The Honourable Company of Air Pilots

The Honourable Company of Air Pilots is concerned with every technical aspect of flying, from safety to navigational aids, from airport facilities to training methods and in particular with new developments in aircraft and their handling. It is a unique organisation, as its membership is restricted to qualified pilots, navigators and rear crew and therefore it can truly claim to bring together the views and ideas of people who control aircraft in the air. Perhaps the most important function of the Company is to help set and maintain standards of conduct among flying people.

The Honourable Company of Air Pilots is the largest of the Livery Companies with around 2500 members worldwide, including about 250 in Australia. Membership ranges from teenagers to nonagenarians and brings fellowship and networking opportunities with experienced pilots in all walks of life, from recreational instructors to airline and military pilots, and even astronauts; with experience in training, operations, management, government regulation and safety investigation and international aspects of aviation.

The Company’s constitutionally stated objectives are:

In an address in 1970, the then Grand Master, HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, described the Guild as follows:

“It is a body of people interested in every kind of flying; whether it’s light aircraft for pleasure or sport, whether it’s commercial, passenger or service; and who want to talk about flying and improve the techniques of flying and of airmanship.”

Of course, other bodies exist to look after the different divisions of aviation but the Company exists to bring all pilots and navigators together whatever division they be in. It’s more than a club because it has a more serious purpose.

The Company is concerned with every technical aspect of flying from safety to navigational aids from airport facilities to training methods and in particular with new developments in aircraft and their handling. It is a unique organisation, as its membership is restricted to qualified pilots and navigators and therefore it can truly claim to bring together the views and ideas of people who control aircraft in the air. Perhaps, the most important function of the Company is to help set and maintain standards of conduct among flying people.

The Company is not intended to be a lobby or pressure group and it does not function in the same way as the Airline Pilots Associations. However that does not mean that it will never offer considered advice if it thinks it necessary, and of course it is always ready to offer an opinion if asked for.

For many members the particular strength and attraction of the Company is its diverse spread of members and interests, together with an entirely non-political outlook and a constitution which forbids it from engaging in trade union activity.