Two people were recognised for services to civil aviation in the 2016 Australia Day Honours List.
Captain Richard Champion de Crespigny was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) and Clifford Robinson was awarded an Order of Australia Medal (OAM).
De Crespigny is well known as the captain of QF32, the Qantas A380 Nancy-Bird Walton, which suffered an uncontained engine failure just out of Singapore in 2010. De Crespigny, along with his crew, brought the crippled aircraft back to Singapore under very desperate circumstances.
"I am happy, honoured and surprised to have been appointed as a Member in the General Division of the Order of Australia, by the Governor-General His Excellency General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK MC (Retd) for 'significant service to the aviation industry both nationally and internationally, particularly for flight safety, and to the community'”, De Crespigny said on his site www.qf32.aero.
"Five years after QF32, I am still very proud of the positive experiences that have come from that remarkable team effort. It’s my privilege to travel and talk about personal and corporate resilience and safety in our new and future world of high tech change, risk, perfect storms and black swan events."
De Crespigny is also patron of Disabled Wintersport Australia, patron of the Uiver DC2 Restoration Project and Doctor of the University (honoris causa) and Visiting Lecturer at Charles Sturt University.
Clifford Robinson received his OAM for services to aviation history and the community. Robinson has been a member of the Queensland Aviation Museum (QAM) since 1978, holding various positions including President and Treasurer. He has been Chaplain and Honorary Life Member since 2012. Robinson was also a member of the Missionary Aviation Fellowship from 1955 to 1990.
Several members of the RAAF - many anonymous - won awards for services to the air force and to Australia through active operations, and David Dunham CSM was awarded a Public Service Medal for contributing to airfield operations at RAAF Pearce and Gingin in WA, and for playing a pivotal role in the search for MH370.