Welcome to our first blog; the first of what we hope will be a regular feature.

Although, a short profile of each of us is available on our website (www.avigation.co.uk), we thought that we would use our first blog to offer a bit more information and explain how Avigation came to be.

Brent Day joined the RAF in 1976 and graduated as an air traffic control officer the same year. He has been involved in ATC and ATM for over 40 years, in a career that has seen him undertake numerous ATC operational, training, management and project management appointments in military, civil and joint military/civil ATC organisations in the UK, Europe and globally (Australia and Belize); this included him being the Senior Air Traffic Controller Officer (SATCO) at a busy, multi-faceted, fast jet base in Scotland. It was during his time in the RAF that he and another of Avigation’s Directors, Mark Van Vogt (Mav), became friends and colleagues while serving at the same station. They worked together closely when reviewing a complex international aircraft accident inquiry; their analyses and subsequent major accident investigation reports were accepted and used in the final national and international investigations and proceedings. 

From 2002, Brent worked as a consultant at EUROCONTROL, managing the project implementing TCAS II into European airspace, including determining the associated ATC and operational requirements. He then managed the development and implementation of optimal efficiency procedures (Continuous Descent Operations (CDO) and Continuous Climb Operations (CCO)). In 2014, Brent joined Pildo Labs (one of our partners) spending 2 wonderful years in Barcelona, before becoming Director for their UK arm, Pildo Labs Wessex; during this time, he became heavily involved in the implementation of GNSS operations for fixed-wing, rotary and UAVs throughout Europe, including the facilitation and implementation of helicopter satellite instrument flight procedures (Point in Space (PINS)). While maintaining close links with Pildo, since 2018, Brent has worked as an independent consultant covering all aspects of ATM requirements and UAV/e-VTOL integration measures. In the same year, he founded Avigation Ltd with James Wylie. 

A rugby devotee and real ale enthusiast, Brent set up his own rugby-themed micro-brewery; unfortunately, whilst the beer was savoured and distributed (and consumed) widely, other issues interfered and, with great reluctance, Brent sold his brewery equipment (although, he continues to remain abreast of this particular market’s outputs…) He and his wife also delight in travelling the country in their restored 1973 VW campervan.

Mav joined the RAF in 1986, completing his ATCO training in 1988. He undertook a variety of airfield, instructor and area radar appointments and was SATCO at one of the RAF’s busiest flying stations, maintaining currency as an ATCO, supervisor and examiner - it was here that he met Brent. Mav undertook a couple of HQ and staff roles, including airspace management appointments in Iraq and Afghanistan, before attending the UK Defence Academy. After what he calls “an interesting year in the Balkans”, Mav commanded the military ATC centre at Swanwick.

On leaving the RAF, Mav took a career break, qualified as an electrician and a plumber, completed a series of home improvement projects and generally got under his wife's feet! Returning to reality, he joined Babcock, undertaking a variety of roles, including Principal Aviation Consultant and Lead Integration Engineer and Requirements Manager. In 2016, Mav joined Think Research Ltd as a Senior Airports & ATM Consultant; among many successful projects, he was an integral member of the teams that delivered future airspace and ATM development support to national aviation authorities in the Far East and Middle East.  During this time, Mav and Brent would meet regularly, trying to identify a suitable opportunity to work together. Mav left Think in 2020, to become a Director and Principal Consultant at Avigation.

Mav is a keen (strictly, fair weather) golfer, enthusiastic squash player, passable calligrapher, Telegraph crossword devotee and, latterly, would-be website designer - who knew, eh? He’s also considering adding “Shepherd (small flocks only)” to his CV - yep, there’s a story there.

James started his aviation career 25 years ago in the airlines, initially in reservations then as cabin crew. James then saw the light and converted to ATC and, after gaining his Aerodrome rating, went to Kirkwall in the stunning Orkney Islands, where he added Procedural Approach rating to his licence. He created an airside driver R/T training programme, which he rolled-out to all the airport and stakeholder staff.  A move to Prestwick Airport followed, where he added his Radar Rating to his licence.  After forming the Local Runway Safety Team, one of the first in the UK, James became heavily involved in developing the strategy for mitigating the effects of wind turbines on ATC radar, which included him sitting on the CAA’s working group that produced national guidance and policy for airports and windfarm developers.  He was also an integral member of Prestwick’s senior management team with responsibility for the development and maintenance of the departmental Safety Management System and the oversight of the ATC team. 

After 12 years at Prestwick, James moved to Newcastle Airport, as Manager ATC, where he was directly involved in the installation of the new primary radar and windfarm mitigation radar, as well as overseeing the final stages of the installation of the Electronic Flight Progress Strip equipment. It was while at Newcastle that James first met Brent, who was part of the consultancy team working on the Newcastle Airspace Change Proposal. After a year, James decided to move back home to Glasgow and set up as a consultant. James and Brent continued to work closely together, developing the idea for a joint enterprise (that would, ultimately, become Avigation). James then joined Leeds Bradford Airport, as Head of Air Traffic Services, to support their Airspace Change Proposal and review and refresh their Safety Management System. During his 18 months at Leeds, James continued to support other projects that he and Brent were undertaking, such as the introduction of PINS and the licencing of the Tresco and Penzance heliports.

James is a Boxer dog daddy and enjoys a nice gin after a long walk with the dog.

Brent had known Mark for many years and introduced him to James, following Mark’s departure from his former company; it was an obvious opportunity to add Mark’s experience and unique skillset to the team. Thus, Avigation was reinvigorated. 

We look forward to the future with optimism and excitement.