The Australian and International Pilots Association (AIPA) is a professional Association and federally registered organisation representing pilots employed by the Qantas Group in airline operations within Australia and around the world.

Membership

Representing over 2,500 Qantas Group pilots in both domestic and international operations, AIPA is the largest professional body of airline pilots in Australia. It was formed in 1981 when it separated from the Australian Federation of Airline Pilots in response to the changing aviation environment of the time and the need to enhance the industrial position of Qantas pilots.

International

AIPA is the eighth largest of 93 aircrew organisations that form the International Federation of Air Line Pilots’ Associations (IFALPA). In the global context, IFALPA represents 120,000 pilots and, uniquely, is one of only two bodies holding a permanent seat at the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) without being identified as a contracting state. The ICAO function, under the United Nations Charter, is to internationally harmonise rules and procedures for the civil aviation industry.

In all business with IFALPA, AIPA shall be known as the Australian Air Line Pilots’ Association (AusALPA). AusALPA is the IFALPA Member Association in Australia and is made up of AIPA and the Australian Federation of Air Pilots (AFAP).

AIPA is also affiliated with the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF), an international trade union federation of transport workers' unions consisting of 759 unions representing over 4,600,000 transport workers in 155 countries. The ITF has a high-profile role in the co-ordination of international activities and the representation of civil aviation unions in international bodies.

Broad Objectives

AIPA seeks to advance the employment interests of its members and, to that end, represents individuals and the membership at large both in the workplace and in the broader aviation industry.

AIPA regularly participates in regulatory, technical and government inquiries and forums, and is recognised by various government and quasi-government bodies as having a stakeholder interest in the Australian aviation industry.