Eric Brown Award 2024
Eric Brown Award 2024
Howard’s record of achievement and support for the helicopter industry over many years is unparalleled and requires little explanation. He joined the industry in 1975 flying for Bristow in the North Sea. After posts in Greenland and Oman he became Chief Pilot and Accountable Manager for Aeromega in 1987 and started his long association with and support of the BHA committees as a member of Council. Needless to say, since joining the Authority in 2008, Howard has always been on hand to attend the Onshore Liaison meetings with unfailing regularity to listen to our issues, and to chase responses. He has always been sympathetic and patient with whatever issue we have brought to him, and he never failed to give it his attention and to provide a reasoned and helpful response. Howard has led many of the key safety initiatives, including the Special Events Safety briefings and supporting the BHA Flight Ops Nominated Persons Course.
Captain Mersey works with the BHA on delivering 3 major benefits to the helicopter industry. The UK Major Events Pre-Season and Post Season briefings where the major helicopter fly-ins get presented and de-briefed. Safety is at the fore-front and he is supportive of industry to ensure that the commercial interests of the event do not encroach upon the flying operations. Alongside retired CAA personnel and industry experts he lectures on the BHA Flight Ops Nominated Persons Course, organising the 2nd day held at CAA HQ Gatwick. This is a course provided to the nascent post-holders of the UK helicopter companies. Having been one himself he always shows great empathy with the attendees; while keeping in mind he is sitting on the other side of the table in his current role.
He is the CAA Lead for the Onshore Helicopter Liaison Committee where the onshore sector come together to discuss safety and operational matters with the regulator. His in-depth knowledge and experience are a real asset in this role. Always happy to admit that he does not know something, he will then consult the CAA SME and report back. He does a lot of work in the background ensuring illegal public air transport does not take place, maintaining industry standards and ensuring the uneducated 3rd party does not get exploited or put in danger. During the Covid epidemic he was always available to industry for advice and was fully involved in the regulators flexible response to ensure the emergency services and industries like Offshore oil and gas were not affected by any government measures.
The Chief Pilot of Starspeed would also like to extend his thanks for Howard’s kind and tolerant approach to a ramp check some years ago at Cheltenham, when said Chief Pilot may or may not have forgotten the tech log.
I am sure many others in the industry will have their own stories to tell of Howard’s generosity with his time and advice and being an exceptional example of a gentleman in conducting his role as a CAA FOI. We shall miss him, and we wish him the very best in whatever life after the CAA brings.
