Learn from the Finest in the Sky
Chief Flying instructor
Lee Merritt
Lee has been flying for over twenty years with several thousand hours of flight time, and is a full-time professional flight instructor and CAA Examiner for initial licenses and advanced ratings.
Head of training
Donald Putnam
Donald has been instructing for 10 years and is qualified to teach all flying disciplines from basic PPL and Multi-Engine through to Commercial flying, FIC courses, Instrument Flying and Aerobatics.
Operations manager
Jonathan Jones
Johnny is our Operations Manager. He has a Private Pilots Licence and is currently working towards his IMC rating.
Operations Assistant
Jack Grainger
Jack is our Operations Assistant. After completing his PPL training in New Zealand, he is now working towards his commercial licence.
Head of ENGINEERING
Mohammad Ali
Ali is our Head of Engineering.
FLYING INSTRUCTOR
Giles Barr
After a successful career within the music industry, Giles qualified as a commercial pilot and after instructing at Cranfield full-time for 2 years, he now instructs part-time alongside his career as an airline pilot.
Flying Instructor
Michael Clifford Smith
Michael has worked for Cranfield Flying School for the last 14 years mainly on Saturdays. He gained his CPL in 2005 and his Instrument Rating (SE) and Instructor Rating a couple of years later.
Flying Instructor
Scott Camber
Flying Instructor
Ian Leech
Ian has been flying for over 20 years and has been an instructor for more than 10 years. Ian is also an accomplished commercial pilot with many hours on executive jets amongst other aircraft.
Flying Instructor
Paul Barker
Flying Instructor
Dean Filmore
Flying Instructor
Jonathan Webb
Flying Instructor
Tony Wilson
Tony has been flying since 2007. He teaches students towards attainment of the Light Aircraft Pilot Licence, and teaches qualified pilots towards a Night Rating.
Flying Instructor
Charles Kennedy
Flying Instructor
Mashroor Chowdhury
Operations Assistant
Joe Carless
Joe is our Operations Assistant. He is currently training for his PPL.
Regional Operations Director
Billy Hall
Billy is our Regional Operations Director and carries out air experience flights. He is studying ATPL theory at present with a strong ambition to become a commercial pilot.
Operations Volunteer
Trevor Gilpin
Trevor has held various posts at the Rural Flying Corps Bourn Airfield. Including CFI, Head of Training, and Airfield Manager. He has retired with over 3,000 hours of instructional flying.
Experience Flight Coordinator
Thomas Jacobs
On-Site Maintenance
Heinz Kochel
Heinz looks after any odd jobs that need doing in and around the clubhouse. If it needs fixing – Heinz is your man! He is a also highly experienced pilot, and has amassed a great many number of flying hours over many years of flying all over Europe. We are very lucky to have Heinz as part of the team at Cranfield.
Head of engineering
Waqas Ali