HeliOperations experience in military, commercial, maritime, SAR, and superyacht operations, means HeliOperations delivers efficient solutions whilst pursuing safety beyond compliance.
With huge experience in executive, commercial, maritime, SAR, military and specialist operating roles, HeliOperations brings effective and efficient operating protocols to super yacht aviation while adopting a risk reduction ethos throughout all operations.
About Us Leadership Team HeliOps Portland HeliOps CuldroseSir Alan has a strong background in maritime operations, maritime aviation, search and rescue, risk management, and safety regulation. In a 33-year career in the UK Royal Navy he commanded two aircraft carriers in combat operations and served for 5 years on the Navy and Admiralty Boards. His final RN appointment was as Second Sea Lord and Commander-in-Chief, Naval Home Command. Sir Alan then spent 8 years as Chief Executive officer of the UK Maritime & Coastguard Agency, where he modernised the UK’s Coastguard service, introduced a new fleet of 22 SAR helicopters and overhauled the MCA’s regulatory regime. He holds a number of non-executive leadership and consultancy positions, along with several charitable trusteeships.
Steve studied Electronic & Electrical Engineering at the University of Bath before joining the Royal Navy as a helicopter pilot specialising in Anti-Submarine and Search and Rescue roles. Upon leaving the Royal Navy Steve gained significant experience flying in support of Oil and Gas and civilian SAR operations over the North Sea and Irish Sea, operating the S61 and S92 helicopters. Steve founded Developing Assets (UK) Ltd, HeliOperations' parent company, in 2007.
Mark joined HeliOperations following a 37-year career as a Royal Navy Aircraft Engineer and a period as an independent consultant specialising in Airworthiness and Regulatory Compliance. A Chartered Engineer and Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society, he has wide-experience in both fixed and rotary wing operations in a range of roles, including as senior engineer on various Fleet Air Arm squadrons, Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton and more latterly within the Military Aviation Authority where he was responsible for the implementation of Certification Regulation for military aircraft. Based at HeliOperations' Portland site, Mark is the lead for all HeliOps' day-to-day operational and engineering activities.
A Chartered Engineer, David joined the HeliOperations’ Board after 31-years service with the Royal Navy, the last 3 as the Navy Safety Director. In that role he was responsible for designing and delivering safety transformation; this culminated with the Defence Safety Authority assessing the Royal Navy’s Safety Assurance as the best across Defence. A very experienced Sea King Air Engineer and Test Pilot, he worked on 6 variants of the aircraft in 9 different roles, including as the Charge Engineer at the Sea King’s largest international operating base and as the Delegated Release to Service Authority. With additional experience flying and supporting many other types, including Apache, Chinook and Merlin, he brings into the HeliOperations Board not only a broad understanding of aviation, but also wider-experience from consultancy roles in the aviation and maritime sectors.
Dan graduated from Corpus Christi College, Cambridge and qualified as an English lawyer with Allen & Overy LLP, specialising in aviation finance. He has subsequently worked in-house for international aircraft leasing companies as general counsel and chief operating officer. He also provides support to a major European airline and various investment funds on their aviation transactions. Dan provides advice to HeliOperations on insurance, commercial and contractual matters.
Jock spent over 38 years in the Royal Navy, initially as a Seaman Officer and Ship’s Diver before gaining his pilot’s Wings in 1984 and spending the next 32 years in the Fleet Air Arm. He has wide experience in the military having held five command posts, including ship, squadron and air station, whilst also having served in several Headquarters, including the Ministry of Defence in London on two occasions, the latter as the First Sea Lord’s aviation advisor. Retiring in the rank of Commodore Jock has an MA from Kings College London, is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society and is a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Distillers. He has served as a Trustee on several Charities and is currently the Chief Executive of the Fly Navy Heritage Trust, Chairman of the Fleet Air Arm Federation and a member of the Fleet Air Arm Museum Advisory Board. Jock joined the Board of HeliOperations as a Non-Executive Director in May 2018.
Neal is a Chartered Accountant with over 30-years experience working in the profession supporting businesses in a variety of sectors; he has been an external advisor to HeliOperations for over 10-years. Neal is a member of the Boards of Directors of a range of high-growth companies and as HeliOperations' Finance Director he provides strategic financial and business advice. Neal also undertakes Expert Witness assignments on company valuations and taxation matters.
A Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Linguists and Masters graduate from both Portsmouth Business School and Westminster University, Dan joined the HeliOperations’ Board as Business Development Director in May 2020. Dan enjoyed a 38-year career in the Royal Navy, 15-years of which were spent abroad in a wide-range of defence appointments, including with the German, Iraq and Pakistan Ministries of Defence. Dan’s final military appointment was spent in Berlin as the Deputy Defence Attaché to Germany. Since leaving the Royal Navy, Dan has developed an independent consultancy serving the aviation and security sectors, he serves as a Member of Council for the Chartered Institute of Linguists and brings a wealth of operational, diplomatic and commercial experience to the HeliOperations’ Board.
John has been a commercial helicopter pilot for 28 years. Most recently he worked at Bristow where he held the position of Chief Pilot Stornoway SAR for the past 10 years and has served as a front line SAR pilot for over 21 years. With experience in various operations including Oil and Gas, Military Support, SAR and UN Support Operations, John also oversaw the introduction of the S92 to SAR ops. As Manager Flight Operations SAR for all UK Coastguard operations with CHC John has been instrumental in the development of SAR ops and related issue.
Paul studied Engineering at Trinity College Dublin and worked in South Africa for 25 years in the heavy-engineering sector covering power generation, mining, oil refineries and offshore projects. He served as a director of a number of South African companies including Murray & Roberts Engineering, Genrec Engineering and Gray Security Services. He is now based in the United Kingdom and where he is involved in risk-management, education and training in Africa; and various other engineering projects.
The UK MAA has granted HeliOperations Part 145 approval for its brand new Base Maintenance and Storage Facility in Somerton near RNAS Yeovilton. The facility will be used for the storage and on-site maintenance of military registered air systems and components...
HeliOperations are incredibly proud of German Navy student pilot Lt Johannes Rolle. Last month, a ten year-old boy from Weymouth became trapped underwater in a local swimming pool. Whilst the boy’s father fought to retrieve his son from the water...
HeliOps is delighted to announce the completion of its new engineering and logistics facility in the Somerset former county-town of Somerton. Situated approximately 5 miles north-west of RNAS Yeovilton and 35 miles from HeliOps own Heliport at Portland...