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All our team come from a maritime aviation background and bring decades of experience in the safe management of helicopter operations at sea. Together the team has vast experience operating helicopters on vessels at sea, in the military and commercially. The team comprises Ex-military Aircrew, Flight Deck Officers, Survival Specialists, Safety Management Specialists, Engineers and Naval Architects. We live and breathe maritime aviation and strive to ensure that superyachts can enjoy their helicopter operations in the safest way possible.
Chris is our Operations Manager and has over 24 years of maritime aviation experience. Having served in the Royal Navy as Merlin helicopter aircrew, Chris made the transition from the military to Safeguard Helidecks in 2016. He has worked on numerous multi-spot flight decks including HMS Ocean, RFA Argus, HNLMS Rotterdam and HMS Illustrious.
As an experienced Helidecks Certification Officer and in his role as Operations Manager, Chris liaises with Captains, Owner Representatives, Management Companies and Shipyards to ensure that aviation is conducted in the safest possible manner. Chris has worked with numerous Superyachts and their crew to ensure they are operating helicopters in the safest possible manner. He has grown his reputation within the industry by being driven and enthusiastic to get the work done as efficiently as possible.
Chris is a Senior Helideck Certification Officer and has over 25 years operational management experience within the Royal Navy. He is a highly experienced ex-Royal Navy Aviation Officer, with time spent as a Maritime Aviation Certification Officer for the Military Aviation Authority (MAA). During this time he was responsible for providing aviation expertise to support the Ships OC in delivering operational performance standards, optimising platform availability and capability.
In 2016/17 he was a Flight Deck Officer on HMS OCEAN, responsible for the safe conduct of all operations and aircraft on the flight deck, making certain safety procedures were adhered to and ensuring the expeditious movement and launch of aircraft to meet ship and squadron operational requirements.
Since joining the Safeguard team Chris has been kept busy supporting both the Helideck Certification and the Ship/Air Integration areas of the business.
James is a Senior Aviation Consultant and Inspector, with over 25 years of experience in helicopter operations. He served 10 years as a Commando Helicopter Pilot in the Royal Navy, flying from many of the UK’s aviation capable ships as well as working with other navies, and has flown in mountain, arctic, desert and jungle environments. In 2006, James moved to Fort Lauderdale and started working in the helicopter-yacht sector, supporting owners looking to improve the safety and efficiency of their onboard helicopter operations. After many years in away in the US and then the UAE, we are glad to see him now back in Europe, although always with a bag ready to fly out to see our clients.
James has been a member of many of the Helideck Working Groups as a Subject Matter Expert for the MCA/REG and Marshall Islands and has been at the forefront of the developing the regulations and standards as the number of yachts with helidecks has continued to grow. He has personally worked with a wide variety of yachts, both private and fully commercial, providing risk management advice and support, from design consultation through to delivering crew training. While his foundations were shaped in the military, he has proven that he understands the peculiarities of the yachting sector and the individuality of each vessel. As a helideck inspector, he brings a wealth of experience and has built a great reputation for his professional and knowledgeable approach.
Chris is our Lead Aviation Consultant and Inspector, with over 13 years of experience in maritime aviation. Prior to joining Safeguard Helidecks, Chris was an Aircraft Handler in the Royal Navy where he gained extensive experience in managing aviation operations on Aircraft Carriers and Amphibious Ships, both for the United Kingdom and the American Navy.
Jed joined the team after completing an environmental degree at Cardiff University. His interest and passion for aviation has allowed him to integrate as an operations assistant, where day to day he coordinates projects and staff. Since joining in 2022 Jed has been lucky enough to work onboard some beautiful superyachts
Certificate Number 11675
Safeguard Helidecks is a Trading Name of Safeguard Engineering Ltd.
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