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| Vauxhall helicopter crash pilot 'was one of Britain's most experienced aviators' | Vauxhall helicopter crash pilot 'was one of Britain's most experienced aviators' |
| (25 days later) | |
| The pilot who died in the helicopter crash in Vauxhall on Wednesday morning was one of the most experienced in the British aviation industry, according to his employer. Captain Pete Barnes, 50, flew air ambulances, ferried celebrities and politicians and piloted helicopters for action films including Die Another Day, Tomb Raider II and Saving Private Ryan. | The pilot who died in the helicopter crash in Vauxhall on Wednesday morning was one of the most experienced in the British aviation industry, according to his employer. Captain Pete Barnes, 50, flew air ambulances, ferried celebrities and politicians and piloted helicopters for action films including Die Another Day, Tomb Raider II and Saving Private Ryan. |
| "The loss of Captain Pete Barnes is a great tragedy not only for the British aviation industry but for RotorMotion as well," said Paul Blezard, a spokesman for RotorMotion, an executive helicopter charter business that operates from Redhill in Surrey. "He was one of the most highly skilled and highly qualified helicopter pilots in the UK with 12,000 hours and he flew for a number of companies as well as flying air ambulances." | "The loss of Captain Pete Barnes is a great tragedy not only for the British aviation industry but for RotorMotion as well," said Paul Blezard, a spokesman for RotorMotion, an executive helicopter charter business that operates from Redhill in Surrey. "He was one of the most highly skilled and highly qualified helicopter pilots in the UK with 12,000 hours and he flew for a number of companies as well as flying air ambulances." |
| Barnes lived in the village of Goddard's Green, Berkshire and had been with RotorMotion since it launched in 1997. He was also managing director of Helivision, for which he covered the Athens 2004 and London 2012 Olympics. He has also worked for BBC and Sky News after beginning his flying career in Fort Lauderdale, Florida in 1989. He attended Oakham school in Rutland where he represented England at squash, before studying at the University of Derby between 1982 and 1985. Until 2001 he spent 14 years working as a police and air ambulance pilot in Yorkshire, Wiltshire, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, Sussex, Surrey and Kent. | Barnes lived in the village of Goddard's Green, Berkshire and had been with RotorMotion since it launched in 1997. He was also managing director of Helivision, for which he covered the Athens 2004 and London 2012 Olympics. He has also worked for BBC and Sky News after beginning his flying career in Fort Lauderdale, Florida in 1989. He attended Oakham school in Rutland where he represented England at squash, before studying at the University of Derby between 1982 and 1985. Until 2001 he spent 14 years working as a police and air ambulance pilot in Yorkshire, Wiltshire, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, Sussex, Surrey and Kent. |
| Kevin Hodgson, director of operations at the Great North Air Ambulance, worked alongside Barnes on life-saving missions for several years. "Pete was as good a guy as you can imagine and one of the best pilots I've ever had the pleasure of flying with," he said. "Our thoughts are with everyone affected by the tragedy." | Kevin Hodgson, director of operations at the Great North Air Ambulance, worked alongside Barnes on life-saving missions for several years. "Pete was as good a guy as you can imagine and one of the best pilots I've ever had the pleasure of flying with," he said. "Our thoughts are with everyone affected by the tragedy." |
| Jolyon Palmer, a racing car driver who competes in the Formula One feeder GP2 series, said Barnes saved his life in 2007 after a serious quad bike accident. | Jolyon Palmer, a racing car driver who competes in the Formula One feeder GP2 series, said Barnes saved his life in 2007 after a serious quad bike accident. |
| "Our main priority now is for the family of the pilot and we extend our greatest sympathy to the friends and relatives of those who have died and been injured," said Philip Amadeus, managing director of RotorMotion. | "Our main priority now is for the family of the pilot and we extend our greatest sympathy to the friends and relatives of those who have died and been injured," said Philip Amadeus, managing director of RotorMotion. |
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