President

The primary role of the Union President is that of Chief Executive and Administrative Head. This means that he/she:

• Chairs the Board of Management meetings and Conference
• Is responsible for the business affairs of the union
• Works with other union officers to further the objectives and polices of the union
• Carries out instructions given by the BOM and Conference

In essence the President is there to ensure that NZALPA runs in accordance with the rules of the union and is operated in an efficient and effective manner.

Mark Rammell

Mark is an A320 Captain with Air New Zealand who commutes out of Wellington. Mark joined NZALPA in the early eighties while working for Eagle Airways as a Chieftain and Beech Baron pilot.  Since 2000 he has been an Air New Zealand Council and Board of Management member, and has filled the position of Vice President. 

Mark is also a Trustee of the NZALPA Contingency Fund Trust and was involved in the project management team during the building of ALPA House at Airpark Drive.  He and his wife Fiona have four children: Ben, Christopher, Samuel and Renee who all support him in the work he does for the union.

Vice President

The Vice President is responsible for overseeing all union financial and administrative affairs. This means that he/she:

• Tracks the union financial performance to make sure it is keeping within the boundaries of the Conference approved budget
• Ensures that the employment arrangements with the NZALPA staff are kept up to date, and carries out annual reviews of these arrangements
• Prepares a budget for the upcoming year for approval by Conference
• Completes other administrative duties as assigned by the President or the Board of Management. 

The Vice President ensures that NZALPA is adequately resourced to undertake activities that will achieve its objectives, in both the Industrial and Safety arenas.

Peter Fleming

Peter has been an NZALPA member since 1987, within a short time he was 'roped in' to ALPA work. Over the years this work has included, Northern Branch Committee member, Board of Management representative, Air New Zealand Council member, and Negotiator.

He started in aviation as an RNZAF Navigator, operating Andover and C130 aircraft. Next came 3 years as an Air Traffic Controller in Australia, training in Melbourne then working in Sydney. While in Sydney he completed a CPL.

With a new CPL in hand went looking for work as a Pilot, finding a job with Talair in PNG. After 3 years with Talair flying C206's, BN2's, C402's and Twin Otters he was employed by Air New Zealand.

Peter is currently flying the A320 by way of the 737, 767, and F27.

He is married with two children and lives in Auckland.

Secretary

The Union Secretary is a position appointed by the Board of Management, upon such terms and conditions as the Board of Management may decide. The Secretary is entitled to all the privileges of an Officer of the Union but shall not be entitled to vote unless they are an elected Branch representative as well. The Secretary is responsible for attending to all membership related enquiries, advising members of conferences and meetings, organising any remits for such meetings, advising members of proposed rule changes, organising ballots for approval of such changes, recording details of the Board of Management and Conference meetings, and being a Board liaison person with the front office staff.

Paul Lyons

Paul completed his CPL training at Wanganui Flying School in 1978, and began Agricultural Flying in 1979 for Farmers Aerial Topdressing based in Alexandra on a 400hp Fletcher aircraft. He became a southern delegate for the Agricultural Pilots Association in the early 80’s but became an owner/operator in 1985 with a Cresco and a Fletcher aircraft when parent company James Aviation liquidated its fleet and sold to the pilots due to economic circumstances at the time. Short stints in Sudan and Egypt followed, to supplement income.

Paul has been a member of NZALPA since November 1987 when he joined Air New Zealand as an F27 pilot. Since that time he has flown B737-200/300, B767-200/300 and currently works as an A320 Captain in Auckland. He has served as a Board of Management representative for Southern and Northern Branches and has been elected to a range of NZALPA roles including IFALPA Director [1997-2000], Vice President [2000-2002] and President [2002-2005].

Since 2005 Paul has served as Aviation Security Coordinator for NZALPA and will continue in this interesting role as NZALPA forges important relationships at IFALPA, NZ Civil Aviation Authority (NZCAA), Aviation Security (AVSec) and Ministry of Transport (MoT). Other roles include Trustee of Group Life Insurance and Director NZALPA Trustee Company Limited, since its establishment in 2004.

NZALPA Secretary is a new role for Paul and he is looking forward to supporting the Principal Officers, staff and membership of NZALPA as they continue to develop administrative procedures. Paul is married to Rosemary, has a grown up family of four and six beautiful grand-daughters as at 2009. 

Industrial Director

• Is involved in, and responsible for all collective Employment Agreement negotiations
• Assists different councils and provides legal resources to them as required
• Reports and makes recommendations to the Board of Management on issues of legal significance.

Tim Robinson

Tim is a Boeing 737-300 Captain with Air New Zealand, domiciled in Christchurch. He has previously flown the A320 with Air New Zealand and joined NZALPA is the early nineties whilst working at Air Nelson as a Saab 340A and Metro III pilot. Tim has held many roles within NZALPA including Chairman of the Southern Branch, Admin Head of the Air New Zealand Pilots’ Council, Deputy Admin Head of the Air Nelson Pilots’ Council and Board of Management member.

He and his wife Brenda and family live just outside of Christchurch on their farm block at Broadfields. Tim is also a qualified lawyer.

Technical Director

As well as implementing all technical policies of the Union, the Technical Director is responsible for working with the President in all technical matters, including assisting members with any incidents, accidents or other safety related issues that may occur while carrying out their flying duties. This work also extends to assisting other IFALPA affiliated members during their operation into or out of New Zealand. In addition, the Technical Director's role includes overseeing all the safety work undertaken by NZALPA.  This ensures the New Zealand regulatory authorities and participants in the NZ aviation system are kept up to date with the latest international trends related to improvement of aviation safety through systems, procedures, training programs, and compliance with ICAO standards and recommended practices.

Hugh Faris

Hugh joined Air New Zealand in 1987 as a First Officer on the F27 Fokker Friendship having cut his teeth flying seaplanes around the Pacific and the North Island of New Zealand.

He progressed to First Officer B737-200 and then did an 18 month stint as Second Officer on the B747-400.  Hugh has also served as a First officer on the B767-2/300. Hugh gained his first jet command on the B737-300 after nearly 17 years with Air New Zealand. and has recently been type rated on the Airbus A320 where he has been appointed as a Training Captain.

ATC Director

The role of ATC Director is to co-ordinate the Air Traffic Control "wing" of the Association and represent members employed by Airways New Zealand.

Jim Dunn

Jim began his flying career around 1980 at Ardmore Flying School, where he worked as an instructor and charter pilot until 1985. He worked for a third level airline before taking up ATC in 1986.

IFALPA Director

The IFALPA Director is responsible for all safety matters pertaining to IFALPA in New Zealand.  He/she advises the President and other relevant parties on all IFALPA matters, and is responsible for insuring that any deficiencies relating to aerodromes and airspace are reported to the Regional Vice President and IFALPA.

The IFALPA Director is also the primary means of communication between IFALPA and the New Zealand Air Line Pilots’ Association and is responsible for ensuring open and effective communication between the two parties.

Glen Kenny

Glen got the flying bug at an early age. After leaving high school, Glen went to Massey University and joined the School of Aviation programme.

After graduation, Glen worked as an instructor with Waitemata Aero Club before gaining a position with Eagle Air as a First Officer on the EMB-110 Bandeirante. After two years flying with Eagle Air, Glen got his command on the Bandeirante and shortly after the SA-227 Metroliner. In 1996 Glen gained a position with Air New Zealand as a Second Officer on the B747-400 and in 2004 was promoted to First Officer on the B767 fleet.

Glen has been an ALPA member since 1992 and an active member of the executive since 2000 when he was elected to the Board of Management as a Northern Branch representative. Glen has held the following positions within NZALPA : Northern Branch Secretary, Union Secretary, Vice President and he is the current IFALPA director.

Glen Is married with three children, lives in Nelson and enjoys Skiing, Fishing and Martial Arts.

Medical & Welfare Director

The Medical and Welfare Directors role in NZALPA covers several areas which include:

Monitoring CAA, MOT and Industry when rule and legislation changes are proposed that may affect ALPA members in so far as medical certification is concerned.
Advise members on best course of action when faced with medical problems which could lead to recertification/employment issues.
Refer members to ALPA's specialist Aeromedical Advisor when professional assistance is required to regain recertification or rectify problems/restrictions on current valid medical certificates.
To oversee ALPA's “Pilot Recovery Programme” for members with substance abuse problems.
To oversee ALPA's “Critical Incidence Response Programme”.

Chris Mehlhopt

Chris is an Air New Zealand A320 First Officer based in Christchurch. He joined Air NZ in 1999 and has been a NZALPA member since 2000. First voted on to the Southern Branch, and into the Air NZ Council in 2006, Chris has also served on the Board of Management and Medical & Welfare sub-committee. In 2007 he helped re-establish the Critical Incident Response Programme and acted as a coordinator. He was elected to the position of NZALPA Medical & Welfare Director in November 2008. 

Chris began his flying career with the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) in 1982. He initially flew the Iroquois helicopter followed by stints on the Airtrainer, Friendship, Strikemaster, Macchi and Hercules.

Chris lives in Christchurch and is married with three children.