In 1943 he joined a five‑man mission led by Sir Daniel McVey to the United States and United Kingdom to secure aircraft and equipment for the RAAF, giving him valuable exposure to international aviation and procurement.
On 18 December 1945, Group Captain John P. Ryland (DFC) was demobilised from the RAAF. Like Lester Brain, he brought to civil aviation a rare combination of operational flying experience, organisational leadership and training expertise.
Initially employed by Ansett Airways as Manager of the Airline Division, he gained first‑hand experience of commercial airline operations in the immediate post‑war period. When the Australian National Airlines Commission began forming Trans‑Australia Airlines, Ryland saw an opportunity to help build a new national carrier from the ground up.
He applied for the position of Operations Manager at the newly formed TAA and was appointed in June 1946. Selected by General Manager Lester Brain, Ryland was tasked with establishing aircraft utilisation patterns, pilot ratings, and a dedicated training school at RAAF Point Cook.
This became the National Pilot Training School, where all new TAA pilots completed aircraft training, conversion courses and learned the new civil aviation regulations. The school set high standards for flying proficiency and safety, and its graduates formed the backbone of TAA’s flight crew for many years.
Ryland’s leadership and organisational skills were quickly recognised. He was appointed Assistant General Manager (Operations) in 1947, Assistant General Manager in 1949, and General Manager in 1955 — a position he would hold for 18 years, making him one of the longest‑serving airline chief executives in Australian history.
