What's new at Skyblue?
We are delighted to announce that Teunis Hendrikus "Henry" Garrits has joined Skyblue as ATR Standardisation Manager and Head of Training (Designate).
Henry learnt to fly in 1997 and has worked as a flight instructor with several flight schools since 2002. Henry has a deep and detailed knowledge of the ATR aircraft and has worked for many years as a freelance ATR Type Rating Instructor and Examiner for a number of organisations including Skyblue. Henry was also an advisor to the ICAO Flight Ops team responsible for the development of DOC 8168 aviation regulations. Henry will carry out the role of ATR Standards Manager, overseeing delivery of our ATR training He will ensure that we continue to deliver high quality training in accordance with the latest recommendations of international regulators, and the manufacturer.It is anticipated that Henry will eventually take over as Head of Training. We consider ourselves very fortunate to be able to welcome Henry to Skyblue in this more formal role. With his proven skills and extensive experience, we are sure that he will be an asset to our team.
It is with great sadness that I have to report that Captain John 'Stack' Butterley passed away last Sunday, 11th Octber 2020.
I first met Stack at CityFlyer Express in 1993. He had retired from British Airways where famously he had flown Concorde. But it was not just his past that made Stack special. He was a larger than life character and when some years later Skyblue was in need of ground school instructor, Stack was a natural choice. He was an immediate success, bringing what can only be described as a unique teaching style to the company. It is safe to say that all of the trainees who were lucky enough to be taught by Stack never forgot the experience!
Stack was still active as a ground instructor with us, teaching his last course in February this year just before lockdown. In spite of a fascinating career flying a range of iconic aircraft Stack was never one to rest on his laurels. As well as conducting theoretical training for us, he continued to fly his part-owned Tiger Moth, passing on his experience and entertaining everyone he met with his own brand of irreverent humour. It was in the cockpit of this aircraft, the type in which he started his flying career, that he peacefully passed away.
We will all miss Stack greatly. But with that sadness is an appreciation of the manner of his passing. He was a pilot and instructor to the end. He lived life to the full until the very last and perhaps that is his greatest lesson.
Stack, from all your friends and colleagues at Skyblue we wish you a safe final journey, and a happy landing. I know it will be a good one!
Welcome to the new Skyblue Aero Services website. The site has a fresh new look and is now mobile friendly.
We recently completed our second Dornier 228 type rating course for Aurigny Air Services and the pilots are now progressing to line training.
Our ATR training courses continue to be busy and we are delighted to be assisting Starbow Airlines in Ghana with their acquisition of ATRs for their successful operations out of Accra.
We are also currently assisting Air Falcon, a start-up company in Pakistan.
We are continuing to provide training for a limited number of self sponsoring pilots. Graduates of our courses have recently obtained employment with Aurigny Air Services, Blue Islands, Flybe, Aero4M, Stobart Air, ASL Ireland and Cebu Pacific.