Neil joined the London Aviation Insurance Market in 2007. He is a licensed aircraft engineer who began his career with British Caledonian Airways in 1984 before moving to British Airways in 1988 where he gained his Airframe, Engine and Electrical licences. Neil has gained a broad range of experience dealing with large and complex losses and has progressed to the role of ‘Senior Aviation Surveyor’ reflecting his knowledge and mentoring of colleagues as well as his wealth of technical expertise. Neil is an active member of the IATA Aircraft Recovery Task Force (ARTF) and has been involved in many of the most high-profile Aviation Losses in the past 19 years, including the following:
- First ‘Large Area Repair’ completed to a B787
- B737 runway excursion at Bergamo (including aircraft recovery and later disposal)
- B737MAX crash in Ethiopia
- B777 cargo fire and aircraft destruction, Shanghai (including disposal of airframe and sale of salvage)
- B737 severe hard landing at Accra (including aircraft disassembly, disposal and recycling)
- B737 crash into Mediterranean Sea off Beirut.
- A321 cabin fire and aircraft destruction, including salvage sale and disposal (USD55m)
- A300 freighter pressure bulkhead damage due unsecured load (USD2m)
- B787/A350 collision due high winds (USD6m)
- B777 wing collided with A350 tailcone and elevators – first significant repair to A350 including H Stab removal (USD3m)
- Significant aircraft parts storage facility flood including calculations of ‘written down value’ and market value of over 28,000 line items (USD28m)
- Spare parts store fire at Liege, including segregation of aviation and non-aviation parts, valuation, site clearance and disposal (USD2.5m)
- Q400 runway excursion Juba, including aircraft recovery and relocation, salvage sale and clearance (USD25m)
- Q400 runway excursion Makele, including aircraft recovery and salvage sale (USD19m)
Neil is regarded as one of the ‘go-to’ technical experts within the Aviation Insurance Market and his opinions and comments are sought by senior figures not only from the Insurance community, but also from operators, lessors and aircraft owners around the Globe.
NOTABLE ASSIGNMENTS:
Involved with Etihad account since 2010, including incorporation of strategic partners (Air Serbia, Air Seychelles, Etihad Regional). Close working and inter-personal relationship with Insurance team as well as senior Engineering representatives, and affiliated organisations such as Royal Jet, Presidential Flight, Rotana Jet, and Etihad Airways Engineering (formerly ADAT). Participated in major incident exercises, both remotely and in-person at AUH.
- Multiple A330 and A380 aircraft hailstorm damage including surveys, repair negotiations, and on-going claim management (est USD35m)
- B777 engine failure on take-off and significant over-weight landing including engine surveys and nacelle / fuselage repairs (USD24m)
- A330 severe turbulence encounter (USD2m)
- B787 fuselage damaged by air con trailer. First non-Boeing large area repair (USD1m)
- Participation in major incident exercises, both remotely and in-person at AUH