Awarded in recognition of an exceptional and innovative contribution to aviation.

2010/11 awarded to: MAJOR DAVID AMLÔT MBE AAC 

Major David Amlôt MBE joined the AAC in 1992 initially qualifying as a Gazelle and Lynx pilot.  He served as the UK Exchange Officer with the US Army flying Apache helicopters becoming the first British Pilot to fly the AH64D Longbow Apache.  For his work on the US exchange he was awarded the MBE in 2000.  Since then he has been pivotal in fielding and developing the UK’s Attack Helicopter capability.  His recent career has taken him through the Apache Fielding Squadron, to the Air Manoeuvre Training and Advisory Team, where he was instrumental in designing the Conversion to Role course.  As OC 656 Sqn AAC, he deployed to Afghanistan for three tours between 2006 and 2009 including overseeing the ‘Jugroom Fort’ rescue mission.

Although an Apache expert, it is in his role, passion and development of ‘Judgemental Training’ that Major Amlôt is recognised. In 2009, Major Amlôt, acting as Second in Command of 4 Regiment AAC, identified a significant shortfall in the Apache pre-deployment ‘Judgemental Training’.  The Joint Helicopter Command lacked an aircrew specific training tool to prepare pilots for the application of force in the Joint, Coalition and Multinational environment in Afghanistan.  Major Amlôt took it upon himself to become the Attack Helicopter Force (AHF) subject matter expert in the legal understanding and application of Rules of Engagement, Targeting Directives and Law of Armed Conflict.

Having analysed the training deficiency he quickly established a requirement for realistic ‘role-play’.  He generated a small cadre of volunteers to act as a civilian population and identified a number of insurgents to operate within this ‘enemy’ group. With a lack of financial support he purchased equipment and clothing at his own expense, even using his daughter’s toy dolls to assist in replicating local national pattern of life. With the skill and artistic talent of a Broadway producer he composed a number of scenarios that forced the Apache crews to question their rules of engagement and balance their offensive spirit against courageous restraint.  Although it is understood that the Apache is an offensive tool, there is little doubt that Major Amlôt’s ‘Judgemental Training’ has helped numerous crews in the understanding of the risk to collateral damage and, as such, there is no doubt that Major Amlôt’s efforts have directly contributed to saving lives and to the reduction of collateral damage. As the de-facto expert for the AHF, he was tasked to expand ‘Judgemental Training’; his instruction now forms part of the mandated pre deployment training for all Joint Helicopter Command crews. Major Amlôt’s ‘Judgemental Training’ has become so widely recognised as the benchmark for aircrew that the fixed-wing community are using his templates to generate a training package for Tornado and Typhoon.

Major Amlôt has without doubt left a legacy in the way he has influenced the fielding and development of the UK’s Apache capability and wider aviation success on operations today. The outstanding innovation he has delivered above and beyond his traditional roles over the last 20 years but in particular his development of aviation ‘Judgemental Training’ is most deserving of recognition and he is accordingly awarded the Sir Barnes Wallis Medal.

Previous Winners

1979 Gabe Rob (Jock) Bryce

1980 Captain John Archibald Cameron CBE

1981 Not Awarded

1982 John A Denyer

1983 HMS Endurance Flight

1984 Air Vice-Marshal Peter Howard

1985 Not Awarded

1986 Peter F Cedervall

1987 Not Awarded

1988 Jeffrey Kindersley Quill OBE

1989 - 91 Not Awarded

1992 A J Smith

1993 Not Awarded

1994 Michael Foale PhD

1995 Not Awarded

1996 Keith Perrin

1997 Group Captain John Cunningham

1998 Wing Commander K H Wallis

1999 Peter Holding

2000 Professor Kay Young PhD

2001 Lieutenant Commander Paul C J Stone RN and Squadron Leader Justin Paines

2002 Dr Martin (Dill) Faulkes

2003 Squadron Leader Charles W Thompson

2004 Ken Smart

2005 5 Regiment Army Air Corps

2006 Sam Wells OBE

2007 Not Awarded

2008 Timothy Prince OBE FRAeS

2009 Not Awarded

2010/11 Major David Amlôt MBE