PEER ASSISTANCE COMMUNICATION IS KEY SAYS INCOMING NZALPA MEDICAL AND WELFARE DIRECTOR Virgin Australia/ Captain Andy Pender says encouraging open conversation is the best way to ensure pilots and air traffic controllers (ATCs) seek support from their peers in times of need. “It’s our job to let members know that talking helps,” Pender said. “Communicating with colleagues, who understand the workplace and Virgin Captain Andy Pender in front of ALPA HQ Washington. the external pressures of our work, is invaluable.” the Medical and Welfare team is in protecting the wellbeing of my He adds that it’s also about peers and working on breaking down barriers; fellow aviation colleagues, and watch family members recognising the signs it is encouraged by the spectrum of them excel in their career – while that ‘something’s not quite right’ and members who are already engaging. promoting aviation safety in New encouraging pilots and ATCs to reach For Pender, it’s all about normalising Zealand – well, that’s the job done,” out to their support networks. the important conversations we need Pender said. to have. The 33-year-old pilot will leave his role as Peer Assistance Network “We are in a profession that by “From the helicopter (PAN) coordinator and Critical nature, as fulfilling as it is, does Incident Response Programme (CIRP) go against almost every health pilot working over in coordinator to lead the welfare teams recommendation,” Pender said. Milford Sound to the as Medical and Welfare Director. “We work remotely, our hours put Boeing 777 Captain, stress and strain on our relationships, we have created “Soldiering on simply we have high stress levels and disturbed and changing sleep something to support doesn’t help!” patterns; it’s absolutely normal everyone.” for people to struggle with these Pender began volunteering for the demands in some way. PAN exists His main aim during the next few Medical and Welfare Subcommittee to confidentially understand the months is to focus on awareness of in 2012 and was part of the team that issues we’re having and help us work the wrap-around care that NZALPA planned, developed and implemented through them. provides. the successful PAN programme, which “Soldiering on simply doesn’t help!” launched in 2015. Along with PAN and “From the helicopter pilot working CIRP, the NZALPA welfare offering Pender lives in with his over in Milford Sound to the Boeing includes the Professional Standards family, but is based from for 777 Captain, we have created Programme (PROSTAN), Human trans-Tasman flights with Virgin. something to support everyone.” Intervention Motivation Survey (HIMS) “I remember having a helicopter flight and and the insurance options. when I was four and it’s all been about have committed to supporting “I get a kick out of seeing people being a pilot since then,” Pender said. programmes such as PAN, with the emerge from that ‘dark place’ or ‘low first meeting with airline management He started studying for his spot’, and providing them with the about how they work together, held Commercial Pilots Licence when right tools to see them through it,” last month. Negotiations with Virgin he was 16 at Christchurch Flying Pender said. are ongoing and Pender, as a valued School in Wigram, before working for employee of the airline, hopes to have “The best thing is that the longer we sky-diving companies for four years. them on board by the end of the year. action tools like PAN, we can see that He then flew for Eagle Airways (Air “The exciting thing about gaining they are consistently and reliably New Zealand Link) and joined Virgin commitment from Virgin is that they performing with positive results for six years ago. He was promoted to have already shown interest in rolling our members.” Captain in 2015. out PAN to our Australia colleagues Although some members are still “Now, in my role as Medical and too, and that can only be good for the reluctant to call on the service, Welfare Director, if I can have a hand industry as a whole.”

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