Nicky Smith

Director Aviation

Nicky’s aviation career started in 1986 on Cambridge University Air Squadron. She served in the RAF for 22 years in total, flying Jet Provost, Wessex, Bell 412 and Sea King, amongst others. Highlights included a flying around 300 Search and Rescue missions and commanding No 84 Squadron in Cyprus, where she flew the last ever Wessex helicopter and brought a new type into service,

With a move to Commercial Aviation in 2011, Nicky flew as an Air Ambulance pilot for 11 years in both East Anglia and Wiltshire. She flew the MD 902 Explorer and Bell 429, clocking up over 1,200 HEMS missions. During this time, as the Safety Manager, she also established and ran an SMS for a small AOC, which is where she gained an increased interest in aviation safety. Over the last couple of years, she has found innovative ways to promote safety and Human Factors throughout the MOD’s Joint Aviation Command.

In her spare time, Nicky flew cadets in the Grob Tutor as an air experience pilot and was an enthusiastic paraglider pilot, when the weather permitted. As a member of the Army Air Corps Reserves, she is currently leading an air safety project mitigating the risk to horses and riders of low flying helicopters in the UK.

Jennifer Curran

Senior Programme Manager

Jennifer began her career as cabin crew in 2004 at London Heathrow and has operated on a variety of short-haul and long-haul aircraft, including the B767, B757, A330, and A321/A320/A319.

Progressing to SCCM in 2007 she later took a secondment to the Safety Training Department and within that department held numerous roles including Safety Trainer, Quality Auditor and NVQ Assessor. During this time, Jennifer trained both flight and cabin crew and/or operated with numerous airlines, including bmi, Astraeus, Arkefly, Air Astana, Turkish Airlines, the RAF, AirTanker, and British Airways.

Jennifer joined CHIRP in 2020 as the Cabin Crew Programme Manager, initially covering maternity leave, and assumed the role permanently in August 2021. In 2025, she was promoted to the role of Senior Programme Manager.

Rupert Dent

Drone & 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 Managing Director 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 Piper Cheyenne turboprop aircraft.  AirMed also had a TRTO for its turboprop aircraft.

Rupert is a Director of ARPAS UK, the professional UAS Operators non-profit trade association and sits on the CAA chaired NATMAC, FAC and the UAS stakeholders Committees, on behalf of ARPAS members.

Prior to 2003 Rupert spent 15 years in the Investment Banking business based in London and Paris. The majority of this period was spent with Swiss Bank Corporation prior to its merger with UBS. He worked across many disciplines including the debt, equity and advisory businesses.

In his spare time, Rupert competes in the occasional Triathlon. He lives in Oxfordshire with his wife Marie, where their two children Alec and Flavia regularly visit them from London. They all spend time in France as often as they can.

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

Ernie Carter

Ground Handling & Security Programme Manager

Ernie Carter is a Ground Handling and Winter Operations Specialist, with significant experience working for British Airways & easyJet covering all aspects of airline, airport, and service provider operations. The last 12 years he has specifically specialised in all aspects of winter operations. He has developed and introduced numerous initiatives to improve safety and the overall operations at airports across the UK and Europe.

Bill Dean

Air Transport & Advanced Air Mobility Programme Manager

Bill spent the majority of his childhood in Africa and USA before a family move back to the UK aged 17.  He went on to study Pure Mathematics at London School of Economics and Political Science before joining the Royal Navy as a pilot in 1984.   

He flew a variety of operational roles in the RN, firstly as a search and rescue helicopter pilot from Prestwick, Scotland and then, after fast jet training, the majority of his operational service was spent as a Sea Harrier pilot operating from HMS INVINCIBLE including two years as Senior Pilot 800 NAS for air defence operations over Iraq, Bosnia and Kosovo.  He then worked in the USA from 2001 until 2006 in various roles flying F/A18C Hornet and AV-8B Harrier with USN before transferring to the F35 project team in Washington D.C. Bill finished his military service in 2008 as Deputy Force Commander, Joint Force Harrier.

Bill then initially worked as an independent aerospace consultant before joining Rolls-Royce plc in 2011 as Chief Pilot (Defence Aerospace) based at Filton, Bristol. In 2020, he joined Boeing Test & Evaluation as the UK Flight Ops Safety Lead and his role is the primary aviation safety focal for flight test operations in UK. Bill finished his time with Boeing in summer of 2024 and now works part time as air safety manager and display pilot for Navy Wings.

Having been a member of the Air Transport Advisory Board for several years, Bill joined the CHIRP Aviation Team as Deputy Director Aviation and Advanced Air Mobility Programme Manager in January 2025.

Bill stays current on a variety of fixed wing, and when able rotary wing types, and specialises in air display flying including various marks of Spitfire, Harvard and Sea Fury with Navy Wings Heritage Flight and other organisations.

Kuldeep Nothey

Engineering Programme Manager

Kuldeep began his aviation career in 1988 with British Airways. He worked in several technical and operational roles within BA Engineering for the next 18 years, including the maintenance of Concorde and Boeing aircraft, engines and components. During this time Kuldeep gained an MBA and Chartered Engineer status.

In 2007 Kuldeep moved within British Airways to Ground Handling, leading the Baggage operation at Heathrow Airport for the next 9 years.

Kuldeep left British Airways in 2016, subsequently working in senior operational and engineering roles for two multi-national organisations in the fields of baggage systems maintenance and public mass transport.

Kuldeep joined CHIRP in 2025 as the Engineering Programme Manager.