Our team brings together highly experienced pilots, skilled engineers, expert task specialists, dedicated operations staff, and a committed management team. Each person plays a vital role in ensuring our missions are delivered safely, with precision and professionalism.
Our pilots are very experienced and highly skilled, extensively trained and certified in HESLO (Helicopter External Sling Load Operations), bringing expertise and precision to even the most demanding missions. Our engineers keep every aircraft in peak condition, task specialists provide the technical know-how to handle unique challenges, and our operations staff make sure every project runs smoothly from planning to execution. Our management team supports it all, keeping Skyhook focused on safety, efficiency, and a flexible service tailored to client needs.
Together, we form a team that is approachable, knowledgeable, and passionate about delivering exceptional results. When you work with Skyhook Helicopters, you’re not just hiring a helicopter you’re partnering with a crew you can trust.
Our Task Specialists play a key role in ensuring every operation runs safely, smoothly, and efficiently. Working closely with pilots, clients, and, on occasion, guiding the general public, they manage complex aerial missions across a wide range of industries, from construction and forestry to utility and mast erecting projects.
Key responsibilities include:
Our Task Specialists bring extensive expertise to every mission, supporting our diverse operations. Their skills, leadership, and hands-on experience help Skyhook deliver safe, reliable, and efficient helicopter services in demanding, safety-critical environments.
Our pilots are second to none, combining skill, experience, and deep knowledge of the terrain and weather conditions they operate in every day. Their ability to make sound judgments and informed decisions ensures the safe and efficient delivery of every contract we undertake.
Each member of our flight team brings many years of hands-on flying experience, gained across a wide range of environments and operational demands. From complex lifting operations in remote locations to precision survey work, our pilots have the expertise to adapt quickly and deliver for our clients.
Safety and professionalism are at the core of what we do. Our pilots undergo regular training and proficiency checks to maintain the highest standards, and they work closely with our ground crews and clients to ensure every task is planned and executed with precision.
At the heart of Skyhook Helicopters’ operations is a highly experienced and dedicated engineering team, ensuring our aircraft are maintained to the highest safety and performance standards.
David Ireland, our maintenance manager and Peter Jackson, an engineer, bring a wealth of hands-on expertise and a meticulous approach to aircraft care. Their years of industry experience enable them to plan, supervise, and implement maintenance strategies that meet strict regulatory and safety standards.
With extensive knowledge of rotary-wing maintenance and operational reliability, they oversee both scheduled and unscheduled maintenance for our fleet, ensuring every aircraft is airworthy, compliant, and mission-ready. Together, David and Peter manage the maintenance of Skyhook’s three modern helicopters, supporting a wide range of aerial lifting, filming, and survey projects across the UK and Ireland.
Their combined skills, proactive approach, and unwavering commitment to safety, give clients the confidence that the Skyhook aircraft are maintained to the highest possible standard.
Our operations team, led by Tristen Gerber and supported by Tom Paine. They are central to everything we do, coordinating projects, managing logistics, and ensuring our services run safely and efficiently.
Regular communication with our clients is a key part of their role and they work in close collaboration with them from initial planning stage to successful delivery thereby ensuring that every project is tailored to specific individual needs and executed to the highest standard.
Managing Director & Owner
Andy founded Skyhook in 2014 after spotting a gap in the aerial sling-load utility market. As a private pilot license holder, he brought both technical knowledge and a genuine passion for aviation to the venture. Under his leadership, Skyhook has grown into a trusted specialist, delivering complex projects safely and efficiently while maintaining a strong client focus.
Co-Owner
Naomi supports Andy and the management team while helping to maintain the personal, family-run ethos at the heart of Skyhook. Alongside her role in the business, she has raised their three children, two of whom have already achieved their Private Pilot Licences (one in fixed-wing and one in rotary), with the third on his way to becoming a helicopter engineer. Naomi’s contribution ensures Skyhook balances professionalism with the values of family, care, and long-term vision.
Finance Manager
Chris Jay oversees the finance function at Skyhook Helicopters, ensuring sound financial management and strategic planning across the company. His expertise supports sustainable growth, efficient project delivery, and informed decision-making, aligning financial strategy with the company’s commitment to safety, precision, and operational excellence.
Accountable Manager
Guy joined Skyhook in 2016 and now serves as Accountable Manager and Chief Pilot, helping to manage both the flying operations and the wider business. With over 8,500 flight hours on multiple types, he has extensive expertise in HESLO (1–4), precision longline lifting, firefighting, aerial survey, filming, and crop spraying. He oversees safe and compliant operations, liaises with the CAA on regulatory approvals, manages pilot training and standardisation, and ensures company manuals, SOPs, and risk assessments remain current.
Operations Manager
Tristen joined Skyhook in December 2024, bringing over 10 years of experience in operations. Originally from South Africa, with experience in the fixed wing industry at Solenta Aviation. After moving to the UK, he spent four years as an Operations Supervisor at Amazon before becoming Operations Manager for a Transport and Logistics company. His expertise in managing complex logistics and coordinating large-scale operations makes him a key part of the Skyhook team.
Safety Manager
Henry joined the company in 2022 and serves as Safety Manager and Flight Safety Officer, while also flying.
An experienced line pilot with around 20 years of professional flying and over 7,500 flight hours, he has operated light singles through to heavy multi-engine helicopters across offshore transport, VVIP, HHO, police, HEMS, utility, and lighthouse operations.
He is qualified with ATPL(H)/ATPL(A), Swiss Mountain Rating, Austrian HGL, TRI/SFI H135, and HESLO Instructor, and is skilled in HESLO (1–4), precision longline lifting, maritime sling work, survey, and training/standardisation. His previous roles include Training Captain, Line Training Captain with Bristow Helicopters, Police & HEMS pilot, as well as VVIP/Royal Flight operation. Henry combines deep operational experience with a strong commitment to safety, compliance, and client-focused delivery.
Business Consultant
Jock Simpson has extensive years of experience in the aviation industry, with a particular expertise in helicopters. Throughout his career, he has gained in-depth knowledge of the utility helicopter industry across Europe. Jock played a key role in the inception of Skyhook, contributing his expertise and vision to help establish the business. Today, he continues to be involved, utilising his extensive knowledge to drive the company’s ongoing success and innovation.
Operations Coordinator
Tom became part of Skyhook in April 2024, bringing his expertise in high-pressure, fast-paced environments. He previously worked in Film and Television Production, specialising in Special Effects, where he managed crew and equipment logistics. Before that, he spent six years in France, where he worked in various roles, including Fleet Manager for an airport transfer company in the Alps. His experience in coordinating people and resources ensures seamless operations at Skyhook.
Chief Pilot
Flight Safety Officer
Pilot
Simon is the most recent addition to the Skyhook team and a qualified HESLO pilot with nine years’ commercial helicopter experience in the UK and Canada. He has flown a wide range of operations, including HESLO works, aerial filming and photography, pipeline and powerline surveys, and charter flights. He holds UK CAA ATPL(H) and CPL(H), is HESLO (1-4) qualified, and has completed training in Transportation of Dangerous Goods and Crew Resource Management (Mountain Course, BCFS Approved), with over 3,500 flight hours.
