Captain Andrew Ridling is a 787 Captain with Air New Zealand. 

Change is constant in aviation and NZALPA must be part of that change, rather than reacting to it, according to incoming President Andrew Ridling.

This month Capt. Ridling will take up his second term as President, after a break of nearly 20 years from the role. He held the Presidency from 1999-2000 and then stepped back, returning three years ago to work on industrial matters; then spending the last two years as Industrial Director. 

Between his NZALPA stints Andrew has completed an undergraduate degree and an MBA. “I don’t claim to be a business expert but I now know what I don’t know, and know when people are trying to pull the wool over my eyes.” 

He says his studies have given him a better understanding of the issues faced by employers, regulators and the organisations that NZALPA needs to work with. 

Industry change

“We are fortunate that the aviation industry is in a good space at the moment, with airlines around the world doing well. There is going to be a lot of positive change in the industry for pilots and I believe we need to make sure all of us in NZALPA can work through those changes together. 

“I expect we will see changes with Mount Cook and Air Nelson folding into one airline and a number of other airline rationalisations. Changes like these will impact our members and we need to continue to plan for that and front foot the changes to protect our members’ interests. We need to be there when change is planned, rather than being told how it will affect us.” 

Capt. Ridling says, for example, Air New Zealand is currently going through a cost rationalisation to try and maintain its profitability. “We need to be part of the leadership of those changes in this airline. Over the last two years we have completed a lot of work to make sure NZALPA has a presence and a voice at each of the airlines “top tables” and we need to make sure we maintain that position,” he says.

“Part of my role is about bringing our members along on the journey to ensure the pilots and controllers are part of this decision-making process. It’s not natural for us to look at things from a business perspective, but that’s what we need to do to be active players in our industry. This gives the opportunity to provide an alternative, more rounded model.” 

Capt. Ridling says that the challenges facing NZALPA and members are a combination of airlines rising costs, the introduction of new technology and the impact that this is having on the members. The aviation landscape has substantially changed over the last 10 years with the growth of global alliances and the introduction of revenue sharing and anti-trust agreements. Areas where regulators would not allow markets to encroach on 20 years ago are now becoming the norm. Additional to aviation technology, the areas of drones and laser legislation (or the lack of) directly affect safety in the industry. 

New blood in NZALPA 

Capt. Ridling is particularly encouraged by the newer members who are showing interest and willingness to step up and be involved in the organisation. “There are a lot of really worthy people coming through our organisation and we need to work with them and encourage them to take on some of the senior leadership roles.

“For example, a large number of the jet pilots employed by Air New Zealand recently have been in the company for less than 10 years. We need to make sure we all know that the conditions we enjoy and work under now didn’t just happen; they came about through NZALPA’s efforts and the skills of our predecessors. It is our role to protect and enhance these areas for future members. This is true for all of the groups that NZALPA represents across the industry.”

Capt. Ridling says NZALPA has fought hard on the industrial front to make gains for its members over the years and it is important that the reasons are understood and built on by those who are inheriting and entrusted by the industry and to provide stewardship for the next generation. 

When he left NZALPA in 2000 the organisation had around 1000 members - now it is closer to 3000. “Today’s NZALPA calls for a completely new level of performance, hence the need for good structures and processes.” 

NZALPA in 2019 is a well resourced and well organised organisation Capt. Ridling says. “We have been fortunate to have good and sound leadership over the past few decades to contain and manage this growth. It is my role to provide that leadership to the next level; growing NZALPA and its returns to the membership”. 

Capt. Ridling says his decision to take on another term as President was supported by his wife Lysa. “The demands of the role meant I couldn’t have taken it on without Lysa’s support. She’s been there before and is going into it again with her eyes wide open,” he says. He and Lysa have four children aged from 17 to 27, one of whom is keen on an aviation career. Understandably that means Capt. Ridling has strong views on provision and costs of pilot training and government support for the training environment.