GVC Drone Course
Professional Drone Training for the future

Chris Keane

Chief Pilot

Chris spent almost 23 years in the Army Air Corps, working his way up from groundcrew to Qualified Helicopter Instructor (QHI). Operational tours included Northern Ireland and the first Gulf War. He flew Gazelle reconnaissance, Lynx anti-tank and Squirrel training helicopters. Retiring from the army in 2003 he instructed on the Apache simulator, and then trained military students on the Squirrel as a civilian instructor. Health forced retirement from flying in 2011, by which time he had amassed almost 8000 flying hours. Chris designed the pilot type rating ground course for the AW169 for AgustaWestland, and now works for Bristol Groundschool, where he is the Deputy Chief Theoretical Knowledge Instructor.

Dicky Bird

Head of Standards

Based in Shropshire, Dicky Bird is an ex-RN and civilian helicopter instructor who remains intrigued with many aspects of aviation even after 40+ years in the industry.

He builds and flies his own drones as well as being Flyby Technology's Head of Standardisation and is also responsible for Airworthiness. His tenet throughout his career has been "Small things make perfection but perfection is no small thing". Ready to answer your questions!

Dan McAuley

Head of Safety

Dan is excited to be Head of Safety for Flyby Technology and brings a wealth of experience and commitment to benefit our staff and clients. In his previous multi-rotor career before drones, Dan flew Chinook helicopters for 20 years for the RAF and operated from land and ships in many locations including Northern Ireland, Kuwait, Falklands, Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan in support of national and coalition forces. He was a helicopter tactics instructor, instrument flying examiner, helicopter landing site examiner specialist, human factors facilitator and a training captain

He then specialised in developing performance and safety in high risk industries. This included running a specialist people development company, consulting on the Military Flying Training System for Lockheed Martin and a spell as Vice President Safety & Quality for a Hong Kong-based business jet start-up operation as part of a large Chinese corporation. Dan has consulted extensively in the UK nuclear industry and has worked with the aviation, motorsport, manufacturing, banking, finance, charity, IT and Space sectors. He is a professional executive coach, an accredited psychometric administrator, a CAA-accredited Crew Resource Management Instructor and is absolutely committed to helping great people work more safely and more effectively.

Andy Holland

Head of Safety

Andy has amassed a huge amount of experience in his aviation career. He joined the RAF after school and was selected to fly the Tornado GR1 based in Germany. A 4 year spell followed as an Instructor at RAF Valley flying the Hawk T1, where Andy was a Qualified Tactics, Flying and Weapons Instructor as well as a Central Flying School Accredited Examiner.

Andy then returned to the front-line on the Tornado GR4 and, to compliment his instructional duties, became an Instrument Rating Examiner and Air Test Pilot. With an inevitable ground tour looming, Andy moved to the Ministry of Defence in Whitehall where he worked in the Directorate for Targeting and Information Operations.

Andy retired from the RAF in 2008 and started working as a commercial pilot. After 5 years flying the Airbus A320, he moved on to fly the Airbus A380, which is his current role.

In his spare time, Andy is a volunteer pilot for the RAF Reserves and flies Air Cadets on air experience flights in a Grob Tutor.

Matt Whitfield

Instructor

Spanning 20 years' and 4000 hours, Matt has a great deal to give to Flyby Technology. He is a senior military A2 Qualified Flying Instructor QFI, and a Civil Aviation Authority Flight Instructor. Matt's Naval fixed wing flying career as a fighter pilot saw him operate from all three Royal Navy RN aircraft carriers, flying the Sea Harrier FA2 by day and night, from the Americas to the Far East. He has been a Royal Navy A2 QFI and Instrument Rating Examiner IRE since 2005, and a former Central Flying School agent for the RN and RAF. As a former Commanding Officer of RN Fixed Wing Standards and an A2 QFI on the Hawk and Chipmunk, Matt has displayed the RNHF Sea Hawk at Farnborough 2008, and the mighty Sea Vixen FAW2 as a CAA display pilot during 2008-13 (Frozen Airline Transport Pilot’s Licence). Most recently Matt has served since 2011 in the Army Air Corps as an A2 QFI and IRE on the Islander; an unbroken operational 5 year tour for 5 Regiment AAC.

There can be no denying Matt loves flying and being able to assist others with their flying skill set, to coach, facilitate and instruct others in their quest to fulfil their aviation aims is where his enthusiasm and expertise lies. It is this that has given him the most professional satisfaction.

Bruce Graeme-Cook

Instructor

Bruce spent 17 years with the Royal Air Force flying the Jaguar aircraft in the low level photo reconnaissance and ground attack roles, gaining over 3000 hours' experience. He was a qualified Weapons Instructor and an Instrument Rating Examiner/Instructor.

He did two tours with the Jaguar Operational Conversion Unit and one with the Royal Air Force of Oman, along with several operational tours. He retired from the RAF in 1998 and since then has worked as a long haul commercial airline pilot flying the 777.

Bruce lives in the West Country and hobbies include cycling, sea swimming, walking, camping, photography and ski-ing.

Tom Nash

Instructor

Tom joins us as the deliverer of our groundschool in Scotland. With over 1700 hours as a RAF Tornado GR4 navigator, he brings a wealth of instructional experience to the team. As a Qualified Weapons Instructor, Qualified Tactics Instructor, Electronic Warfare Instructor and RAF Central Flying School Accredited Instructor, with two tours on the Tornado GR4 Operational Conversion Unit, he is ideal to deliver our course content.

As the regulations regarding the operational use of unmanned aircraft systems in the UK continues to evolve, his experience of air safety risk management will also help us remain at the forefront of teaching and accrediting safe UAS operators. Since leaving the RAF, Tom has been using his vast instructional experience to author, define and deliver military flying training courseware to a global provider with high quality results.

Tom is married with two small children and lives in the beautiful Scottish Borders.

Matt Doncaster

Instructor

Spanning 26 years and over 4200 flying hours, Matt is a highly experienced ex-Royal Air Force Fast Jet and Multi-engine pilot with an operational background on the Harrier GR7 and Boeing C17 Globemaster III. He flew land based and carrier embarked Harrier missions over the Balkans and Sierra Leone in the 1990s, as well as C17 strategic airlift missions more recently in support of operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

As a Qualified Flying Instructor, Matt has taught at Basic (Tucano T1), Advanced (Hawk T1/T1A) and Test Pilot (Empire Test Pilots’ School) level during which time he has amassed over 1000 instructional hours, gained the Central Flying School Above Average A2 qualification on 4 aircraft types, been a fast jet and multi-engine IRE, taught and examined fellow instructors, and was the last RAF pilot ever to convert to the mighty Andover C1.

Not all of Matt’s career has been spent in the air as he has spent time as a Desk Top Publisher of flight safety critical aircrew publications with Handling Squadron at Boscombe Down, and his last tour of duty saw him acting as the Fast Jet/Air-Land Integration Subject Matter Expert at the UK Air Support Operations Centre, also at Boscombe Down.

Qualified on 19 aircraft types, with handling experience of a further 24 (including what is believed to be the UK’s oldest privately owned aircraft, a Klemm Kl 25), Matt brings a wealth of aviation expertise to the team. He owns his own company operating SUAS, and hopes to join a major civilian airline soon having just gained his EASA ATPL.

Gareth Bird

Instructor

Gareth is an ex-RAF fast-jet pilot who now flies the Boeing 757 and 767 for a UK airline and occasionally conducts post maintenance test and delivery flights for third parties.

He has in excess of 5000 flying hours, accrued over 17 years, on a variety of fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters. He has been flying drones for a number of years and has operated them in numerous locations around the world.

In his spare time, Gareth is a keen aviation and landscape photographer and an adventure sports enthusiast.

Tony Dalton

Instructor

Tony spent over 20 years in the RAF and flew Tornado GR1, Hawk and E3D Sentry. After leaving the RAF he has flown in a number of roles around the world. Initially flying business jets then B737. He then took a short break from aviation and became a commercial maritime skipper running his own wildlife cruising business in North west Scotland. After this, a spell as a ground school and simulator instructor on the RAF’s new Hawk T2 then a trip to Ghana to head up surveillance training on the DA42. Currently he is the head of training and chief pilot in a company that operates high performance UAV’s. In this role he flies 2 types of UAS each capable of speeds in excess of 450kts and at altitudes between 15’ up to 40,000’. These high performance UAS’s are flown line of sight and utilise additional over the horizon links to ensure full manual command and control. Throughout his aviation career he has spent the majority of the time in an instructing and examining role. As an CFS A2 QFI, Tactics Instructor and instrument rating examiner he has an understanding and empathy with pilots new to the aviation business. Although based in York, Tony spends a lot of time in the Western Isles of Scotland and has intimate knowledge of the area.

Roy Parker

Instructor

Roy is an ex Royal Navy Helicopter Pilot having flown a variety of roles including Operational, Search and Rescue and Flying Instructor.

Having left the Royal Navy Roy continued his flying career as a Civilian Helicopter Instructor and Airline Pilot flying the B757 for a major UK Airline, amassing over 8500 flying hours in total.

With many years in aviation he is keen to pass on that experience to future Drone Pilots.

Buster Crab

Instructor

Having joined the Royal Air Force in 1980 as an Engineering Officer (sponsored University Cadet), Buster saw the light and re-mustered to pilot in 1982. Following tours on the Tornado GR1 and instructing and examining on the Tucano and Hawk, he completed his commission as a Squadron Commander at the Tri-National Tornado Establishment, RAF Cottesmore.

Buster then joined the airline industry and has been qualified on Airbus A320 and A321; and Boeing 737, 757,767 and, most recently, 787 Dreamliner. He spent a decade as Fleet Manager for the A320/1 and, latterly, for the B757, responsible for all aspects of operations, procedures and safety.

After a balanced 19 years of military flying and 19 years of commercial aviation, amassing almost 13000 hours, Buster has retired from manned aviation and is relishing the opportunities in the cutting edge world of drones.

Adrian Smith

Instructor

Adrian joined the RAF in 1986, and after training flew Chinook helicopters before becoming a Qualified Helicopter Instructor (QHI) on the Gazelle. He later spent three years as a QHI in the German Air Force, flying the Bell UH1 “Huey” before returning to the Chinook to instruct new pilots converting to type.

Operational experience includes the first Gulf War, Northern Ireland, Iraq, Bosnia and Kosovo. He left the RAF in 2003 as the Commanding Officer of the Chinook training unit.

Upon leaving the RAF, Adrian converted to fixed-wing flying, and has been involved with training since 2005, initially as a Theoretical Knowledge Instructor and then a Line-Training Captain. He has flown Boeing 737, 757, 767 and 787, with a total flying experience of around 13,500 hours.

He is married, with two adult children, and enjoys hill-walking with his border collie, skiing and car mechanics.

Nick Horlock

Instructor

Nick joined the RAF in 1985. He flew the VC10 Tanker carrying out operational air-to-air refuelling in several conflicts and areas of operation during his tours, both as a co-pilot and a captain/instructor.

His instructing background started as a Bulldog QFI on a University Air Squadron, becoming an A2 QFI and IRE. He was also an A2 QFI on the VC10, which included training and examining both in the aircraft and the simulator.

He left the RAF in 2001 and has subsequently flown commercially for four different airlines; flying both long and short haul; both Boeing and Airbus aircraft; being based both in the UK and the Middle East. Carrying on his interest in instructional roles in the civil world, he has been a Training Captain, a Crew Resource Management Instructor and has trained other instructors in ground disciplines.

He currently flies the Boeing 737 and has amassed more than 17,000 flying hours over his career to date.

He lives in Oxfordshire and enjoys sailing, skiing and walking his Cocker Spaniel.

Andy Greig

Instructor

Andy’s aviation career spans over three decades and 10,000 flying hours, amassed in both the Royal Air Force and with the airlines. His RAF experience was gained on the Tornado GR1, with operational flying over Iraq in support of the UN no-fly zones, with the Central Flying School where he gained an A2 flying instructor qualification instructing future fast-jet pilots, and on the Hawk where he was part of a small unit instructing UK special forces in forward air control techniques.

After his RAF career, Andy joined the airlines, and has spent most of the time since then flying the Boeing 747 worldwide for a major international carrier. He is currently taking a break from jet-lag, and flies the Boeing 737 for a major UK airline.

Andy has had a long involvement with flight safety, and particularly those practical and psychological human elements affecting performance, and the interaction between man and machine. This gives him a strong appreciation of different learning styles, which reads directly into getting the most out of instructional and coaching situations.

Andy is currently completing a masters’ degree in aviation safety, as well as running a consultancy in safety and risk management, adapting and applying the principles of best practice from the aviation world to other safety-critical environments.

Based in central Scotland, Andy is passionate about the outdoors, and when not flying can be found sailing, kayaking, climbing, mountain-biking or ski-touring. He is a sailing instructor, yachtmaster, and has recently completed a crossing of the Atlantic Ocean.

Peter Batson MBE

Instructor

Pete joined the RAF in 1969 as an aircraft engineer, he was commissioned as a pilot in 1976. Pete is a highly experienced pilot, instructor and examiner with over 10,000 flying hours and nearly 5000 instructional hours. He has flown the Vulcan, Jet Provost, Hawk, Tornado GR1 and GR4, Jetstream, Tucano and Tutor; he flew operational missions over Iraq in 1991 and 1992.

As a Qualified Flying Instructor and Instrument Rating Examiner, Pete has taught at all stages of RAF flying training and during his numerous tours on the Tornado. He was awarded the Central Flying School (CFS) A1 qualification on the Tornado and carried that across to 4 other aircraft types. In 1998 he was posted to CFS HQ where he was responsible for the quality of flying training delivered to all 3 armed services in both basic and fast-jet roles. In January 2001 he was appointed an MBE for services to military flying instruction.

Pete retired from the RAF in 2003 and then worked in the Tornado simulator as a civilian instructor for 3 years. Still with a desire to fly he rejoined the RAF as Full Time Reservist flying and instructing on the Grob Tutor in the Elementary Flying Training role; he retired finally in 2016. With over 30 years experience of instructing in the operational and flying training roles, he understands fully the demands placed on students new to aviation.

Kevin Dennington IRE/CRE/CPL FE

Instructor

Having always been interested in Aviation, Kevin made a career change and became a Commercial Pilot in 1992. During his time as an aviator he has specialised in the training of Professional Pilots both Civil and Military.

Kevin became a Senior Flight Instructor and Flight Safety Officer for the world renowned Oxford Aviation Academy, amassing approximately 10,000 hours of instruction in both aircraft and simulators.

He now works independently providing examining services to the UK CAA and contract flight instruction to various Approved Training Organisations and individuals operating under the EASA umbrella.

Any spare time is spent walking dogs, gardening and because it is a way of life, flying unusual and historic aircraft.