Retiring in 2004 I joined the PFA Executive Council in 2004 being elected Chairman the following year. My career following graduation as a Mechanical Engineer had been in Manufacturing Businesses encompassing Design, Manufacture and Marketing of capital equipment overseeing multi site operations as well as latterly working in the defence industry. 

 

My aviation experience and passion started with modelling with a natural move to full size in my mid 40’s. I subsequently gained an IMCR and eventually “found” what the then PFA movement had to offer building my RV6A and have never looked back. Recently I became the first RV10 builder in Europe learning all the joys of being the first to take a project of that magnitude through the system!

 

I was elected Chairman at a time of significant change in the regulatory world of General Aviation when Sports and Recreational Aviation Associations needed to ensure they were not disadvantaged. This led me to becoming a founder member of the GA Alliance in 2004 where I was elected as facilitator to lead the group forward and ensure a common front in UK advocacy activities. In Europe I was also a founder member of EFLEVA (European Federation of Light, Experimental and Vintage Aircraft) established in 2007 to provide a common pan European group of like associations to coordinate their interests generally and ensure proper representation to regulatory bodies – I was elected their first President, a position I still hold. These positions both lead to involvement in a number of UK and European interfaces with government and regulators to progress the interest of our members and the wider GA community.

 

My focus has also been to ensure the Governance of our Association is right for the world we operate in and in line with the stature of our Association and member expectations. This lead to changes in the structure of the Association and the move to re-brand ourselves as the Light Aircraft Association Limited.

 

My "Chairman's Chat" articles have, I hope, given an indication of my personal focus. We need to keep the fun in flying - maintaining that spirit and passion and being able to do it safely and at low cost without unnecessary restrictions. That is what the LAA is all about.

September 2011