Flying History And Experience

Flying History

I started flying in 1994 and completed a PPL(A) in 1995.
After a couple of years of slow hour building I decided to move over to helicopters. After making the commitment I managed to complete a PPL(H) between July and November in 1998 and immediately began an R44 type rating. I needed to hour build to be accepted on an Assistant Flying Instructors [AFI(H)] course before the end of June, and so purchased an immaculate R22 from a company in Scotland. From February to June 1999 I flew nearly 200 hours and got onto the course which I completed in July 1999.
After a couple of years of just maintaining currency and going back to software full time, I bought another R22 and used this to break into instruction in 2001. From April 2002 I have been flying almost full time going from AFI to Examiner and primarily now operating as a corporate pilot flying an Agusta 109 Power.

Commercial Flying Experience

I have been involved with most aspects of helicopter operations from ownership, contract negotiation, operating as a Single Pilot IFR commander, flying instructor and charter pilot.
I am usually in current Base and Line Checks for a couple of UK Commercial Helicopter operators on the Agusta 109 and Bell 206. I have previously held the post of Head of Training for a TRTO in the South East of England.

I ran for nearly three years on a full time basis the corporate aviation department of a major UK company, the principal has moved to mainland Europe and the aircraft is now operated by an AOC operator however I still oversee all aspects of the maintenance of the aircraft.