AIPA ‘Stick With It’

Send us a textWelcome back to Stick With It.In this episode, we are joined by Captain John Cawood, a Check and Training Captain on the Boeing 787 with Jetstar.John’s aviation journey began in South Africa, where he flew with the South African Air Force before moving into commercial aviation with South African Airways. His career then took him to Emirates, where he gained experience flying long-haul operations across multiple continents. Over the years, John has flown an impressive range of aircraft types, including the Airbus A340, A330, and A320, building a wealth of knowledge and expertise across both widebody and narrowbody fleets.When Jetstar introduced the A330 into its operations, John was offered to take on the role of Training Captain, helping shape the airline’s training culture and supporting pilots transitioning onto new aircraft types. Today, he is based in Melbourne as a Check and Training Captain on the Boeing 787, continuing his passion for developing and mentoring the next generation of pilots.In our conversation, John reflects on his early career and the lessons learned flying with both military and commercial airlines, before sharing his perspective on the unique challenges faced by today’s new pilots entering the industry. With more graduates coming straight from training academies and entering the airline with relatively low flying hours, John offers valuable insights into how training programs are structured, what skills are most important to develop early and how both resilience and discipline play a role in a pilot’s success.This is a fascinating discussion for anyone interested in the path for student pilots, as well as a behind-the-scenes look at how training standards are evolving to meet the demands of modern aviation.TIMESTAMPS:00:00 - Introduction00:48 - Early Flying & South African Air Force04:27 - Airline Career Path06:51 - Joining Jetstar13:07 - Training & Development21:34 - Evidence Based Training 29:47 - Supporting Pilots During Training33:40 - Satisfying Part of Being a Check Captain35:34 - Aircraft Variants in Jetstar36:28 - South African Airforce During War39:30 - Closing RemarksFly safe and stick with it.

Send us a textIn this conversation, Andrew Taylor and Head of AIPA Legal - Matthew Warburton discuss the ongoing long haul negotiations and the in-principle agreement reached. They delve into the drafting process, the implications of unprotected actions, the voting process, and the potential consequences of a no vote. The discussion also covers the risks associated with industrial action, negotiation strategies, and the importance of incremental gains in agreements. The conversation emphasises the need for pilots to be educated about the process and to vote wisely.EDIT:* We have updated the podcast as the timeline has since changed.*Chapters00:00 Introduction to the Long Haul Agreement00:37 Drafting the In-Principle Agreement02:42 Voting Process and Member Engagement05:50 Consequences of a No Vote10:27 Industrial Action and Its Implications15:58 The Role of Fair Work Commission17:31 Incremental Gains in the Long Haul Agreement19:11 Trust and Negotiation with Qantas24:20 Conclusion and Call to Action25:20 Understanding Employer Actions in Industrial Disputes27:25 Navigating Unprotected Industrial Action29:12 The Importance of Seeking Expert Legal AdviceFly safe and stick with it.

Send us a textWelcome back to Stick with It. Today were joined here with Dr Jeremy Robertson, Qantas Flight Medical Officer and First Officer on A321.  Jeremy started out life as a pilot, completing the UNSW Bachelor of Aviation degree in 1998, then spending three years in GA instructing at Bankstown and charter/scenic flying in the Kimberley. He joined Qantas in 2001 as a B744 S/O and was promoted to B767 F/O in 2006. In 2010 he was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes which resulted in the loss of his class 1 medical and a medical termination from Qantas.  After leaving Qantas, Jeremy completed a Master's Degree in Aerospace Engineering before deciding to pursue medicine as his next career, graduating from a Bachelor or Medicine / Bachelor of Surgery in 2015. For the last decade he has worked in a variety of medical roles including two years in the emergency department at Hornsby Hospital in Sydney, a brief stint as a GP registrar, running his own private DAME business, and as Medical Officer at Virgin Australia (including six months as their acting Group Medical Officer during the COVID Delta outbreak). In parallel to his medical career, Jeremy continued to fly whatever aircraft his level of medical certification allowed. This has included RAAus instructing, GA instructing, skydive flying, and in-house corporate flying for a number of businesses using TBM850’s. Jeremy rejoined Qantas in 2023 and has been working in a mixed role of 50% line flying as a B737 F/O and 50% with Group Medical as a Medical Officer. TIMESTAMPS:00:00 - Intro03:03 - Type 1 Diabetes Diagnosis 08:31 - Dealing with Adversity14:06 - Medical School16:37 - Time as a GP and Passion for Flying in the Background20:28 - Side effects of Type 1 Diabetes24:35 - Getting Class 1 Medical Back28:17 - Return to Flying 30:35 - Qantas Medical 33:19 - Health Topics for Pilots38:51 - Closing RemarksFly safe and stick with it.

Send us a textIn this snippet, Capt. Andrew Taylor and AIPA Treasurer F/O Glen Hunter explore the intricacies of the Long Haul EA briefings and the negotiation process that resulted in the current agreement.CLICK HERE to watch the full episode.Fly safe and stick with it.

Send us a textWelcome back to Stick With It.In this episode, we are honoured to sit down with a true pioneer of Australian aviation, Captain Sharelle Quinn (RET).Sharelle’s story is one of determination, courage, and history-making achievements. Inspired at just eight years old by a Qantas stamp design competition where the prize was a flight in a Cessna 172. Despite the challenges women faced at the time, and following Deborah Lawrie’s groundbreaking fight to open the skies to female pilots, Sharelle pursued her dream with relentless passion and resilience.In 1984 she joined Qantas as one of the airline’s first two female pilots, a remarkable breakthrough in an industry that had only just begun to open its doors to women. By 1992, she had achieved another milestone, becoming Qantas’s and Australia’s first female captain. For much of her career she flew the legendary Boeing 747, the “Queen of the Skies,” commanding flights across the globe and earning deep respect from colleagues, passengers, and aspiring aviators alike.Her career reached a symbolic moment in 2020 when she captained the very last Qantas 747 flight out of Australia. She recalls the mixture of pride, nostalgia and emotion as she stepped off the aircraft for the final time, knowing she had been part of both aviation history and cultural change.In our conversation, Sharelle reflects on the early days when passengers would do a double take at the sight of a woman entering the flight deck, the way attitudes have shifted over the decades, the highs and challenges of her career.TIMESTAMPS:00:00 - Intro01:59 - Inspiration for flying 03:30 - First steps in becoming a pilot16:34 - Interview for Qantas24:20 - Joining the Airline27:00 - Career Path and Journey in Qantas36:50 - Last Jumbo Flight 44:40 - Life After Qantas47:13 - Closing RemarksFly safe and stick with it.