Air Pilots Livery Dinner
22nd May 2025Drapers Hall
The Master of the Honourable Company of Air Pilots, John Denyer, was kind enough to invite myself and our Clerk to their Livery Dinner at Drapers' Hall, and seated me on the top table between himself and the Master-Elect, so very much a place of honour!
After a fine meal, as is normal at Drapers', we were treated to some excellent speeches by the Master and the Chief Executive of the UK Civil Aviation Authority, Rob Bishton.
Both speeches were very much focused on the Pilots profession and the impact of government regulation and interference in the business. Normally speeches at Livery dinners are not quite so serious, so it made an interesting change!
In particular, the Master alluded to recent unfounded allegations about the cause of a recent air accident in the USA, before waiting for the results of the Air Accident Investigation. As he said, scapegoating in the aviation industry is not helpful at any level.
Rob Bishton, himself a senior airline pilot, also talked about regulation and the wish of the CAA to work with the profession to ensure proper training and a continuing flow of young people into what is one of the UK's most successful industries.
An enjoyable evening, with some interesting discussions over the Stirrup Cup!