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‘Above Average’ pilot Dave makes history as flying instructor
11 September 2024
Many congratulations to Fleet Air Arm pilot Lieutenant Commander Dave Bouyac who is possibly the best qualified instructor in military aviation – across three different forms of flight.
By successfully completing the advanced course for helicopter instructors – the official parlance is ‘Above Average’ or ‘A2’ – the vastly experienced naval aviator has become the first military pilot in recent memory (and possibly ever) to hold higher-level qualifications to teach students in three different disciplines: traditional piston-driven planes, helicopters and fast jets.
As the principal training establishment teaching Service personnel the basics of helicopter flight, RAF Shawbury can call on a rich vein of Qualified Helicopter Instructors (QHI) or A2 Qualified Flying Instructors (QFI) but only Dave has completed the Above Average course in fixed-wing piston, fast jet and rotary-wing aircraft, making him one seriously-qualified teacher.
It’s the jet qualification which sets Dave, from No 1 Flying Training School, apart from his colleagues at Shawbury.
Each one of the Above Average courses requires tremendous hard work and dedication, so to reach such status it on three different types is exceptional.
In a career spanning a quarter of a century, Dave has flown extensively both on the front-line and in imparting his vast knowledge and experience on scores of future fast jet and helicopter pilots, as well as Fleet Air Arm observers (who, like pilots, must undergo Elementary Flying Training).
It's been a real privilege to have had such a varied flying career.
Since joining the Royal Navy in 1998 Dave has:
- flown in Junglie Sea Kings with the Commando Helicopter Force over Bosnia and Iraq;
- flown the Harrier GR9 on operations in Afghanistan;
- taught the basics of flight - Elementary Flying Training – at RAF Barkston Heath on the Grob Tutor;
- served as Senior Pilot and Qualified Flying Instructor on the ‘Maritime Aggressor Squadron’ (736 Naval Air Squadron) on the Hawk T1, developing tactics to benefit both aviators and the Surface Fleet;
- served as Flight Commander and Qualified Flying Instructor on Advanced Jet Training on the Hawk T2;
- and is currently a Qualified Helicopter Instructor on RAF 60 Squadron, using the Juno HT1 and Jupiter HT1 to teaching student pilots how to fly in the support helicopter role before they learn how to operate front-line aircraft such as the Merlin and Wildcat.
It is a job he loves.
"It's been a real privilege to have had such a varied flying career,” he said.
“The feeling of being a student in the flying training system, with the huge amounts of pressure to succeed, has never left me, so it's been an honour to be able teach the new trainees coming through and pass on what I've learned. Every day is a school day though, so I can't rest on my laurels!"
Group Captain Mike Jordan, Commandant Central Flying School, formally presented the naval aviator with his A2 QHI certificate.