We have a large group of friendly instructors for the NPPL(A), PPL(A), Night and IMC Ratings. Our instructors are some of the most experienced in the country, with tens of thousands of hours between them. We have GA specialists and commercial pilots amongst our team, along with 3 female instructors, and can offer specialist advice on any flying career path you choose to follow.
Our Instructors & Ratings
Click a highlighted name to read more about that instructor.
Instructor |
NPPL(A) |
PPL(A) |
Night Rating |
IMC Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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✓ |
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✓ |
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✓ |
✓ |
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✓ |
✓ |
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✓ |
|
 Ian Hoolahan |
✓ |
✓ |
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✓ |
| Cooky Amin |
✓ |
✓ |
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| Richard Mawby |
✓ |
✓ |
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| Jack Shaw |
✓ |
✓ |
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| Steve Bell |
✓ |
✓ |
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✓ |
| Malcolm Smith |
✓ |
✓ |
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| Kate Evans |
✓ |
✓ |
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| Primo Lonzardi |
✓ |
✓ |
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✓ |
✓ |
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| Oliver Gallimore |
✓ |
✓ |
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| Sean Shannon |
✓ |
✓ |
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| Harry Manley |
✓ |
✓ |
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| Ian Garratt |
✓ |
✓ |
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| Vik Patel |
✓ |
✓ |
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| John Maxwell |
✓ |
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| Finlay Garland |
✓ |
✓ |
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| Ross Taylor |
✓ |
✓ |
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| Elliot Styles |
✓ |
✓ |
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| Andy Goodall |
✓ |
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Meet the Team
Tony Partakis
Head of Training
Tony absolutely loves flying and has been instructing for many years, with over 12,000 hours in light aircraft.
Tony used to parachute jump in his spare time when he was younger. He enjoys chess and used to work in HR for the prison service, so don’t be surprised if he uses them as navigational points of interest in your lessons!
Phil Dobson
Deputy Head of Training
Whilst in his school’s CCF, Phil gained a glider pilot’s licence and had several Chipmunk flights. He learned to fly at LAC in 2010/11. Phil retired as a CPS courtroom lawyer in April 2018 and started instructing at LAC shortly afterwards, since when he has delivered over 4,000 hours of light aircraft tuition.
When not flying, Phil enjoys walking, cycling and music (playing the piano and organ, and singing, most notably as a member of the Hallé Choir for over 20 years).
John Cheetham
Instructor & Examiner
John has toured Europe in light aircraft many times, including trips to Tenerife and Crete.
He has over 7,000 hours flight time and has been instructing at Barton for over 10 years. He is also a CAA Examiner for the PPL(A).
Kate Reid
Instructor
Kate started at the flying school when she was only 15, in between university at Sheffield and a job in audiology, and she’s still with us today!
Kate has a 4 year old little boy, Leo, and enjoys taking her dog Murphy out for walks (or he takes her these days). Kate is one of our full-time instructors.
Paul Kuiper
Instructor
Paul began flying in Holland in 1992 before completing his ATPL at Oxford in 1994. With over 28 years of experience and 15,000 flight hours as a commercial pilot, his career includes turboprops, regional jets, the B747 Classic, B747-400 and -8, B777, B787 Dreamliner and B767, for airlines including British Regional Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Etihad, Dragonair (Hong Kong) and All Nippon, before returning to the UK in 2020.
Paul now serves as a Line Training Captain on the B777 for DHL Air UK, and recently began mixing his commercial activities with instructing here at LAC.
More instructor profiles coming soon.