Staff Profiles

Instructors & Support Staff

  • Luke Hall

    Chief Flying Instructor, Examiner & Aero Club Manager
    (PPL/NPPL, Night, Aerobatics, Tailwheel)
    Marshall Aerospace pilot

    More about Luke

    I’ve been obsessed with aircraft ever since I was a toddler!

    My late Granddad would sit me on his knee and show me fascinating old photos of him as a Lancaster Bomber pilot and instructor. He would embellish the photos with exciting and atmospheric tales of aviation adventure.

    Combined with my insatiable fascination for machines and other boyish distractions, I was never going to need much persuasion to become a pilot!

    Now I have one of the most enjoyable, challenging and varied flying jobs I could have ever imagined. I also happen to work with the best team of instructors and support staff I could hope for.

    Running Cambridge Aero Club is a vastly rewarding challenge and I hope my achievements and those of my staff are clearly evident in the service we are proud to provide to our customers.

  • Ben Luckes

    Full-time Instructor
    (PPL/NPPL, Night)

    More about Ben

    Hi! I’ve have been flying since the age of 16 when I did a gliding scholarship. Since then I have gone on to gain a Frozen Airline Transport Pilots Licence as well as my Flight Instructor qualifications.

    I have been part of the team at Cambridge Aero club as a full time instructor since summer 2008 after I finished working for another flying school.

    My background before becoming a professional pilot was in the TV industry undertaking various roles behind and in front of the camera! Amongst other things I worked as a supporting actor on the drama ‘Casualty’ and was one of the voices on the BBC’s Creature Comfort series!!

    If you see me around feel free to ask me any questions and I look forward to flying with you soon!

  • Judith Linwood

    Support Administrator

    More about Judith

    My name is Judith and I work for 2 days a week as Megan’s support administrator.

    I have been with the Aero Club for nearly a year now meeting some very nice people along the way. The Aero Club has a really friendly atmosphere which I thoroughly enjoy being a part of.

    I was part way through my PPL course before I took the job so I feel I have some empathy with the students!

  • Daz James

    Part-time Support Administrator

    More about Daz

    Retired Deputy Chief Test Pilot of Marshall Aero Space.

    Former Test Pilot on Harrier, Tornado, and numerous others.

    Former fighter Pilot

  • Anthony Cooke

    Deputy Chief Flying Instructor
    (PPL/NPPL, Night, Aerobatics, Tailwheel)
     

    More about Anthony

    Hi, I’m Anthony. My background is Farming, but I’ve been flying since 1985.

    For eleven years I flew from my farm strip in Lincolnshire, and more recently worked as a Parachute Drop Pilot, chauffeuring Skydivers to 15000 ft. I then saw the light and followed my true calling to become a Career Flying Instructor.

    I now get my kicks from passing on hard earned skills obtained from my colourful aviation past!

  • Iain Young

    Director, Instructor & Flight Examiner
     

    More about Iain

    Director of the Club and Chief Test Pilot at Marshall Aerospace, I am an Instructor and Examiner and a great light aircraft enthusiast. I enjoy instructing at all levels and am always delighted to pass on my experience.

  • Megan Hollows

    Principal Support Administrator

    More about Megan

    Hi, I’m Megan; I joined the Aero Club team in May 2007. I’m the Principal Administrator. Judith and I run the front desk and help to create the friendly and professional atmosphere you’ll encounter.

    It’s been a steep learning curve for me as before working here I knew nothing about light aircraft or flying. Aviation has quickly become something I’m really passionate about, so I’ll readily pass on all I’ve learnt to anyone who’ll listen!

    I’m the person who you’ll probably speak to first when you call or drop in. Please don’t hesitate to ask me anything – I’ll do my best to help!

  • Liz Thomas

    Principal Support Administrator

    More about Liz

    Hi, I’m Liz. I am replacing Megan as she goes on Maternity Leave for at least the next 9 months! I hope that I can continue to provide the very friendly and professional service you have come to expect from Megan.

    I have very recently left the RAF after 16 years service. My final tour of duty was as the Senior Air Traffic Control Officer at RAF Wittering but I have also had tours of duty at RAF Cranwell, Northolt, Brize Norton and Swanwick London Joint Area Operations, including an Out of Area tour as the Brigade Air Liaison Officer in Iraq in 2007. So I do have some aviation knowledge, but will be learning on the hoof about all the PPL has to offer.

    I look forward to getting to know everyone and congratulate many people on the successful attainment of flying qualifications during my short tenure.


Part-time Instructors

  • Catherine Spooner

    Part-time Instructor
    (PPL/NPPL, Night)

    More about Catherine

    Having been giving a Trial Lesson for my 16th birthday, aviation has since become a major part of my life.

    Achieving my PPL at 18 and realising I never wanted to do anything but fly, I decided to go further and gain my Commercial Licence.

    After completing my professional training in Australia I came back home to England to complete my Instructors Course, which you’ll now find me putting to good use at Cambridge Aero Club!!

  • Bill Porteous

    Part-time Instructor
    (PPL/NPPL, IMC, Night)

    More about Bill

    Bill has an extensive and broad based background in aviation and is currently a Falcon Jet Captain. He brings his great wealth of experience and calm manner several times a month and we are all the better for it!

  • Ricky Dolphin

    Part-time Instructor
    (PPL/NPPL, Night, IMC)

    More about Ricky

    I was brought up on stories of flying from my grandfather who flew for Aden airways in the 50’s and 60’s and frequent visits to airshows at Shuttleworth and Duxford.

    I gained my PPL at Cambridge Aero Club in the year 2000 expecting it would fully satisfy my desire to fly. It didn’t! After 3 years of flying with a PPL I quit my comfortable life as the Director of Training with a software company and completed my Commercial Licence (CPL/IR) in 2006. With 15 years as an Instructional Designer and Trainer, a flight instructors rating was a natural progression in my flying career. I started work as a part-time Instructor with Cambridge Aero Club, whilst spending the rest of my working time consulting & training within the IT sector. I can usually be found every Monday and Friday at the Aero Club indulging my passion for excellence both in training and flying.

  • John Preece

    Part-time Instructor
    (PPL/NPPL, Night, IMC)

    More about John

    John Preece's aviation experience dates back to some of the most exciting times in recent aviation history. John is an ex-military and civilian Test Pilot with a level of knowledge and experience rarely found in civilian flight training. He is and has always been a tremendous asset to the Aero Club and to all who have been lucky enough to have flown with him.


For bookings or enquiries please call us on 01223 373717
or email us at enquiries@cambridgeaeroclub.com