General Aviation Advisory Board

During his 34 years in British Airways, he flew a large number of types including VC10, L1011, B757, B737 and B747 as line pilot, Instructor and Chief Pilot 747-400. He also maintained his interest in GA by instructing on Cherokee 140s at Airways Flying Club.

Alan retired from British Airways in 1996 as General Manager Flight Technical and Strategy but continues to fly a PA32 and maintains a current Instrument Rating. In his spare time he flies a paraglider.

He has served as a Trustee of CHIRP and was a member of the Air Transport Board for four years and has been on the GA Board since it was started. He is also Vice Chairman of the Technical and Air Safety Committee of the Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators.

John Brownlow joined the RAF at aged 18 and completed flying tours on Lincolns and Canberras before taking the Empire Test Pilots School Course. Subsequently John spent much of his service career in test pilot appointments at Farnborough and Boscombe Down. His staff appointments included work in the Operational Requirements Branch of MOD, and as the Director of Research and Development Flying. During his RAF career John was the Chief Flying Instructor of several gliding clubs and is a former Chairman of the RAF Gliding and Soaring Association.

John retired from the RAF in 1984 and joined Marshall Aerospace at Cambridge where he was Director of the Airport and Flight Operations. He is a full category gliding instructor; a single engine piston and touring motor glider flight instructor, and a PPL(A) examiner. Currently, apart from flying regularly as a PPL (A) instructor and examiner, he is frequently engaged in flight-testing amateur built aircraft, and converting pilots to various types under the Popular Flying Association Pilot Coaching Scheme. John represents the Popular Flying Association on the GA Advisory Board.

Graduated with a Masters Degree in Engineering from The City University.
Career in aviation commenced by being given employment in the Hawker Aircraft Ltd design office by Sir Sidney Camm. Worked on P1127, Kestrel and Harrier systems design before moving to Dunsfold Aerodrome to work on Harrier weapons systems flight trials.

Retired from proper employment to form own architectural design consultancy company which specialises in the relocation, conservation and conversion of ancient oak framed buildings - the hobby that grew - successfully enough to finance helicopter flying.

Started flying helicopters in 1985, initially Enstrom, then successively, Gazelle, Bell 206 and Hughes 500. Currently owns an Enstrom 280C which is based at home and regularly flies a Squirrel B3.

Flies extensively in Europe - as far south as the Greek Islands and East as far as Moscow, is an active member of the Helicopter Club of Great Britain, has competed historically and in the last two British Helicopter Championships, is an International Judge and a Liveryman of the Guild of Air Pilots & Air Navigators.

None flying activities include fly fishing, game shooting and scuba diving.

My first flight was in a DeHavilland Dragon Rapide as a pleasure flight around Heathrow and my father paid 10 shillings each for my brother and I. You could say this was my first training on weight and balance calculations as we were both weighed and positioned in the aircraft to suit.

The usual construction of hundreds of plastic models and balsa wood types with control line lunatic aircraft as the last ones. I joined the City of Oxford Sqn No 150 of the Air Training Corps, rising to the rank of Corporal. Cadged flights in Beverley's from RAF Abingdon and a trip in a Piston Provost and DH Chipmunks plus ATC Camps around the country. An opportunity to gain an 'A' and 'B' Gliding Licence with the ATC at RAF Hawkinge was fun and followed up with more gliding from Weston-on-the-Green with the Oxford Gliding Club.

Work involved an apprenticeship with Pressed Steel Co at Cowley followed by 38 years in all the incarnations of the motor industry on that site and at the Swindon plant specialising on Press Tooling. A part time job, starting in the year 2000, as a technician in Jacobs Engineering working on bridges and structures has been concluded as with all the aviation work I haven't had time to go to work!

A concentrated course starting on the auspicious date of April 1st 1969 got my PPL (A) flying Cessna 152's at Wycombe Air Centre. Many trips around the UK and Europe with the touring group set up between the Pilots at the Air Centre proved educational and fun. Other types flown include Piper Cubs, Chipmunk, Luscombe Silvaires and passenger in the Harvard plus some hours as Pilots Assistant in a Beech Kingair operating from Heathrow.

When the Flying Club rental price exceeded £2 per minute a colleague and I bought an Aeronca Champion 7AC, which taught us both a huge amount about flying real aircraft. Joining the Vintage Aircraft Club and eventually taking on its Chairmanship has allowed contacts with many superb airmen and craftsmen. As a member of the old PFA and the Oxford Strut I joined the organising committee and also represented them at the National Council. I have now been elected to the Executive Committee and represent the LAA and the VAC on various safety organisations and committees, CHIRP, GASCo, GAAC, etc. I'm also involved in the marketing and events sub committees and am the Association Secretary.

My other interest is mainly motorcycling, especially vintage types and I am a member of the VMCC, Ariel Owners Club, BMW Owners Club, Motorcycle Action Group and the British Motorcyclists Federation. Yes, motorcyclists have many similar fights with those in authority in both Europe and the UK as in Aviation!

He served for 28 years in the Royal Air Force as a pilot, initially on Vulcans and Canberras, then on Jet Provosts and Chipmunks.  On Jet Provosts he served as an instructor first of navigators then of pilots in basic flying training.  His final flying tour was teaching elementary flying on Chipmunks.He started flying gliders in 1965, eventually effectively ceasing in 1996 having gained the FAI diamond badge, flown in several national championships, and been chief instructor of 4 clubs.   

Having gained his PPL in 1965, he obtained his commercial licence in 1995 after leaving the RAF, and his airline transport licence in 2001.  He has been a CAA flying instructor since 1995 and a PPL examiner since 2003, on single engine piston aeroplanes and touring motor gliders. 

After working for a while as an aviation lecturer in Saudi Arabia, he joined the UK Civil Aviation Authority in 1999, where he is employed as the General Aviation Safety Promotion Officer, presenting CAA safety evenings around the country and editing GASIL and the GA SafetySense leaflets. He continues to instruct and examine in his free time.

After leaving London University, Gerald started his working life in the Operational Research Department of the British Transport Commission, later to become British Rail. Here he was concerned with analysing data for the infamous Beeching Report.

Following his time with the BTC he joined the construction industry with Richard Costain where he initially worked in a Scottish open cast coal mine on the development of an electronic dumptruck control system.

Returning to London he became interested in estimating and bidding theory and the strategy of tendering for contracts.

He then moved on to join ICI Agrochemicals, initially in the Management Services Department doing financial modelling and the planning of development projects. During the next fifteen years he progressed through a variety of positions before becoming the Regulatory Manager for the Far East and Pacific Region.

After six years travelling to some of the most interesting parts of the World he became the international project manager for a project reengineering the international regulatory function.

Gerald was taught to fly while at school under the RAF’ Flying Scholarship scheme at the Portsmouth Aero Club on Tiger Moths. He has maintained his PPL, adding Night and IMC Ratings, and currently has a share in a Piper Arrow in which he has toured widely in Europe.

Gerald became the Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators representative to the General Aviation Safety Council. Was elected to the GASCo Board and is the current Chairman. He represents GASCo on the GA Strategic Forum, The GA Consultative Committee and the GA/NATS Partnership.

Gerald served for 28 years in the RAFVR(T) and is an Assistant to the Court of Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators.