About > Our Instructors
Our instructors have thousands of hours of military, commercial and private flying and instruction between them. We also benefit from having our own Examiners for the PPL/LAPL and IR(R).
MATT LANE
Instructor & Examiner
Matt is an RAF A2* QGI and current Grob Tutor staff pilot. He is a CPL, FI, Flight Examiner and Flight Instructor Course Instructor with SEP/MEP/IR/Aerobatic privileges and can instruct and examine for all courses.
MARK BLATCH "BLATCHY"
Instructor
Recently retired from the RAF, where he spent most of his 37 years on the C130 Hercules as a Flight Engineer, he gained his PPL in 1990, progressing to CPL, twin and some years later added an Aerobatic rating. He enjoys spending the winter months Bush flying in South Africa. Holding a Flight Instructor rating, he teaches PPL and Night Ratings.
ASMA SIRAJ
Instructor & Examiner
Asma gained her PPL in 1984 and a Flight Instructor rating in 1987. Asma teaches the PPL, IR(R), Night Rating and is also an Examiner.
Jack Humphrey
Instructor
Jack is a former RAF Chinook pilot who left the military in 2020 to pursue a civilian flying career. He holds a CPL/IR and teaches the PPL.
NIGEL PITCHFORTH
Head of Training (HoT) and Chief Flying Instructor (CFI)
After a long career in the RAF, flying Vulcans, Nimrods and Tristars, Nigel flew with an airline for 8 years. He held CFS A2 qualifications on Bulldog primary trainer, and the Kingair twin turboprop training. Holding a Flight Instructor rating, he teaches the PPL, IR(R) and Night Ratings.
DAVID CHAMBERS
Instructor
David holds a CPL/IR which he has enjoyed making full use of, initially exploring the UK as a member of RAF Lyneham Flying Club.
Gaining a full Instrument Rating in 2013 and buying into a shared aircraft enabled more adventures abroad into Europe and the USA.
Instructing now provides him the opportunity to share and enthuse others with the same passion.
David instructs for PPL, Night and Instrument Ratings and also hosts popular ground school classes about Flying Abroad.
JAMES CONOLLY
CRI & Club Secretary
James is a current RAF pilot and CPL/IR holder. As a Class Rating Instructor, he is able to conduct training for SEP rating, renewal, revalidation, club checks and currency flights.
STEVE WHYATT
Instructor & CFI Emeritus
Steve gained his PPL at Birmingham in 1978 and joined BZNFC in 1985 while flying as British Airways cabin crew, where he was a Cabin Service Director.
He has CPL, ME, IR and Instructor ratings and has flown GA aircraft in most countries of the world. His links with the military flying continued as a flying instructor for 612 Sqn VGS trained by CFS, Cranwell. He can teach PPL, LAPL, Night, IR(R), Aerobatics, and UK Licence TMG, IMC & Tail Wheel.