Osprey Consulting Services Ltd Team

Andy Hirst

Andy started his career on the graduate trainee programme at Rolls-Royce Military Aero Engines. His initial post was as a Control Systems Engineer, responsible for the design and testing of control laws for the RTM322 engine FADEC, powering the Apache, Merlin and NH90 helicopters. Andy later transferred to Rolls-Royce Deutschland in Berlin, where he became more involved with the performance of civil aviation gas turbines, and contributed to the certification of the Tay 611-8C corporate jet gas turbine.

Andy moved to Airbus UK in 2003, where he started to work in systems safety. He was the lead safety engineer for landing gear on the Airbus A330 and A340 projects, dealing with both extension & retraction systems, and the braking & steering systems.

Moving into consultancy in 2005, when he joined HVR Consulting Services (now part of QinetiQ), Andy continued to develop safety assessments for aircraft working on the Eurofighter Typhoon Safety Case for the UK MoD and the air to air refuelling system for the UK Airbus A400M.

For the past 5 years Andy has applied his knowledge of aviation and safety engineering to the field of air traffic management, working on projects that were involved with the introduction of new Navigational Aids and procedures.

Lindsay Perks

After completing an honours degree in Computing Science, Lindsay started her career in the Air Systems department of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency as a software engineer specialising in artificially intelligent airborne radar and communications systems.
An affinity for radar and data-link technology took Lindsay into consultancy and operational requirements specification for airborne and battlefield systems, most notably for the future aircraft carrier CV (F).

Since 2005 Lindsay has pursued a career in Aviation Safety and has developed a particular interest in aerodrome operational safety and the safe provision of air navigation services.  Lindsay’s current role is primarily aimed at assessing the impact of wind turbine developments on nearby civil and military airport operations and radar service providers.  Lindsay provides independent advice and consultancy services to both the wind developer and the airport operator in managing the interaction between the two industries.

Doug Fidoe

Doug joined the RAF in 1978 and trained as a Radar engineer. He was employed in many varying roles and positions, working on many different Radar and Communications systems. With the experience and knowledge gained he became a Trade Instructor, Course Designer and Tactical Radar Manager. He was responsible for Health and Safety, Risk Assessments and Quality Audits as well as managing the day to day section tasks and personnel. Doug left the RAF in 2000 and joined Siemens Plessey Radar Systems where he worked as a Systems Engineer on a Major MoD Contractor Logistic Support contract.

In 2007 Doug Joined HVR as a Senior Safety Consultant where he worked with MoD and Civil Airports delivering Safety Case assessments and reports for Defence Radar Systems, Civil Navigational and Surveillance Aids.  He conducted a Mode S Interrogator Code and Surveillance Maps application assessment on behalf of EUROCONTROL’S Surveillance department.

Doug joined Osprey CSL in 2008 and has been involve with many Aviation projects including the successful Regulatory Approval of the Inverness Airport Radar System.  Doug is the technical lead for all Windfarm mitigation projects and has developed pragmatic solutions for both onshore and offshore developments. 

Annaliza Willis

Annaliza joined the RAF in 1996 and completed her first tour at RAF Valley. After completing the Area Radar Training Course she was posted to London (Mil) where she controlled in the airspace to the east of the UK and was appointed Deputy OC Distress and Diversion cell.  Her third tour was as the Deputy SATCO and Local Examining Officer at RAF Odiham in Hampshire.

Following a deployment to Afghanistan as a J3 ISTAR and Air staff officer in 2007, she returned to the UK to take up an appointment in A3 Plans at the UK Joint Force Air Component HQ (JFACHQ). Annaliza left the RAF in 2009 and immediately joined Osprey. She specialises in windfarm/aviation impact management and aviation safety management.

Andy Kent

Andy joined EASAMS Ltd in 1979 as a System Engineer working within the Tornado F2/F3 Project Team.  In 1984 he moved to the Tornado Displays and Controls Team, where his primary responsibility was the writing of software requirements and associated documentation for the Tornado Main Computer Displays subsystem.  During this period Andy also managed elements of the Design Team having responsibility for integration of the GPS system into the Main Computer.

In 2001 he joined Aerosystems International to work as a Systems Engineer on the Harrier GR9.  In April 2003 he moved to RPS as a Senior Consultant delivering safety case assessments and reports for military systems.  These included Weapon Locating Radar, Fire Control and Guided Weapons systems.  Andy also worked with the ADATS delivery team on the safety case for the RAF ILS replacement.

In January 2010 Andy joined the Osprey team, where he is involved in providing both system and safety expertise; this includes safety case and safety assessment report authorship for a variety of ATC system projects.

Carl Eskdale MSc CEng MIET

Before joining the Osprey team in March 2010, Carl served as an Engineering Officer within the Royal Air Force.  In this role he gained knowledge and experience of ATC and similar systems throughout a period spanning 20 Years.  For the last 3 years of service he was employed as principal Safety Engineer for military ATM, providing safety management and functional risk assessment for equipment, processes and procedures used in the provision of pan-Defence ATC and Air Defence services.  In this role identification, assessment and control of risks posed to flight safety were balanced against UK military training and operational commitments.  Carl worked closely with personnel from both ADATS and ACCS delivery teams to ensure that the safety obligations of the military ANSP were met and could be deemed as safe as or better than the civilian equivalent.  This included demonstration of equivalence to CAA policy and where possible alignment with both EUROCONTROL and ICAO directives. 

Carl’s knowledge and experience extends beyond his safety expertise to include; installation and commissioning of ATC systems as well as personnel and project management.  He has a level headed and pragmatic approach that is enhanced by excellent communication skills.  Additionally Carl’s academic achievement culminated in 2007 with a Distinction level MSc from the University of York in Safety Critical Systems Engineering.  Carl is also a Chartered Engineer with the IET.