Battle for Tumbledown: A casualty of the Scots Guards is rushed by stretcher to a Gazelle helicopter for evacuation on Goat Ridge below Mount Harriet in June 1982
British Army Gazelle on UN duty over Dancon territory, Cyprus 1990
Pilot Profile: Andy Berryman
Andy Berryman with Gazelle
Andy Berryman joined the Royal Navy in 1979 and served on 845 and 846 Squadrons as a Commando Helicopter pilot. Attended the Central Flying School in 1985 and served on 705 Squadron as a Qualified Helicopter Instructor gaining an A1(H) QHI qualification. Trained at the Empire Test Pilots’ School in 1989 before serving with Rotary Wing Test Squadron, Boscombe Down as a test pilot. Responsibilities as test pilot included the introduction of the Lynx HAS Mk8 into Royal Naval Service; Sea King, Wessex and Gazelle project duties: icing project pilot, NVG project pilot and SHOL project pilot.
Returned to operational service in 1992 with 846 Squadron including duties as Senior Pilot before returning to the Empire Test Pilots’ School as a tutor. In 1995 became Staff Aviation Officer to the Commodore Amphibious Warfare responsible for all aspects of amphibious aviation for the Royal Navy and Marines. Saw operational service in Northern Ireland, the South Atlantic, Lebanon and Bosnia.
Completed three seasons as display pilot on Gazelle, both solo and as team leader in formation team, and competed in both the World and British Helicopter Championships winning eleven national and international trophies, including twice British Helicopter Champion on two occasions. Awarded the Air Force Cross in 1989.
Left the Royal Navy in 1996 to become an airline pilot, currently flying the Boeing 747-400 with British Airways. In addition, Andy carries out instructional flying on light turbine helicopters and corporate helicopter operations on Agusta 109 and Gazelle.
Andy conducts Crew Resource Management training for both fixed and rotary wing operators and commissioned the James Bibby simulator at Liverpool University in 2000 and continues with both student studies and R&D as a consultant.