AIPA ‘Stick With It’

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Presented by the Australian and International Pilots Association (AIPA), Stick With It is a podcast for pilots who want to learn, reflect, and grow in their profession. Each episode features conversations with experienced guests from current to former pilots and aviation experts, sharing stories, practical skills, and timeless advice for navigating a career in aviation. Fly safe and stick with it.

  1. Captain John Cawood

    DEC 16

    Captain John Cawood

    Send us a text Welcome 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 - Introduction 00:48 - Early Flying & South African Air Force 04:27 - Airline Career Path 06:51 - Joining Jetstar 13:07 - Training & Development 21:34 - Evidence Based Training  29:47 - Supporting Pilots During Training 33:40 - Satisfying Part of Being a Check Captain 35:34 - Aircraft Variants in Jetstar 36:28 - South African Airforce During War 39:30 - Closing Remarks Fly safe and stick with it.

    44 min
  2. LHEA11 Podcast ft. Matt Warburton Head of AIPA Legal

    NOV 27

    LHEA11 Podcast ft. Matt Warburton Head of AIPA Legal

    Send us a text In 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.* Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the Long Haul Agreement 00:37 Drafting the In-Principle Agreement 02:42 Voting Process and Member Engagement 05:50 Consequences of a No Vote 10:27 Industrial Action and Its Implications 15:58 The Role of Fair Work Commission 17:31 Incremental Gains in the Long Haul Agreement 19:11 Trust and Negotiation with Qantas 24:20 Conclusion and Call to Action 25:20 Understanding Employer Actions in Industrial Disputes 27:25 Navigating Unprotected Industrial Action 29:12 The Importance of Seeking Expert Legal Advice Fly safe and stick with it.

    28 min
  3. Dr Jeremy Robertson

    NOV 20

    Dr Jeremy Robertson

    Send us a text Welcome 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 - Intro 03:03 - Type 1 Diabetes Diagnosis  08:31 - Dealing with Adversity 14:06 - Medical School 16:37 - Time as a GP and Passion for Flying in the Background 20:28 - Side effects of Type 1 Diabetes 24:35 - Getting Class 1 Medical Back 28:17 - Return to Flying  30:35 - Qantas Medical  33:19 - Health Topics for Pilots 38:51 - Closing Remarks Fly safe and stick with it.

    40 min
  4. Negotiating the LHEA11: A Detailed Process

    NOV 20

    Negotiating the LHEA11: A Detailed Process

    Send us a text In 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.

    3 min
  5. Captain Sharelle Quinn (RET)

    OCT 24

    Captain Sharelle Quinn (RET)

    Send us a text Welcome 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 - Intro 01:59 - Inspiration for flying  03:30 - First steps in becoming a pilot 16:34 - Interview for Qantas 24:20 - Joining the Airline 27:00 - Career Path and Journey in Qantas 36:50 - Last Jumbo Flight  44:40 - Life After Qantas 47:13 - Closing Remarks Fly safe and stick with it.

    48 min
  6. Anthony Mangan

    SEP 26

    Anthony Mangan

    Send us a text Welcome back to Stick With It. In this episode, we are joined by AIPA’s rostering and scheduling expert, Anthony Mangan. Anthony’s aviation career began with Qantas in 1996, where he gained experience across a range of operational roles before moving into the Integrated Operations Centre. There, he worked at the heart of airline logistics, managing the complex and ever-changing movement of pilots across the network. This hands-on experience gave him a deep understanding of the pressures and priorities that shape rostering and scheduling in a 24/7 global airline environment. In 2024, Anthony brought this knowledge to AIPA, where he now leads the association’s rostering and scheduling service. His team provides support around the clock, seven days a week, helping members navigate the intricate and often confusing systems that govern rosters. It is no surprise that this service has quickly become one of the most valued benefits among AIPA members. In our conversation, Anthony shares his perspective on current trends in rostering, explains common challenges faced by pilots, and offers practical tips on how to get the most out of AIPA’s rostering support.  This episode is a must-listen for any pilot wanting to make sense of the complexities of scheduling. TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 - Intro 04:23 - Pattern Protection 17:08 - Commuting 31:06 - Sick Leave 39:36 - Consultative Meetings 42:40 - Open Time Allocation 45:20 - Quick Fire Questions 46:54 - Closing Remarks Fly safe and stick with it.

    47 min
  7. Carolyn Vaughan

    SEP 12

    Carolyn Vaughan

    Send us a text Welcome back to Stick with It! In this episode, we’re joined by Carolyn Vaughan, Principal Human Factors Specialist in Aviation Psychology and Human Factors. We explore the mental and emotional challenges pilots face throughout their training journeys, and how to better prepare for them from the very beginning. Carolyn shares why adopting a “novice mindset” can be so powerful, even for experienced pilots in recurrent training, and offers practical ways to build resilience and bounce back from setbacks like failed sim sessions or difficult feedback. We also discuss how pilots can strengthen study habits, use deliberate practice to retain technical knowledge long-term, and how instructors can support learners through plateaus while creating a psychologically safe environment in high-stakes training. Whether you’re starting out or returning for recurrent checks, this conversation is packed with insights to help you train smarter, stay resilient, and grow as a pilot. 🎧 Fly safe and stick with it! Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 02:31 - History of Human Factors in Aviation 05:51 - Carolyn's Career Path 07:00 - New Training Guides 08:58 - Training Pathways & Shifting Mindset 15:11 - Retaining Information & Learning 22:02 - Learning as Adults 29:00 - Training Tips for Pilots 34:23 - Help Available to Pilots 36:13 - Outro Fly safe and stick with it.

    37 min
  8. Captain Ben Holland & Chris Mulholland

    AUG 18

    Captain Ben Holland & Chris Mulholland

    Send us a text 🎙 Stick With It – Inside the IOC: Real-Time Decisions, Real-World Pressure Welcome back to Stick With It. In this episode, we're going behind the scenes of Qantas operations with Captain Ben Holland, A330 pilot and Manager IOC, and Chris Mulholland, Manager IOC Operations, who brings over 47 years of experience to the table. We dive deep into the Integrated Operations Centre (IOC) the nerve centre of airline operations. What actually happens when a pilot makes a call mid-flight? How does the IOC respond during emergencies or security incidents? And what tools and processes help keep flights running safely and smoothly across the globe? From daily operations to real-world incidents including emergency calls, international airspace challenges, and crisis communications. Ben and Chris walk us through how decisions are made under pressure and why the IOC is critical for pilots and the broader airline network. You’ll hear first-hand: What the IOC actually is and why it mattersThe inner workings of IOC departments and reporting structuresReal incidents handled by the team from Baku to the MaldivesHow the IOC reacts to PAN calls and emergenciesWhat pilots should know about the support available behind the scenesThis one’s a must-listen for anyone curious about what happens beyond the flight deck. TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 - Intro   00:47 - What is the IOC? 03:05 - IOC Operations Overview 05:14 - Chris's Aviation Career 05:43 - IOC Team Structure 08:16 - Communication and Information Flow 08:58 - Crisis Management and Escalation 13:52 - Middle East Airspace Situation  18:50 - Team Concept and Similarities to Flight Operations 21:47 - Medical Emergencies and Unusual Situations 22:39 - Baku Diversions 25:05 - Evidence-Based Training (EBT) Comparison 26:10 - Normal vs Abnormal Days 28:19 - On-Time Performance (OTP) 32:15 - QF520 Engine Failure Incident 37:44 - Pilot Perspective on IOC Operations 39:15 - Decision-Making Processes 41:01 - Communication Improvements 43:57 - Memorable Incidents 44:45 - How Pilots Can Help IOC 45:37 - Closing Remarks Fly safe and stick with it.

    47 min
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About

Presented by the Australian and International Pilots Association (AIPA), Stick With It is a podcast for pilots who want to learn, reflect, and grow in their profession. Each episode features conversations with experienced guests from current to former pilots and aviation experts, sharing stories, practical skills, and timeless advice for navigating a career in aviation. Fly safe and stick with it.

Information

  • Creator
    AIPA
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    31
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 AIPA ‘Stick With It’
  • Show Website
    AIPA ‘Stick With It’

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