Avionics Principal Specialist — IFC / Satcom / Aircrew / Linux.
Licensed avionics, satellite communications, Linux and networking consultant with deep expertise across hardware, software and the systems that tie them together — bringing a unique blend of technologies to even the most complex tasks. Detail-oriented and calm under pressure, handling real-time AOG situations, line support and network issues with ease.
Well-versed in commercial, business and defence avionics, with expertise in in-flight connectivity (IFC), Linux-based systems, ATG / Avance, EAN and a wide range of LEO / GEO satellite systems. Equally at home as a Linux administrator, network architect, security analyst and problem manager.
Over 25 years delivering programme and project management, technical and sales support, installation and field service to airlines, VVIP operators, OEMs and MROs worldwide.
Principal Consultant — Flytlink (Mar 2024 – Present)
Executive consulting across any avionics, satcoms and networking environment: problem management, sales and technical support, roll-out, development, installation and project management. Aircrew and maintenance licensed.
Program Manager, Commercial Aviation EAN/GX — Viasat / Inmarsat (Mar 2023 – Feb 2024)
Delivered EAN, Ka-band Global Xpress (GX), L-band Swift Broadband and S-band connectivity to major European airlines. Part of the team whose EAN contract was awarded to the Lufthansa Group (Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian, Cityline) — several hundred aircraft.
Program Manager, IFC / Fastapn — Flytlink (Apr 2020 – Feb 2023)
Designed, programmed and rolled out the Fastapn (fastapn.com) PEPsal service from conception — now widely used across commercial and business aviation to beat contention and latency over ATG / Avance / EAN and LEO/GEO satellite systems, with no hardware or software changes to the aircraft.
Senior FSR / Training Manager, Global — Gogo Business Aviation (Aug 2014 – Apr 2020)
Solely responsible for IFC, Satcom and ATG / Avance systems outside the USA. VVIP 2Ku, Ku, BGAN, Iridium and third-party hardware; global real-time and AOG support at OEMs, MROs and owners; aircraft release-to-service; and training for aircrew, maintenance and operators.
System Integration Director — Condor Flug Dienst (Sep 2013 – Aug 2014, Frankfurt / Xiamen)
Project management and technical lead for RGB cabin lighting and Satcom IFE on Condor 767s in Xiamen, China.
Engineering Manager / Satcom Design Authority — Thales Communications (Oct 2010 – Sep 2013)
Satcom DA, work-package manager and team leader for commercial IFC programmes including the Boeing 787, plus several defence projects.
Principal Satellite Consultant & Training Officer — Thales Communications (Oct 2007 – Sep 2010, Belgium)
Design, test, certification and integration of avionics and satcoms into military and commercial aircraft (AWACS / E3A, SOTP, SOTM, TPICS), and training of Thales staff.
Managing Director — Transcom (Dec 2003 – Jan 2007)
Founded and ran a business-grade data-services company: hosting, VPS, VoIP softswitch and satellite internet. Designed, supplied and installed 800+ VSAT sets across Africa, Iraq, Afghanistan and Australia for Raytheon, USAF, British MOD, Research Triangle and NewSat.
Principal Consultant, Satcoms — SES Satellites (Jan 2001 – Dec 2003, Luxembourg)
Integration, test and analysis of Ka BBI VSAT and Satlynx services; presentations at IBC Amsterdam and Millicom.
Senior Network Architect — Marconi (Jan 1998 – Jan 2001)
Outsourced projects for Bechtel, MSI and Kinnevik: the London Underground Jubilee Line station networks, cellular-backhaul ground stations, a NOC in South Africa, and VSAT hubs for Deutsche Telekom.
Earlier: Racal Datacom, Rockwell Collins, USAF, Dubai Police Airwing, Jet Aviation, Eagle Aircraft and Britannia Airways.
— Education & licences —
Aeronautical Engineering degree (Aircraft Avionics & Systems), University of Hertfordshire. Fully indentured avionics apprenticeship, Britannia Airways. FAA A&P aircraft licence; CAA (UK), FAA (USA) and DGCA (UAE) licences; FCC & CAA radio licences; cyber-security / forensic analysis (Station X). GVF (Global VSAT Forum) founding member.
— Employers —
Flytlink — Principal Consultant / Program Manager (IFC, Fastapn)
Viasat / Inmarsat — Program Manager, Commercial Aviation EAN/GX
Gogo Business Aviation — Senior FSR / Training Manager, Global
Condor Flug Dienst — System Integration Director
Thales Communications — Engineering Manager / Satcom Design Authority
Transcom — Managing Director (founder)
SES Satellites — Principal Satcom Consultant
Marconi — Senior Network Architect
Racal Datacom · Rockwell Collins · Britannia Airways · Jet Aviation · Eagle Aircraft — earlier avionics roles
— Clients & partners —
Lufthansa Group (Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian, Cityline), NetJets Europe, Raytheon, USAF, British MOD, NewSat, Research Triangle, Deutsche Telekom, Bechtel, MSI, Kinnevik, Dubai Police Airwing, Boeing (787 programme).
Fastapn (fastapn.com) — designed and programmed from conception. A PEPsal acceleration service for commercial and business aviation that beats contention and latency on best-effort airborne links (ATG / Avance / EAN and Ku / Ka / 2Ku / LEO / GEO satellite) with no changes to aircraft hardware or software. Now used across many airlines and business-aviation fleets.
Transcom data-services platform — a business-grade stack built and run end to end: LAMP hosting, secure email, virtualization / VPS (hypervisors), a VoIP softswitch, satellite-internet provisioning and network management (NMS).
Linux & network systems — VPN architectures (OpenVPN, WireGuard, IPSEC, L2TP/PPTP), firewalls, routers and virtualization across Debian / CentOS (Alma) / Ubuntu / Kali, with cyber-security and forensic analysis (CFID / CFHI).
Brighton, United Kingdom — current base
London, United Kingdom
Crawley, United Kingdom
Frankfurt, Germany
Tubize, Belgium
Betzdorf, Luxembourg
China — Xiamen & Hong Kong (Condor 767 cabin & Satcom IFE)
The Philippines — Starlink IPSEC marine mesh interconnect
Germany, Switzerland & Austria — Lufthansa Group EAN programme (Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian, Cityline)
The Netherlands — Amsterdam (IBC)
France — Millicom
Luxembourg — SES / Satlynx DVB-RCS
South Africa — NOC build & satcom ground stations
Dubai, UAE — Dubai Police Airwing
United States — Texas (FAA / Smiths Aircraft School)
Iraq & Afghanistan — VSAT deployments (Raytheon, USAF, British MOD)
Australia — VSAT deployments
Across Africa — 800+ VSAT CIR / VBDC installations
Throughout Europe & Asia — global field engineering, airline, defence & VVIP programmes
