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The Central Flying School Guild Trophy 2007
A periodic award to an individual, group or organisation that,
in the opinion of the Court of the Guild, and with the endorsement of the
Central Flying School, has made an outstanding contribution toward the
achievement of excellence in the delivery of flying training or instructional
standards.
SQUADRON LEADER PETER HOWLETT RAF (RTD)
Sqn Ldr Peter Howlett recently retired from Royal Air Force service after a most
remarkable continuous flying career spanning some 42 years, during which time he
amassed 12,600 flying hours.
Sqn Ldr Howlett joined the Royal Air Force in 1965 at the height of the Cold War
and began by flying operational sorties on Vulcan bombers. He later transferred
to the Canberra for a globe-trotting life as a photo reconnaissance pilot. He
saw service in many parts of the world, including southern Oman, Hong Kong and
most interestingly, Iran.
However, it is as a Qualified Flying Instructor that Sqn Ldr Howlett made his
greatest mark. In 1982 he was awarded the Air Force Cross for ‘meritorious
service to flying training’ and has continued this same selfless commitment for
the last 26 years. In the last 13 years, he has served at RAF Linton-on-Ouse
instructing future fighter pilots on the Tucano aircraft. At his retirement,
aged 62, he was one of just five A1-graded instructors teaching in the Royal Air
Force. Sqn Ldr Howlett played the leading role in establishing the foundation of
the present day Basic Fast Jet Flying Training Syllabus that now culminates in
the award of ‘wings’ for the student pilots. Sqn Ldr Howlett has had, without a
shadow of doubt, more influence on the pipeline of students being fed through to
the frontline than any other instructor in the whole of the flying training
system in recent times. Despite approaching the end of his time in the Service,
his enthusiasm and commitment to flying instruction never once wavered and he
would regularly clock up more flying hours than the rest of his colleagues.
On the ground his aviation knowledge was unsurpassed, as evidenced by the queue
of potential A2 instructor candidates regularly knocking at his door with
particularly difficult ground school questions. Furthermore, his knowledge and
experience was such that even his superiors felt in awe of his reputation. Sqn
Ldr Howlett possesses a genuinely unique blend of professionalism, unwavering
commitment, knowledge and experience that is unlikely to be seen again in the
modern Royal Air Force. He is accordingly awarded the CFS Guild Trophy.
Previous Winners
2005 Captain Derek Jones
2006 Squadron Leader Anthony N Clements
2007 Squadron Leader peter Howlett |
