By Name And Nature

Far from the Middle Ages, this company’s origins were in 1929 when a guild was established to ensure that pilots and navigators of the infant aviation industry were accepted and regarded as professionals. Modelled along the lines of the original livery companies of the City of London, the guild sought to protect the interests and standards of those involved in the aviation industry.

In its early days, the Guild was responsible for the issue of pilot’s licences and instructor ratings prior to 1939.

In 1956, the Guild of Air Pilots and Navigators (GAPAN) was formally recognised as a livery company. The Australian region was founded in 1969, then, in 2014, GAPAN was granted a Royal Charter and the name changed to The Honourable Company of Air Pilots.

What’s in a name?

The recent name change has gone unnoticed by many. ‘The Guild’, or ‘GAPAN’ as it was generally known, also seemed to be a rather misunderstood entity. To many pilots, for many years, it was perceived to be a bastion for senior or retired airline pilots – a ‘boys club’ for a privileged few. Not only was this misconception contrary to the inclusive nature of the organisation’s charter, it was fundamentally incorrect.

The ‘Company’ is an inclusive body operating across the length and breadth of aviation. Its principal activities are centred on sponsoring and encouraging activities designed to ensure that aircraft are piloted and navigated safely by highly competent individuals. Furthermore, there are ongoing charitable activities, education and training and technical committee work.

In Australia, the Company now operates several interstate working groups which review all matters

The membership boasts a very high level of experience and expertise.

pertaining to safety as well as new technical developments within the Australian aviation industry. The membership boasts a very high level of experience and expertise across a broad spectrum of aviation and provides opinion free of political or industrial prejudice to both governmental authorities and the industry. The regional council oversees and co‑ordinates the Company’s activities with specific sub-groups dedicated to technical matters, air safety, education and training.

Far from solely being centred upon the airline industry the membership includes research scientists, RAAF officers, doctors, general aviation and business aircraft owners. As such, the knowledge base of the Company encompasses virtually every aspect of aviation and importantly, this advice and consultation is apolitical and without any commercial or industrial agenda.

The Company has representatives on a variety of consultative committees as well as individual members serving on boards and committees at the highest level in the Australian aviation industry.

So much of the Company’s tremendous work takes place behind the scenes in a seemingly thankless void. Many of those in the industry who benefit from its efforts know very little of its existence and even fewer understand its role. Therein lies the Company’s current challenge – to remind the aviation community of its place in the world and invite new aviators to come on board. It is a challenge that the Company’s current Australian chairman is passionate about.

Onwards and upwards

Sandy Howard’s enthusiasm about aviation is only matched by his experience. A retired airline captain with over 20,000 hours, he has flown a range of aircraft outside the commercial sphere ranging from Tiger Moths to the HARS Lockheed Super Constellation.

Technically minded and historically aware, Sandy could well have his feet up enjoying retirement, but his dedication to the aviation cause and the undertakings of the Company are deeply rooted.

He joined the Company as a young pilot in 1972, encouraged by Jim Cowan, a navigator who had crewed Catalinas on the famed ‘Double Sunrise’ flights during World War 2 and then flew for Qantas in peacetime. At the time Sandy confesses to being “a young pilot with a minimal knowledge of big aeroplanes” and the then- Guild offered a pool of knowledge and experience that could benefit him. Additionally, the pilot’s union of the day was using technical data it had gained as leverage in industrial matters rather than sharing it unconditionally across the industry. By contrast, the Guild by its very nature sought and shared information without agenda.

Sandy’s continued involvement with the organisation grew as he sought to “put something back”. He served on numerous committees and working groups and was heavily involved in the National Airspace and Procedures Advisory Committee (NAPAC). Becoming the chairman of the Australian Region in 2014, Sandy is focused on steering the Company successfully into the future.

He explains that the rapid pace of regulatory change over the last 15 years has meant that the Company’s technical and air safety committees have had to wade through vast amounts of information in order to produce detailed analyses. It is time-consuming but vital work.

Additionally, the Company’s findings are well respected by both government and industry because of their unbiased and independentnature and this is something that Sandy is determined to preserve.

To support the task across a range of topics, Sandy sees the opportunity to follow the London headquarters’ lead in establishing a database of its membership’s varied skills. He also emphasises the benefits of having a broadly-based membership when discussing issues.

When the same matter is addressed by both a glider pilot and an airline pilot, a balance of perspectives can be reached, unencumbered by previous mindsets.

Just as the skill-sets are varied, the membership is also all-inclusive across a broad age range and both genders. In fact, the Immediate Past Master of the Company is a female aviation lawyer, experienced flight instructor and examiner.

Expanding the scholarships that are currently on offer is a priority for the current chairman and ties in closely with the Company’s goals of fostering aviation amongst a younger membership. Furthermore, the Australian Region is seeking the best structure for a ‘Young Air Pilots’ membership as they have in the UK. On a number of fronts the welcome mat has been extended to those pilots who represent the future of the Company and in keeping with the younger generation, social media is on the agenda as a means of communication.

Beyond the technical committees and working groups, the Company also has a social element. Formal dinners are held each year and Sandy can see functions for younger members in the future.

These dinners are held regionally in Australia and at the London headquarters with a range of awards being presented. The awards cover the many branches of aviation including safety, flight operations and training, just to mention a few. It is worth noting that they are awarded based on merit and not purely “annual” in nature and will pass to the following year if a worthy recipient is not forthcoming.

Both in Sandy’s voice and plans there is a great sense of enthusiasm about the future of the Company.

It is set to build upon the wealth of experience that already exists, and further its reach by embracing the current crop of aviators through activities and awards that are relevant to the younger generation coming through. It is exciting times for the organisation.

By name and nature

In a world dominated by political agendas, the Honourable Company of Air Pilots holds tight to its solid values. Its technical data and educational information is gathered from a widely-based, experienced team and is the result of hours of dedication and hard work. And yet the Company seeks to disseminate these valuable resources solely for the betterment of aviation.

Within the organisation it recognises these sterling efforts through an awards system, but now may well be the time for the acknowledgement to be forthcoming from the industry itself. As the Company seeks to grow and encourage the next generation of aviators, it will still be hard at work discussing the ever-changing aviation scenery with industry representatives and government agencies alike.

The Honourable Company of Air Pilots may be quite a name to manage, but it is a name steeped in proud traditions and from these strong foundations the modern organisation has grown. Sandy Howard and his membership now face the future with continued enthusiasm with the welfare of aviation and those who fly as their prime concern.

It truly is an honourable undertaking in both name and nature.