NZAWA was founded in 1959 by Rhona Fraser who was so impressed with the enthusiasm of members of the Australian Women Pilots Association that, with the help of Ena Monk, she took on the challenge of forming a similar organisation in New Zealand. The Association’s first meeting was held in Wellington at Easter in 1960 and many of the 25 Foundation members are still active to this day. The Association has since grown into a strong and well-respected organisation with almost 250 members. In 1998, the Association changed its name from the Airwomen’s Association to the New Zealand Association of Women in Aviation to better reflect the interests and activities of its wide membership.

New Zealand’s most famous aviatrix, Jean Batten CBE, was Patroness of the Association for many years until her death in 1982. Another pioneering flyer, Nanoya Smith, became Patroness until she retired from the position in 1998 at the grand age of 92 years. Our present Patroness is Rhona Fraser, the Association’s inaugural President.

Throughout its history, NZAWA has enjoyed a breadth and depth of membership that includes women from all kinds of aviation-related interests and careers. Current membership includes recreational pilots through to captains on commercial airlines and air-traffic controllers. We fly gliders, microlights, helicopters, single- and multi-engine planes; or we are just avid followers of anything to do with flight. Membership is open to any woman who participates in aviation either as a career or as a hobby.

Well known for their pioneering spirit, women have always featured in New Zealand’s story, aviation being no exception. At the Rally in 1979, it was decided that the story of women in aviation should be told and Shirley Laine undertook this task. As Shirley writes, "In the course of my research, I soon found that women fliers exhibited certain characteristics exemplified by Jean Batten who started flying in the 1930’s ". She describes such women as being quiet, shy and reserved whilst displaying "an inner strength…and recognising the need for precision, safety and knowledge".

She continues "There were many problems for those early women pilots. They had to combat prejudice from male colleagues, from the aviation industry, from their less adventurous sisters and from their family and friends." It was a widely held belief that women lacked the temperament required of commercial pilots – Miss Jean Batten being the exception because "she was easy to look at"!

After extensive research, Silver Wings: New Zealand Women Aviators was finally published in 1989. A second, up-dated edition will be released in 2003.

Of the 25 Foundation Members, the following are still active members of the Association:

Thelma Bradshaw: PPL 1955; CPL 1956; Instructor 1957.
Thelma was NZ’s first woman flying instructor, a rating she gained - in the face of much opposition - whilst employed as a part-time commercial pilot and club captain at Nelson Aero Club. She had applied to become an air traffic controller but had been turned down by the Civil Aviation Authority because of the "lack of facilities" at the various airports. Thelma flew Tiger Moths, Austers, Piper Cubs, Tripacers and a number of other light aircraft. She married Brad (A. J. Bradshaw) in 1965 and together they spent much time flying their Proctor all around New Zealand. Thelma was instrumental in the publication, in 2000, of her late husband’s memoirs "Flying by Bradshaw – Memoirs of a Pioneer Pilot", edited by David Philips and Graeme McConnell. Thelma is a keen supporter of NZAWA activities at a local and national level and continues to be an active golf player.

Anne Brodie:
Anne started flying in May 1959 and got her PPL the following December. Most of her flying was practice for competitions and local trips, taking the non-flying wives for a trip around South Canterbury. When her children arrived it became more difficult to get away. Russell, their eldest son is now importing "Rans" microlights from the USA. Anne owns the one he uses most but she lets him do the flying now. Anne and her husband Struan are still active in farming but have moved away from sheep and crop and into deer and a few stud Murray Grey cattle.

Judy Costello: PPL 1959; CPL 1962; Instructor1962. President 1968 & 1977 – 1980.
Judy commenced flying with Waikato Aero Club in 1958 and obtained her PPL early in 1959. In September 1961 she attended the first commercial pilot's course to be held at Ardmore aerodrome by the Auckland Aero Club, they had recently had to move base from Mangere to allow the new Auckland International Airport to be built. There were eighteen pilots on this course, which was rather a large number, and to this date (2002) not one had been fatally injured in an aircraft accident, which was quite unique as many became top-dressing pilots and the fatality rate was fairly high in those days. She obtained her CPL and C Cat in 1962 and her first commercial job was as an aerial photographer for National Air Photo; after a few flights she moved into the pilot’s seat. This was exciting flying as 90% was at low level doing aerial shots of farms over much of the North Island. In 1962 she moved north to Whangarei to instruct for the Northland Districts Aero Club which also operated each week from Kaikohe and Kaitaia. She obtained her "B" Cat instructors rating early 1963 and later that year returned to Ardmore to work for the first flying school established in N.Z., the Auckland Flying School. At the end of that year she married Ray Costello who had just joined N.A.C; they were based in Christchurch for six months and Judy instructed part-time with the Canterbury Aero Club. Returning to the Auckland area in 1964, Judy resumed instructing for Auckland Flying School and Manukau Flying School in between having four children. While still maintaining an interest in aviation and in NZAWA, most of her time is now devoted to family, grandchildren, horses and gardening.

Jenny Frame: PPL 1952; CPL 1956; Instructor 1964. President 1966 – 1967 & 1981 – 1983. Jenny was the first woman in New Zealand to hold the position of Chief Flying Instructor (Southland, 1979). Her flying included much search and rescue work in the Foveaux Strait area and even chasing bank robbers! She taught her daughter and son to fly and made her first parachute jump at the age of nearly fifty. Jenny and her husband Don moved to Nelson in 1987 and after a few years with Nelson Aero Club, Jenny co-founded, in 1992, Tasman Bay Aviation which was to become a very successful flight training and charter business.

Jenny Frame and Thelma Bradshaw 2002

Although Jenny has now sold her business, she continues to instruct and many of her pupils go on to successful flying careers with commercial airlines. Jenny has amassed over 10,000 hours flying in single-engine planes.

Rhona Fraser: Patroness of NZAWA; President 1960 – 1963.
Rhona learned to fly at Wellington in Tiger Moths and was the first woman from that club to go solo after the war. She was employed as a sheet metal worker and die caster so did most of her flying before breakfast. Dissuaded by her father to pursue a career in flying, she bought some land and set up a riding school instead. Wanting to encourage more women to become involved in flying, Rhona worked on the idea of women getting together to fly to a destination, so increasing their knowledge of cross-country flying and sharing costs. This was the birth of the NZAWA.

Helen McNair:
Helen began flying lessons in 1948 during her lunch breaks in Wellington where she worked for the De Havilland Company. Her instructor would taxi the Tiger Moth over to the hangar where she was working and wait outside with the engine running. Helen would gather helmet, goggles, lunch and a cushion (she was too short to reach the pedals) and off they would go for lunch at 2500 feet over Wellington Harbour – "pure delight". She recalls one occasion when "All hell broke loose. I was nose up, nose down, this way, that way….out went my packed lunch. It did teach me one thing – don’t fly with your lunch in your lap!"

Ena Monk: President 1965 & 1973 – 1976.
Ena was one of the people to make a major contribution to the foundation of NZAWA by assisting in the drafting of the Constitution and Rules and in the design of the logo. She learned to fly at Wellington in the early 1950’s and moved to Rotorua on her marriage to Graham; together they founded the Rotorua Gliding Club and enjoyed many years of gliding and as a tow-pilot in a Tiger moth. In 1975, Ena bought a Cherokee 140; one of the highlights of her "fun flying" was landing on the beach at Stewart Island for a barbecue hosted by the Southland Aero Club during the 1976 Airwomen’s Rally. (Watch this space for the story of selling and the later re-buying of her beloved plane!)

From Lee Maisey

I have sat down a few times trying to write this story but I couldn't think of a title or direction. Was it to be 'Life after Qantas NZ', or 'Do Babies and Flying Mix?', or maybe 'Having your cake and eating it too'. So I'll just start at the beginning - a very brief story of my last year and a half...

August 2000 was the beginning. I had just started with (the then) Ansett NZ flying the Dash 8 and found out John and I were expecting our first baby. That was interesting times. 3 weeks of ground courses, 14 days in Sydney in the simulator (to make matters worse, my sim times were from 11pm till 3am - meaning getting back to the hotel at 4.30 in the morning). Not that flash when I was 11 weeks pregnant and sick! Fortunately when I returned from the sim and starting flying the real thing, my sickness started to subside.

As Qantas' first ever pregnant pilot (believe it or not, even Qantas Australia has never had a pregnant pilot), I had to sort out myself what I needed in regards to uniform. They first offered me the flight attendants preggy dress! (The Dash has a 5 point harness and control column that comes up from the floor). I flew until I was 25 weeks pregnant and definitely showing. Then it was home to rest and have a baby. I got VERY large in the tummy department and very bored (being at home for 15 weeks with no baby and no work). Life was very blissful - until it happened... Not the baby - but Qantas NZ went under. John and I found ourselves unemployed bums!

Max was about 7 months old when I decided I was almost ready to go back flying. I scored myself a permenant part-time job with Origin Pacific. I am now a Captain on the Jetstream 31 two or three days a week. Which is just fantastic. John has jumped ship, and is now a Jetstream 41 Captain with Origin. We have brought a lovely house in Nelson, and are very happy in the sunniest part in NZ.

Through all this chaos, I have found what really matters in life. I thought we had it made with Qantas, and was very disappointed when it collapsed. But our lives are better than ever. I now have the best of both worlds. Flying with great people, in a cool little aeroplane, all around the country, at home every night AND I spend lots of quality time with John and Max. I believe I have my cake and am enjoying eating it! In answer to my first question 'babies and flying do mix very well'.

Being successful is not measured on the size of aeroplane you fly. It’s about balance, quality of life, and enjoying what you do. So whether you are circuit training in your Tomahawk or cruising across the Pacific at Mach .85 in your Jumbo make sure you enjoy it. Then, go home and hug your family.

Keep smiling, Lee

Remember: - Life in not a dress rehearsal!

Congratulations to Penny MacKay

Congratulations to Penny MacKay who is now one of the elite few women who have achieved their A Category Instructor’s Rating. To the best of our knowledge, the only members to have achieved this are Cathy Penney in 1988; Liz Needham (former member) in 1992; Ann Cassin in 1996.

Pamela Collings N.Z.O.M.

Pam was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to aviation, in the 2001 New Year’s Honours List; her investiture was at Government House in Wellington on 6 March 2001.

Her previous awards include the Royal New Zealand Aero Club Notable Achievement in Aviation in New Zealand, 1981; The Nancy Bird Trophy (Australian Women Pilots’ Association) for the most noteworthy contribution to aviation by a woman of Australasia, 1992; and Federation Aeronautique Internationale Paul Tissandier Diploma for Services to Aeronautics and Airsports, 1993.

Pam started flying in 1963 after winning a scholarship at Canterbury Aero Club and gained her Private Pilot’s Licence in October 1965. Fascinated with aerobatics, while travelling overseas in 1972 she watched the World Aerobatic Championships in France and later that year undertook a 10-hour course in advanced aerobatics in a Pitts Special in the USA. She bought her own Pitts in 1975 and spent the next ten months continuing her aerobatic training in the USA with the aim of competing at the World Championships in 1976. When the USA pulled out of hosting the event, Pam had to return home to New Zealand with the aeroplane and seek sponsorship to get herself and her aeroplane to Kiev, Russia – the new venue. Pam flew the final leg of the journey into Kiev from Austria and competed, finishing 47th out of 68 pilots – the first New Zealand woman to enter such an event.

A former librarian at Canterbury University, Pam joined the Civil Aviation Authority in 1984 where she is now a Senior Education Adviser and a joint editor of the flight safety magazine Vector.

Pam has been an active member of the New Zealand Airwomen’s Association (now known as New Zealand Association of Women in Aviation) since 1966 and served as President between 1995 and 1998. She was instrumental in developing the first Asia-Pacific Women in Aviation Conference held in Queenstown in 1998. This conference attracted a number of international speakers and over 200 delegates from a variety of countries and will be held in New Zealand every 6 years.