The Flight Team - Geoff Connolly

Career details and aviation experience:

I started flying in January 1969 on the University of London Air Squadron , where I did my Elementary Flying Training on the Chipmunk. After post-graduate study, when I was involved with a local ATC squadron and commissioned in the RAFVR, I joined the RAF in 1974.

After Basic Flying Training at Linton-on-Ouse on the Jet Provost, I went to Tern Hill and did my Advanced Training on the Whirlwind 10.

After an operational tour on the Puma I was selected for Central Flying School (Helicopters) and went from there to the AFTS Gazelle squadron at Shawbury. On one of the first courses coming through after I joined the squadron was a certain young Pilot Officer Neil Airey!

After Shawbury, I spent an enjoyable 3 ½ years as exchange officer with the French Air Force, instructing on Alouette 2, 3, and Puma.

Shortly before returning from France I was lucky to secure a place at the Empire Test Pilot School for the 1986 course, and remained at Boscombe Down as a Rotary Wing Test Pilot until I retired from the RAF in October 1990.

In the following nine years with Bristow Helicopters I was involved in training, and as project pilot for the Bristow joint-venture involvement with the Defence Helicopter Flying School . I was latterly the company's Flight Test Manager. In my last year I was also Group Flight Safety Officer and, for flying currency, flew as a relief pilot for the Met Police.

Lack of flying opportunities in Bristow after loss of the Met Police contract led me to a full time civil-servant job with the Met, as Senior Pilot at the joint Met/Surrey base at Fairoaks.

In July 2002 I began my ‘consulting' phase, which has, if not certainty, variety! I am currently Chief Pilot and Head of Training for AV8 Helicopters, a young Kent-based ( Rochester ) company with AOC and FTO/TRTO Approvals. I remain ‘on Bristow's books' as a test pilot, working for them, their associate company FBHeliservices, and also for Mann Aviation Group on a regular basis.

I currently fly the R22 (!) Bell 206, Bell 212 and 412, As355, and of course, the Huey!

I am a FE(H) /TRE(H) and in addition to my ATPL(H) have a CPL(A) with instructor rating, so remain current on single engine piston aeroplanes. I am really lucky to have such variety in the flying work I do. I've just over 9500 flying hours at present and hope to complete many more! I've been flying types in the Huey ‘family' for 10 years now: it's great to see a real UH1 Huey on the UK register again.

I hope, under AV8's auspices, to set up an Approved training system for pilots flying the Huey and to work thereafter as Examiner, helping Neil maintain flying standards for the team.

Worst aviation moment:
Having to teach Phil to fly the Bell LongRanger. (No: that's a joke!)

I guess it has to be having my Puma's tail rotor dinged (by a fellow test pilot) during an Engines Off (yes, they really were, and it goes amazingly quiet) Landing Trial at Boscombe Down. The classic Training Captain's nightmare: seeing it all about to go wrong, but not having enough time to react and take control.

Most Memorable aviation moment:
Not in a helicopter! Flying the Shuttle Approach Profile in a T-38 at Edwards AFB. It's an over worked word sometimes, but still….AWESOME!