flighteXperimentations

flighteXperimentations

Thank you for visiting the flighteXperimentations site. Based in southern UK, but with a world-wide clientele, the company offers an aviation service that centres on Flight Test, Training and general Aviation Consultancy

If you need to contact me please do so by calling my office telephone/fax/answer line on +44(0)1227-762639 or Mobile on +44(0)7738-218501. Alternatively, email Geoff.Connolly@xsetp.org Should I or my associates be unable to assist you directly, I have a wide network of contacts in many aviation disciplines. I look forward to hearing from you.

Scope of Work includes: Aircraft specification matching; Test Pilot services, from Design advice to Ground and Flight Trials and Certification; Flight Operations and Training consultancy, including preparation and amendment of Operations and Training Manuals; Expert Witness services; advice in connection with aviation aspects of Planning Consents; Training and Examining; Ferry flying; French language aviation technical translations.

Geoff Connolly: an aviation professional with over 40 years flying experience. He began flying with the RAFVR in a University Air Squadron, gained his Private Pilot Licence (Aeroplanes) in 1970, and has maintained proficiency in light aeroplanes since then. After a legal training, he joined the RAF and was an operational helicopter pilot before becoming a flying instructor and then eventually going to the Empire Test Pilots School, graduating as a test pilot in 1986.

Following several years as a military test pilot, Geoff joined an international helicopter company, working initially as an aeroplane and helicopter instructor teaching student commercial pilots. He then returned to an active test flying role, progressing to become the company’s Head of Flight Test. He also spent a period as part of a joint-venture company project team, working on a major collaborative public-private contract initiative with the UK Ministry of Defence. Latterly he was also the company’s Flight Safety Officer, carrying out investigations and supervising a safety database for the company’s worldwide operations. To remain in general flying practice, during this period he flew part-time with a police air support unit. In 1999 Geoff took a step away from increasing management duties and returned to full-time flying, as a Civil Servant with the Metropolitan Police. Since 2002 he has worked as an independent consultant test pilot and aviation advisor.

Geoff has more than 10,000 hours flying experience gained on over 60 types of helicopters and aeroplanes. He holds UK professional pilots licences and training qualifications for helicopters and light aircraft. He is a CAA authorised Flight Examiner and Type Rating Examiner for Helicopters and an authorised Ground Examiner for the Private Pilots Licence (Aeroplanes and Helicopters). He is accredited to the UK CAA and MoD as a test pilot in connection with UK civil and military certification. These qualifications are also acceptable to non-UK authorities. Geoff is a ‘Pre-Selected’ expert advisor to the European Aviation Safety Agency, for matters relating to Certification, Airworthiness, Test Flying, Flight Operations and Training. He has recent experience as an Expert Witness in litigation and planning matters as an aviation technical specialist, and is on the UK Register of Expert Witnesses. Having previously spent several years living and flying in France, Geoff is fluent in spoken and written French. Geoff is an elected Member of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots, a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society, a Member of the British Association of Aviation Consultants, and an Upper Freeman of the Guild of Air Pilots and Navigators. FlightExperimentations is a corporate member of the British Helicopter Association.

Geoff previously served as a member of the UK Flight Safety Committee and of the UK Airprox Board. He continues to serve on a number of committees, including the BHA/CAA On-Shore Liaison Committee and the BHA/CAA Small Helicopter Safety Group. He is in current flying practice on light aeroplanes, and on helicopters ranging in size from the R22 to the Bell 412, and flies up to 200 hours yearly, mostly in the UK.

LINKS:

Aviation Network Associates: www.aviana.co.uk

Maple Consultancy (Aviation) Ltd: www.mapleconsultancy.com

The Eco-Skills Zone: www.ecoskillszone.com