After nearly 14 years as General Secretary of the British Airline Pilots’ Association (BALPA), Jim McAuslan has announced he will stand down at the end of May 2016.BALPA Chairman Captain Brendan O’Neal, Vice Chairman Captain Paul Naylor and President Lord (John) Monks will be working with Odgers Berndtson, one of the top executive search firms, to help find a candidate to put to BALPA members in a ballot next year. They will scan for the widest possible range of candidates to get the best possible fit for the association. McAuslan will remain in an associate capacity for some months after then to ensure a smooth transition.Commenting on his decision to stand down Jim McAuslan said, “The time is right for me to stand down and make way for someone new to tackle the challenges and pursue the opportunities that tomorrow will bring for the piloting profession.“It has been a great honour to work with pilots over the last 14 years. My respect for the work pilots do has grown anew with each day and along the way I have made real friends.
“I am confident we will find a candidate who will be able to take BALPA forward with renewed confidence and enjoy representing pilots as much as I have.”
