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.
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Negotiating the LHEA11: A Detailed Process
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.
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Captain Sharelle Quinn (RET)
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.
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Anthony Mangan
Send us a textWelcome 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 - Intro04:23 - Pattern Protection17:08 - Commuting31:06 - Sick Leave39:36 - Consultative Meetings42:40 - Open Time Allocation45:20 - Quick Fire Questions46:54 - Closing RemarksFly safe and stick with it.
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Carolyn Vaughan
Send us a textWelcome 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 - Intro02:31 - History of Human Factors in Aviation05:51 - Carolyn's Career Path07:00 - New Training Guides08:58 - Training Pathways & Shifting Mindset15:11 - Retaining Information & Learning22:02 - Learning as Adults29:00 - Training Tips for Pilots34:23 - Help Available to Pilots36:13 - OutroFly safe and stick with it.
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.
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