Geoff Connolly is a highly experienced test pilot with over 10,000 flying hours across more than 60 types of helicopters and airplanes. A former operational helicopter pilot in the Royal Air Force, Geoff became a flying instructor before graduating from the Empire Test Pilots School in 1986. Following several years as a military test pilot, he joined an international helicopter company, where he initially served as an instructor for student commercial pilots. He later returned to test flying and progressed to Head of Flight Test.

Geoff holds UK professional pilot’s licenses for helicopters and light aircraft and is a CAA-authorized Flight Examiner, Type Rating Examiner for Helicopters, and Ground Examiner for Private Pilot’s License (Helicopters). He is accredited by the UK CAA and MoD for test piloting civil and military certification and is recognized by non-UK authorities. As a pre-selected expert advisor to the European Aviation Safety Agency, Geoff contributes to certification, airworthiness, test flying, and flight operations. He is an elected member of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots, a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society, and an active participant in several aviation safety committees.