The other side
The World's Flying
I've often been asked whether I'm a drummer who flies aeroplanes, or a pilot who plays the drums.
The truth is... I'm neither.
I'm simply someone who has been fortunate enough to build two careers that I love.
For many people there comes a point where they feel they have to choose one path and leave the other behind. I've always wanted to challenge that idea. My hope has been to show that it really is possible to pursue two completely different professions, each to the highest level, without compromising either.
Music and aviation have shaped my life in different ways, but they share more than most people realise. Both demand discipline, preparation, creativity, teamwork and the pursuit of continual improvement. One is often described as an art, the other a science, yet I often find myself saying that there is a science to music and an art to flying.
How it all began
I began flying in 1999.
At the time, I had reached a point where music had become all consuming. After a few years of playing professionally, I felt I needed something completely different. Flying offered exactly that. I enrolled at college, the former BAE Systems Flying College in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain to train as a commercial pilot and, for just over two years, hardly played the drums at all.
By the time I graduated in late 2001, the aviation industry had changed dramatically following the events of 11 September 2001. Airline recruitment had almost stopped and, like many newly qualified pilots, I found myself looking for another way into the industry.
That unexpected setback turned out to be one of the best things that could have happened.
Learning to teach
My first professional flying role was as a flying instructor at Halfpenny Green Airport near Wolverhampton.
Teaching others to fly light aircraft was enormously rewarding. Looking back, it also laid the foundations for what would later become one of the most enjoyable parts of my airline career: instructing and mentoring pilots.
During this time the flying school planned to expand into corporate aviation and asked me to travel to Italy to train on the remarkable Piaggio P.180 Avanti.
Although the school ultimately decided not to purchase the aircraft, something even better happened. Piaggo offered me a position flying their aircraft.
Fox Air - Ferrari
I joined Fox Air in Italy, often known as Ferrari Air because of its close association with Ferrari in Maranello.
Flying the Piaggio P.180 across Europe was a wonderful introduction to commercial aviation and gave me experience operating a unique, high performance aircraft in a wide variety of environments. There were lot’s of happy memories in this role flying literally some of the greatest sports stars, many top celebrities from the world of film & television to well know politicians.
Joining the airlines
My airline career began with Globespan, flying the Boeing 737 from bases in Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Those were also very exciting years. Around that time Rhythm magazine featured my rather unusual combination of careers, photographing me behind both a drum kit and on the flight deck.
I then joined Monarch Airlines, flying the Airbus A320 and A321 from Birmingham.
Those years remain especially important to me because they allowed me to spend precious time close to my parents during the final years of their lives. They both passed away in 2009/2010, only a short time apart, and being nearby during that period is something I will always be grateful for.
Virgin Atlantic
In 2012 I joined Virgin Atlantic on the Airbus A340-600.
It was the beginning of a remarkable chapter.
From South Africa to China, Hong Kong, Sydney and across North America, I have the privilege of flying some of the world's most iconic long haul routes with an exceptional group of people.
Several years later I transitioned to the Airbus A330-300 before training on the latest Airbus A330 variant, the A330-900neo. Today I also fly the Airbus A350-1000 which in my humble opinion has become the new Queen of the Skies.
I currently fly as a Line Training Captain, Line Check Captain, Type Rating Instructor (TRI) and Type Rating Examiner (TRE) on both the Airbus A350 & A330..
Helping other pilots develop their skills has become one of the most rewarding aspects of my career. Whether conducting line training, simulator instruction or command development, I enjoy helping pilots grow in confidence and judgement while maintaining the highest professional standards.
I recently became Command Pathway lead have written a comprehensive course in leadership for new Captains in Virgin Atlantic.
Two careers. One philosophy.
People often assume that music and aviation occupy opposite ends of the spectrum.
I see it differently.
Both demand preparation.
Both require trust.
Both are team activities.
Both reward consistency more than brilliance.
Most importantly, both remind me that mastery is never a destination. There is always something new to learn.
I don't think of myself as a pilot who happens to play drums, or as a drummer who happens to fly aeroplanes.
I'm simply someone who has been fortunate enough to spend a lifetime pursuing two passions.
And I still wake up excited to do both.
1999 — Began flight training
2001 — Qualified Commercial Pilot
2002 — Flying Instructor, Halfpenny Green, Wolverhampton, UK
2003 — Fox Air (Piaggio P.180 Avanti), Bologna, Italy
2004 — Globespan, Boeing 737-300, -600, -800 Glasgow, Edinburgh, Stansted, UK
2007 — Monarch Airlines, Airbus A320/A321 Birmingham, UK
2012 — Virgin Atlantic, Airbus A340-600, Heathrow, Gatwick, London, UK
2017 — Airbus A330-300
2022 — Airbus A330-900neo
2024 — Airbus A350-1000
Present — Captain, LTC, LCC, TRI, TRE Airbus A350-1000, A330-900neo Heathrow, London, UK