Gisborne air traffic controller awarded Jessica Rose Trophy

Airways employee Tuna Cheung with her award. Picture supplied

A Gisborne air traffic controller picked up an award at last weekend’s New Zealand Association of Women in Aviation Rally.

About 80 women gathered at Hamilton Airport over the weekend for the rally, with the event’s visual air navigation contest sponsored by Airways, New Zealand’s air traffic management provider.

The 2023 NZAWA Rally draws women in aviation together from around New Zealand for a long weekend of competition, education and camaraderie — with guests from Australia and Papua New Guinea.

Gisborne-based Airways air traffic controller Tuna Cheung won the Jessica Rose Trophy for capturing the true spirit of airwomen over the rally weekend.

“Thank you to the NZAWA for another outstanding rally. I love going to the annual rally to connect with like-minded women aviators and supporters,” Ms Cheung said.

“I find it extremely inspiring to see the continued growth and support among the women involved in aviation. I’m so thrilled to be a part of the community.

“During the rally, I was able to help out Hamilton tower controllers on the various flying competitions and procedures. I’m now very excited to assist the association as the new editor of the newsletter, as well as helping with graphic and brand design.

“As last year’s NZAWA rally was the first ever one I’ve been to, I was incredibly humbled to have been presented with the Jessica Rose Trophy at the Sunday awards night. Also, a shoutout to Air New Zealand for sponsoring and presenting me with an Airbus A320 flight deck experience, which I’ll definitely record in my air traffic controller logbook.”

Airways New Zealand’s general manager commercial and partnerships Jamie Gray said the country’s air traffic management provider was delighted to sponsor an event that encouraged more women to get into aviation and to excel.

“It’s exciting to see the way this event fosters both excellence in aviation and bonds among women in the sector. Their enthusiasm is catching.

“The Airways VFR Enroute Competition encourages safety and precision in air navigation. Our congratulations to all the rally-goers for the skills they’ve shown,” he says.

Airways judges the Airways VFR Enroute Competition on criteria including accurate flight planning, compliances with visual position reporting rules, and radio telephone phraseology procedures on a flight of over 100 nautical miles enroute to the rally.