News
Media releases and aviation articles which communicate the views of the Australian and International Pilots Association (AIPA) and the Australian Airline Pilots’ Association (AusALPA), of which AIPA is a cofounding partner, are available below. You can also catch up on the latest aviation industry news.
Journalists should contact AIPA’s media consultants, Horton Advisory by calling Charlie Moore on + 61 452 606 171 or Anil Lambert + 61 416 426 722.
AIPA’s Submission for Aviation Green Paper
AIPA has submitted a response to the Aviation Green Paper, expressing support for green goals while emphasizing the economic and connectivity role of aviation.
30 Nov 2023 |
Author: AIPA
Passengers reject single-pilot flights: new poll
A total of 89% of Australians would feel less safe boarding a flight with one pilot at the controls instead of two or more, according to a Redbridge Group poll of 1,022 Australian adults.
10 Nov 2023 |
Author: AIPA/Horton Advisory
AIPA Statement Regarding the Qantas Chairman
The Board’s Chairman, Mr Richard Goyder has overseen what may well be one of the most damaging periods in Qantas’ history. It has included the illegal sacking of 1,700 workers which the Chairman continues to try and justify as a “sound commercial...
25 Sep 2023 |
Author: Captain Tony Lucas, AIPA President
AIPA Statement re The use of Drones
The impact of a collision between a drone and an aircraft has the potential to be catastrophic, and all opportunities to mitigate this risk must be explored by the regulator.
08 Aug 2023 |
Author: AIPA/Horton Advisory
'Qantas is outsourcing the Spirit of Australia'
The Australian and International Pilots Association (AIPA) is bitterly disappointed and frustrated by Qantas' decision to wet lease two Finnair aircraft. The Finnair aircraft will take Qantas passengers from Sydney to Singapore and Sydney to Bangkok...
19 May 2023 |
Author: AIPA
AIPA Media Release on Vanessa Hudson
“The Australian and International Pilots Association (AIPA) wishes to congratulate Vanessa Hudson on her appointment as Qantas CEO from November.
02 May 2023 |
Author: AIPA
Op Ed for The Guardian on the return to flying
Qantas pilots love our airline and we love what it stands for. We are proud to be a part of the Spirit of Australia. Yet how Qantas treats its workforce when it comes to industrial relations is in marked contrast to the emotions of the “Spirit of...
05 Sep 2022 |
Author: Captain Tony Lucas, AIPA President
QANTAS PILOT UNION BACKS COVID-19 TRACING APP
“Our pilots are out of work like hundreds of thousands of other workers and we all need to do everything we can to get back to our normal lives and get Australia working again.” Mark Sedgwick voices AIPA's support of the COVID-19 tracing app.
26 Apr 2020 |
Author: MediaNet
Qantas pilot warning as ULH flight vote looms
With voting on the offer expected to begin this week, fierce infighting erupted within the Australian and International Pilots Association as those advocating a “no” vote called a special general meeting on Friday. It follows emails to members from...
09 Mar 2020 |
Author: Robyn Ironside, Aviation Writer for The Australian
Qantas issues ultimatum to force Project Sunrise
AIPA President Mark Sedgwick said the letter from Mr La Spina was “unfortunately characteristic of the long haul discussions”. “It shows how this business would apparently prefer ultimatums to building consensus at this critical juncture,”...
14 Feb 2020 |
Author: Robyn Ironside, Aviation Writer for The Australian
Qantas Update on Project Sunrise - 13 Dec 2019
Airbus A350 selected as preferred aircraft (no order placed) | Deadline for confirming delivery slots extended by one month | Regulatory support for ultra long haul routes, pending formal application | Discussions with pilots ongoing
13 Dec 2019 |
Author: © The Official News Room of Qantas Airways Limited
AIPA's Annual Report 2018-19
AIPA's Annual Report 2019
31 Oct 2019 |
Author: Glen Hunter, Treasurer
Qantas pilots urge 'significant caution'...
The union representing Qantas' international pilots says data collected on three test flights to assess potential non-stop services from New York and London to east-coast Australia will not be enough to fully understand the risk of pilot fatigue on...
17 Oct 2019 |
Author: Patrick Hatch
Qantas 747 gets second life
When one door closes another one opens. After a near 20-year career with Qantas, Boeing 747-400 VH-OJU will have a second life flying as a Rolls-Royce test aircraft...
16 Oct 2019 |
Author: Jordan Chong for the Australian Aviation
AIPA and Qantas Conduct Special Flights
The Australian and International Pilots Association (AIPA), representing pilots employed by the Qantas Group, has signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the airline to conduct three special flights to assess ultra long-range flying (ULR). The...
16 Oct 2019 |
Author: John Hill
IATA CEO says airline collapses show fragility...
This article, from Australian Aviation, highlights the fragility of the aviation industry. IATA CEO, Alexandre de Juniac shares his thoughts on this topic amid the recent collapse of UK-based Thomas Cook and two European airlines folding.
02 Oct 2019 |
Author: Australianaviation.com.au
Challenges for Pilots in Ultra Long Range Flying
OpEd by Mark Sedgwick, AIPA President Qantas has been understandably enthusiastic about the airline’s non-stop flights between Perth and London, with bookings showing the 17-hour flights are very popular with passengers and highly profitable for...
06 Sep 2019 |
Author: Mark Sedgwick
AIPA Team at IFALPA 2019 Conference in Berlin
The 2019 IFALPA annual conference held in Berlin this year. AIPA was represented by our President and some of the Safety and Technical team, along with other AusALPA delegates flying the Safety and Technical flag for Australia.
30 Apr 2019 |
Author: AIPA Communications
Time to review Australia’s aviation safety regime
This is the unedited version of the article by Mark Sedgwick that was published in The Australian today. The version that appears on their website and in the paper was edited by their editorial team: 'Whenever an airliner accident happens, pilots...
29 Mar 2019 |
Author: Mark Sedgwick
AIPA submission to Proposed CAO 48.1 Instrument
AIPA President Mark Sedgwick has put in a submission to CASA’s proposed CAO 48.1 on behalf of the membership.
28 Feb 2019 |
Author: Mark Sedgwick
CASA 'ignores pilots' in fatigue trial
"No one knows fatigue like pilots - they live and work it every single day of their lives and we're best placed to inform the regulator on the actual effects oflong-range flying," Mr Sedgwick said. Read more from The Australian's Robyn Ironside.
22 Feb 2019 |
Author: Robyn Ironside, Aviation Writer for The Australian
Qantas Trials New Fatigue System
Qantas has been given the go-ahead from the Civil Aviation Authority for a 12-month trial of a new fatigue risk management system.
15 Feb 2019 |
Author: Robyn Ironside, Aviation Writer for The Australian
Pilots on long-haul flights fatigued, says report
One in four long-haul pilots gets less than five hours sleep the day before a commercial flight .... AIPA's Safety and Technical Director Shane Loney said the report’s findings were timely, with the CASA due to finalise new fatigue risk management...
23 Jan 2019 |
Author: Robyn Ironside, Aviation Writer for The Australian
AIPA & ATSB sign Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
On Friday 16 November 2018 the ATSB signed new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Australian and International Air Pilots Association (AIPA) and the Australian Federation of Air Pilots (AFAP). Chief Commissioner Greg Hood signed for the...
30 Nov 2018 |
Author: AIPA Communications
AIPA Annual Report 2017-18
AIPA's Annual Report for the year 2017-2018
09 Oct 2018 |
Author: AIPA Communications
CASA Response to CAO 48.1 Independent Review
The CASA Board commissioned an independent review of Australia's fatigue rules for operators and pilots in 2017, to provide an informed basis for CASA to continue with a reform of the rules.
21 Sep 2018 |
Author: CASA
AIPA responds to the 2018 Record Bonus
Following my Altitude Magazine Article on Friday, we did not have to wait long to see Qantas management’s intentions around rewarding employees for their efforts to achieve yet another record result.
27 Aug 2018 |
Author: Murray Butt, AIPA President
NASA app gives Qantas pilots fatigue test
Australian and International Pilots Association president Murray Butt said airlines had been left to self-manage fatigue, with the Civil Aviation Safety Authority yet to enforce new fatigue risk management guidelines.
10 Aug 2018 |
Author: Robyn Ironside, The Australian
Qantas pilots reject plan to hire foreign pilots
MEDIA RELEASE: The Australian and International Pilots Association (AIPA) does not agree that the purported pilot shortage in Australia is sufficient to warrant an agreement struck between Qantas and the Federal Government to relax restrictions on...
08 Aug 2018 |
Author: AIPA
Risks attached to ‘two in the cockpit rule'
Australian International Pilots Association president Murray Butt said the rule’s introduction was an overreaction and the organisation welcomed CASA’s recommendation. “The rule was introduced without any analysis of the risk factors of having a...
03 Aug 2018 |
Author: Robyn Ironside, The Australian Business Review
Pilots in for the long haul on fatigue as CASA seeks input
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority should “urgently” outline rules on crew composition and rest requirements specific to ultra-long range flights, the Australian and International Pilots Association has declared.
20 Apr 2018 |
Author: Annabel Hepworth, The Australian
CASA extends deadline to review fatigue rules
The aviation regulator is delaying its deadline for compliance with new pilot flight and duty time limits for the second time in 14 months, instead holding an independent review into the necessity of the rule changes. The Civil Aviation Safety...
17 Oct 2016 |
Author: Michell Bingemann, The Australian