PremiAir’s Group Operations Director, Christopher Forrest, has been honoured with receiving The Eric Brown Award from the British Helicopter Association (BHA) in recognition of his contribution to the UK helicopter industry.

Christopher was nominated for his overall work over many years in the helicopter industry. Christopher is recognised as an outstanding supporter of the BHA and has contributed much time and effort on a professional and voluntary basis to promote the interests of the helicopter operators and users.

Receiving the Award, which was presented by Captain Eric M Brown CBE, DSC, AFC, MA, FRAeS, RN (Ret’d) at the annual BHA Dinner held at [the Institute of Directors] in London, Christopher said: “This is an absolute honour and I’m delighted to have the award presented by Captain Brown himself.”

PremiAir Group Managing Director David McRobert said: “We are very privileged to have Christopher on PremiAir’s Senior Management Team. Christopher has been working with PremiAir’s aviation interests for more than 25 years and also works on the committees of the Civil Aviation Authority, the British Helicopter Association and the European Helicopter Association as well as being a member of the European Aviation Safety Agency Ops 001 Review Group. We are very proud of Christopher’s achievements, he works tirelessly as an industry representative and we are thrilled his dedication has been rewarded with the Eric Brown Award.”

Christopher has a deep knowledge and understanding of the helicopter industry having learned to fly helicopters in the Army whilst on a four-year attachment with the Army Air Corps. Christopher holds an ATPL (H)/IR and has accumulated more than 6,500 hours on various types of helicopter undertaking charter, management, HEMS and Police Air Support duties. He is the Accountable Manager for both PremiAir’s fixed and rotary-wing Air Operator’s Certificates, PremiAir’s Type Rating Training Organisation and is also responsible for the oversight of The London Heliport, which is managed and operated by PremiAir.

The British Helicopter Association is the UK civil helicopter industry’s trade association, playing a vital role in co-ordinating the views of national operators and in speaking with an authoritative voice to the British, European and International regulatory bodies. The Eric Brown Award was established by the BHA Council of Management in recognition of the outstanding service given by Captain E.M. Brown CBE, DSC, AFC, MA, FRAeS, RN (Ret’d) to the helicopter industry while he was Chief Executive of the BHAB from 1968 until 1987. The Award is granted to the individual who, in the Council of Management’s opinion, has contributed most to the UK helicopter industry during the previous year.

Established for more than 30 years, PremiAir scooped the ‘Best Executive Aviation Provider’ accolade at the 2010 Business Travel Awards. The company’s reputation as a world-leading supplier of aviation services spans both executive helicopters and private jets – from private charter to aircraft management; from aircraft operations to maintenance and engineering and from aircraft sales and acquisition to Police Air Support.