AMC Announces The Paul Cousins Award

Paul Cousins

The Paul Cousins Award was created to recognize and remember the positive impact one individual made on the aviation maintenance craft and profession. Ever the consummate professional, Paul strove to better the conditions and image of aircraft maintenance professionals. His determination, passion and pride were second to none.

Paul Cousins, a former president of the Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association, and strong advocate of the AMC, passed away in 2018 from cancer. AMC Chairman Ken MacTiernan credits Cousins with helping expand the AMC to airlines and MROs overseas.

Cousins was a formidable presence on the world stage in defense of the aviation maintenance professional. He was a member of the International Transport Federation and served as president of the Aircraft Maintenance Engineers International president and federal president of the Australian Licenced Aircraft Engineers Association simultaneously while still serving as a Senior LAME with Qantas.

Cousins was a staunch supporter of the AMC and led the first Australian team to represent the ALAEA at the AMC, the beginnings of wide Australian participation. Through his international contacts, he recruited many other European country representatives. The competition became known as the LAME Olympics. He registered the motto “Guardians of Air Safety” for the ALAEA but believed it applied to us all.

Educated at Buckley Park school, he joined Trans Australia Airlines as an apprentice and studied at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, specializing in avionics. After obtaining his license he joined the Australian Licenced Aircraft Engineers Association and in 2002 became a member of the executive as a Qantas Councillor. He was elected federal president in July 2006 and AEI president in 2016.

Like many Aussies, he worked hard and played hard, his capacity to socialize until early morning and front up fresh for the days work next day made him a legend. He is survived by his life partner Jackie and his two sons, Trent and Rhys.

“Paul’s professionalism was only matched by his gregarious personality and love for family and friends. He was a great advocate for our profession, and naming this award after him is our way to honor and recognize his legacy,” MacTiernan said. “Wherever you are in the world, we all share the same responsibilities and standards. We belong to a global community of skilled crafts-people.”

Recipients of the Paul Cousins Award represent what Paul battled to promote... skilled professionals. Those receiving this prestigious award carry the responsibilities of elevating and promoting the AME craft & profession. Just like Paul did.