Aspeq’s new Deputy Aviation Manager

High flyer

Paul Kearney knows flying. His fascination with aeroplanes started at a young age, and - 30 years into a successful career in the aviation industry - he reflects that he’s always known he wanted to be a pilot.

“My parents travelled a fair bit while I was growing up, and I used to love going to the airport and pressing my nose against the glass, watching the aircrafts take off and land. I always made my mum bring me back everything she got given on the aircraft to collect,” Paul says.

After high school and a bit of travel, Paul began his pilot training. At the time, his ambition was to fly commercially for a big airline like Air New Zealand but, early on, he tried his hand at teaching and hasn’t looked back.

“I love the challenge of trying to understand how different people learn and changing my teaching style to match their needs.”

In 2005, he became part of an elite group of senior (“Category A”) flight instructors responsible for helping keep New Zealanders safe in the sky. This expert team of pilots ensures that candidates who want to fly commercially meet the strict standards set by New Zealand’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). A few years after receiving his Category A licence, Paul won the 2008 Director of CAA’s Instructor Award.

For the past 25 years, he’s worked at Massey University’s School of Aviation, where in 2019 he was promoted to Chief Flight Instructor. There, he ran a team of 25 high performing instructors and examiners but his favourite part of the role was always helping students learn and achieve their goals.

“I’ve seen hundreds of pilots go through, and it’s been a privilege to be a mentor and role model to many of them. It’s really wonderful seeing a young person out of school who’s never flown, and a few years later boarding an Air New Zealand flight to see they’re at the front as the pilot.”

In 2017, Paul received the Captain Vujcich Memorial Award for his exceptional contribution to general aviation flight instruction.

No matter how busy he was with his role at Massey, though, Paul always carved out time to get up into the sky. For 15 years, he’s been working as a part-time flight examiner with Aspeq, taking candidates through their examinations. Now, in his new role, he’ll help manage the team he was once a part of.

New pastures

Leaving a job he loved at Massey was a difficult decision for Paul, but the opportunity to join Aspeq as a Deputy Aviation Manager was too good to miss.

“I was ready to take on a new challenge, and this role with Aspeq allows me to have a lot more impact, and use my experience to add value across the whole industry.”

Aspeq has been the delegated authority to administer flight exams on behalf of the CAA since 1992,  meaning almost every pilot who flies in New Zealand has been examined by Aspeq.

“Aspeq really respects the standards CAA sets and we insist on seeing candidates demonstrate that standard to pass. As flight examiners, we’ve always got to remember that we’re actually working for all the potential passengers the candidate will one day take flying with them, and not the candidate sitting in front of us.”

Like at Massey, an important part of Paul’s role at Aspeq is working with the CAA’s Licensing and Standards team to understand, uphold and preempt its rigorous standards, and also collaborate on initiatives to ensure the industry is fit for the future. For example, while at Massey, Paul was integral to introducing electronic flight bags, which helped replace the bulky reference material often found in a pilot’s carry-on flight bags.

“I enjoy helping to shape the way the industry is going and ensuring we’re heading in the right direction of continuously improving safety, which is a large part of the Deputy Aviation Manager role.”

As well as collaborating with industry, Paul will work closely with his long-time and respected colleague, Aspeq’s Aviation Manager Gordon Alexander, to manage Aspeq’s team of very experienced flight examiners. Here, Paul wants to continue Gordon’s legacy of trusted leadership.

“I lead with empathy and understanding. I stand beside the team, letting people know how important they are and empowering them to do their best. I listen to understand what the issues are and how we can improve. I like to let people get on with doing a great job and always like to recognise all the hard work being done.”

In his first few months at Aspeq, Paul has been struck by the breadth and expertise across the business. “It’s been awesome meeting so many talented people who clearly love what they do, and learning about the number of contracts we have all over the world even outside of the aviation industry.”

Outside of work, Paul loves tending to his 15-acre property just outside Feilding in the Manawatu, which he shares with his wife Melissa and young grand-daugher, Olive. “We’re slowly replanting native forest across the property, which used to be a sheep farm.”