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CHIRP

The CHIRP Charitable Trust is an independent confidential voluntary reporting programme for the aviation and maritime industries. Their aim is to improve the safety of the travelling public and that of individuals employed within or associated with aviation and maritime operations. This includes drone remote pilots and the public who might be affected by manned or unmanned air systems.

One of the key principles underpinning aviation safety is the ‘Just Culture’. This culture recognises that to be a human being is to make mistakes – and honest mistakes are not punished. From the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) through the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) it is recognised that if people are encouraged to own up to errors, we can all learn together. Deliberate flouting of the rules will not be tolerated but the majority of safety issues are not the result of wilful bad behaviour, they are the results of human weaknesses.

Rupert Dent, UAS Programme Manager

Rupert obtained his PPL in 1976. He is currently a qualified UAS pilot and Managing Director of Bridgeway Aerial Ltd., a UAS Operator that he co-founded in 2010. From 2003 to January 2017 he was the MD and Accountable Manager of AirMed, an Oxford airport based fixed wing air ambulance operator. AirMed had a worldwide AOC, a Part M approval and an EASA 145 maintenance facility for its fleet of learjet 35A and Pipe Cheyenne turboprop aircraft. AirMed also had a TRTO for its turboprop aircraft.

Rupert is also a Director of ARPAS-UK, and sits on the CCAA chaired NATMAC, FAC and the UAS Stakeholders Committees, on behalf of ARPAS-UK members.

Rupert joined CHIRP as the Drone Programme Manager in September 2020. He is responsible for answering all drone and UAS reports.

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