George Bedford retires
Indeed the end of an era.
George was Head of Training at Bristow's training school from 1983 until they sold the goodwill to HAI in 1999 and since then has been HOT at HAI. During that 22 year period he has shepherded some 300 Bristow cadets and over 180 aspirants at HAI to their professional licences.
During that period there have been frequent 'discussions!' with the CAA to bring common sense to the table. With the introduction of the JAA we nearly slipped back 30 years in licencing to being forced to follow fixed-wing 'diktat' from people who knew little about helicopters and cared even less. Not all the battles have been won but fortunately the excesses have been curbed with common sense, in no small part due to George.
So farewell to George and if we follow our noses to the cheese and wine we will know where you are!