December 30, 2009

Former editor of Australian Pilot magazine, John Spiers has died of cancer at the age of 63.

John started as editor in October 2001 and remained with the magazine until ill health forced his retirement in 2008. He oversaw the magazine through several variants from when it was called AOPA, to GA Pilot and then Australian Pilot.

Dunedin born John was introduced to aviation when, as a reporter for the Australian newspaper, he was asked to write the newly introduced weekly aviation section of the newspaper.

He used the opportunity to get his PPL and spent many weekends and holidays travelling to airports around the country. His wife, Jane, says John also loved all other forms of transportation as well. He was a volunteer crewman on the James Craig and dragged his family all over the country on steam trains.

AOPA board and members extend to Jane and John’s first wife Penny, and their three children Patrick, Tom and William and granddaughter Daisy, our deepest sympathies.

For messages of sympathy, AOPA members can contact her on John’s email address jspiers@bigpond.net.au

From the AOPA Office

Kylie, Jill, Julie and I were deeply saddened when we heard of the death of John Spiers.

John had worked closely with the staff at AOPA providing constant support and experience throughout many years and changes, and I had known him for years as we met regularly at media functions.

Happy and cheerful with an ever lasting interest in GA, he was ever the consummate journalist. Never more happy than when poking about air shows looking at and listening to the hopes and aspirations of hopelessly entranced aviators. He will be missed by us all.

Allan Bligh - AOPA General Manager