John Alldis 1935 – 2019

Aug 01 in AEI News, Members News

It is with huge sadness that AEI has to announce the death of John Alldis.

John not only served the Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association (ALAEA) for many years, he helped create it. In 1960, John along with some friends, decided to break away from the metals unions and form a professional Association for Licensed Aircraft Engineers. Their determination even went as far as to mortgage their houses to gather the funds necessary to get the ALAEA up and running.

As if that wasn’t enough, John also had the vision to realise that international representation of Licensed Engineers, providing help and assistance for a common cause was the future. He believed a global organisation was required to be able to assist Licensed Engineers in their daily struggle to uphold safety standards on the front lines of aviation. It was John’s dedication and commitment to this belief that saw the establishment of Aircraft Engineers International (AEI) in 1971.

Ever since those early days, John worked feverishly for the good of aviation safety and especially for the Licensed Engineer. He firmly believed a well-trained Licensed Engineer to be essential if safety was ever to succeed over commercialism.

John was also a justice of the peace and in this role, he also contributed enormously to Aircraft Engineers International. Frankly, he has spent much of his life helping and supporting others, guiding us with his infinite wisdom and generally helping make the lives of the next generation, better.

In 2007 it was a pleasure to welcome John in his role as a lifetime AEI Honorary member to the AEI annual congress in London. Following a particularly gritty debate with a representative from the EU, who faced the wrath of angry engineers disappointed at the EU’s impotence on safety issues, John left the room with an enormous smile on his face. When asked why he was smiling he replied, “I am a very happy man. The vision I had of AEI in those early days, becoming a global champion for engineers and safety has come to fruition. You can’t ask for more than that”.

John was highly respected the world over and never ceased offering his most welcome wisdom and support to AEI generations that followed. John remained active with both AEI and ALAEA and never ceased to hold regulators to account whilst reminding them of the critical role Licensed Engineers play regarding aviation safety. The aviation industry is undoubtedly safer due to his enormous efforts and influence.

Sadly, another industry legend has flown off into the sunset without the flying public even realising the effect this man had on their safety. For those who knew him, our lives will be the poorer for it. John will be warmly remembered and sadly missed.

Aviation has lost a true giant. John Alldis – Husband, Father, Grandfather, Friend, Colleague, Mentor – farewell.