AIPA. AIPA does not refer its members to any individual financial institution, financial group or financial adviser, or endorse or recommend any individual financial institution, financial group or financial adviser, or endorse or make recommendations about any financial advice, product, plan or scheme. AIPA excludes any liability for any loss or damage suffered as a result of a person acting in reliance upon any information disseminated to AIPA members. If you require financial, legal and/or taxation advice, you should obtain your own independent, professional advice.
Fly safe and stick with it.

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Join us for an in-depth discussion with retired Captain Richard Woodward as he shares his pioneering work on pilot fatigue, the science behind it, and the development of fatigue risk management systems in aviation. Discover the history, challenges, and future of managing pilot fatigue effectively.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Pilot Fatigue and Research
01:17 Richard Woodward's Career and Background
04:16 The Science of Fatigue Management
07:08 Crew Rest Standards and Regulations
10:25 The Evolution of Duty Hours and Regulations
13:24 The Fatigue Risk Management System
16:25 Pilot Fatigue Studies and Findings
19:28 Simulator Studies and Pilot Performance
22:20 Consequential Risks and Safety in Fatigued Crews
25:19 Real-World Implications of Fatigue Management
26:31 Navigating Fatigue in Aviation
27:51 Understanding Pilot Fatigue and Its Impacts
29:22 The Research Journey: Data Collection and Challenges
32:01 The Evolution of Fatigue Management Strategies
35:03 The Birth of FRMS: A Collaborative Effort
38:02 Regulatory Challenges and Pilot Representation
41:23 The Dilemma of Pilot Responsibility and Company Policies
45:37 Towards a Healthy Aviation System
48:19 Global Perspectives on Fatigue Management
51:51 Conclusion and Future Directions
Fly safe and stick with it.

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Welcome back to Stick With It – Season 3! In our first episode of the new season, we kick things off by celebrating International Women in Aviation Week with two inspiring Qantas Group pilots: Captain Sarah Davidson, a Qantas 737 Captain, and Allegra Taylor, a Jetstar First Officer. They share their journeys into aviation, the challenges women pilots face, the importance of representation in the flightdeck and how they balance flying with family life — all while offering powerful advice for the next generation.

Chapters:
00:00 - Welcome back to Stick With It Season 3 & International Women in Aviation Week
01:19 - Sarah's aviation journey
04:03 - Gender barriers and pioneering women pilots in aviation history
07:07 - Allegra's path to aviation
10:52 - Flying with other women pilots
13:57 - What makes a great flying partner and effective crew teamwork
22:02 - Balancing work and family life as pilots
25:20 - Captain’s story: managing breastfeeding while flying after maternity leave
36:33 - Final advice for young listeners — you can make it happen

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Fly safe and stick with it.