Meet the team
Meet the faces behind the controls! Our dedicated instructors are the heart of Academy Aviation are as diverse as the skies we fly in. Whether you’re a complete novice taking your first introductory flight or an experienced pilot looking to refine advanced skills, our team offers a personalised approach. With backgrounds spanning recreational flying, commercial operations, military aviation, and specialised ratings, you’ll benefit from a wide range of perspectives and real-world experience, guiding you confidently towards your aviation ambitions.
12.000+
Training hours flown since 2019
Eddie Lamb
Owner, Chief Flying Instructor
Academy Aviation was started after I retired from 50 years in business My ratings include CAA CPL/IR, FI, FE single and multi engine; FAA CFI, CFII MEI. Flying is my passion, not my business.
Peter Yardley-Jones
Head of Training, Flight Instructor, Ground Examiner, Compliance Manager
Peter has been involved in aviation since the early days when his Father was a private pilot and AME. With a First-class honours degree in Music, teaching has always been his passion, which led to him working to his Flight Instructor Rating. Also a rotary wing pilot, holding a PPL(H) and works in online advertising outside of flying.
Josh Mobbs
Full time Flight Instructor
Josh gained his private pilot’s license in 2016 at Booker Aviation. He started teaching with Academy in the Autumn of 2024 part time and now instructs full time with us.
Howard Smith
Flight Instructor & Examiner
Howard gained his PPL in 2000 and went on to gain his CPL, IR and Flight Instructor ratings in the years following.
His passion for flying and aircraft came from his father, who was an aircraft engineer and had a PPL himself. Howard recalls how he remembers as a child going into his father’s work and being amazed by aircraft.
He has over 4000 hours of flight instruction and has flown aircraft from SEP, SET up to the King Air 200.
Aaron Gallagher
Flight Instructor
Aaron began his flight training in 2017 as a modular student, and went on to instruct PPL and IMC before flying PC-12s at Biggin Hill. He later joined VistaJet as a First Officer on the Citation XLS fleet.
With experience in both training and commercial operations, he brings a calm and focussed approach to flying and mentoring.
James Turner
Flight Instructor
James started learning to fly at the age of 14 at Southend Airport, before eventually going on to do his commercial training at Stapleford alongside his degree in Air Transport with Commercial Pilot Training at Bucks New University.
His passion for aviation came from growing up around Southend Airport and spending many hours watching the aircraft, as well as a flight deck visit on his first holiday.
Andy Faulkner
Flight & Ground Examiner
Andy is one of our instructors and visiting examiner.
Paul Hignett
Flight Instructor
With over 2,100 hours of instructional experience, Paul has predominantly instructed on the Cessna 152 and Cessna 172, as well as the Piper Super Cub, developing extensive experience across both tricycle and tailwheel aircraft. He has over 400 hours of tailwheel flying time, including experience on the de Havilland Tiger Moth. Paul’s background also includes banner towing operations behind the Super Cub.
In 2013, he stepped away from full-time aviation to return to my civil engineering background, working at a major UK flat roofing manufacturer until 2022. He then worked at Harwich International Port from 2022 to 2026
Now, with his family established and four children aged from 2 to 15, he is returning to aviation full-time.
Outside of flying, he also coaches 2 youth football teams, one for his son and one for his daughter.
Tony Barber
Flight Instructor
Tony has been flying aircraft since 1997 and instructing on light aircraft since 2010. He holds a Commercial Pilot’s License and is an unrestricted qualified flying instructor (QFI). In his spare time he is an LAA Coach assisting owners of permit aircraft with continuation training, differences training or type conversions. He also owns his own aircraft which he maintains himself under the Light Aircraft Association Permit scheme
Roger Bone
Flight Instructor
Roger came to flying at age 10 by building and flying model aircraft with his Dad who also held a PPL, Roger started a full size flying journey in 1988 but after 30 hours life got in the way but his passion remained. He returned to the sky in 2022 and swiftly gained his licence at Earls Colne Airfield.
As an aircraft owner Roger has since gone on to earn Night, IMC & Aerobatics ratings and then his Instructor qualification. He brings many hours of experience across many aircraft types, and his approach to instruction is calm, structured and enthusiastic with a particular drive to develop core PPL/NPPL skills to a high level whilst remaining student focussed.
Jonathan Webb
Flight Instructor
Ex-ad man, I’ve always had aviation in my blood. Flying for over 30 years (inspired by the original Top Gun), Flying’s been my passion and reset ever since. I became an instructor in 2022 - now I love sharing that gift with others.
Deniz Baysal
Safety & Operation Manager
Deniz gained her PPL(A) at Academy and now runs our Safety Management System
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