Meet James Black – Team Leader Procedure Designer in the Aeropath team at Airways International, based in our Wellington office.
In this Q&A, James discusses how he took a chance on a career in Procedure Design and hasn’t looked back – it’s now been 13 years! James says it’s the variety in his role and how Procedure Design acts as a conduit into many different parts of aviation that keeps him fulfilled.
I really enjoy my role in AIL and the variety it brings. Procedure design acts as a conduit into many different parts of aviation and their associated rule sets. One day I might be designing a departure to avoid a specific parcel of airspace, and the next I could be helping an airline with database coding for an aircraft’s flight management computer, supporting an airport with its development plans, teaching new procedure designers overseas, or helping a stakeholder with an airspace change.
I was working for an airline and looking for a change in lifestyle. Like most people, I had never heard of procedure design before, but when the role popped up I thought, “I can do that for a year or two and then go back to flying.” That was 13 years ago. Today I’m drawn to the variety of the role and the people I get to work with.
Looking at the younger people coming through Aeropath, who are all very talented and doing well, I would say: have a broad range of interests and skills. Aviation rewards curiosity, flexibility, and a willingness to learn. Keep developing yourself and take opportunities when they appear.
Saving jobs during COVID. When COVID hit and it became clear we were overstaffed, our whole team came together and agreed to go part time so we could save each other’s jobs. Every single person was willing to take a personal hit to support the team. AMEA (our union) and Airways worked closely with us to make it happen, and we were later given an Airways Values Award in recognition. I was very proud to be part of it.
I love hanging out with my daughters. They’re at an age where they still think I’m cool (though the older one is slowly wising up), so I’m keen to enjoy that for as long as it lasts. I’ve recently gotten back into tramping after a 10 year break. Last year, Ash (Airways Tech) and I attempted the Southern Crossing, but had to turn back because of high winds. Being hilly Wellington, mountain biking is popular at Aeropath and among the Airways Techs, and I really enjoy the social side of getting out for a ride with them.
