The Training Centre has shown its commitment to high standards, with a commitment to developing the Training Centre as a centre of excellence for IR training, by the appointment of a highly experienced Head of Training - Captain Mark Dennis.

The Head of Training is supported by two TRI/TRE/IRI qualified instructors as permanent staff members of Severn Aviation, giving the team more than 60 years combined flying experience.

An experienced pilot, with over 28 years flying experience in a wide range of helicopters and theatres of operation, Captain Mark Dennis has more than15 years of instrument training behind him and as a current IRI/TRI/CRMI he has a proven track record in running successful single pilot IR courses with a very high level of first time passes.

In his flying career Captain Dennis has accrued over 10,000 flying hours in both military and civil aviation. As a Royal Air Force Search and Rescue Pilot he flew over 700 missions in both the United Kingdom and the South Atlantic, receiving many awards for operational flying. His last major rescue involvement, for which he received a Commendation, was as the On-Scene Commander at the Boscastle floods, rescuing over 50 people. As an Instrument Rating Examiner he was responsible for the standardisation and examination of SAR pilots to ensure a safe level of instrument flying was maintained.

Mark's civil flying career has been as a Training Captain including the position of Head of Training for Police Aviation Services where he was responsible for the maintenance of Police Pilot instrument flying skills. As an IRI, TRI and a CAA Approved 170A signatory he was also responsible for the training of commercial pilot students for their Single Pilot Multi Engine Instrument Rating award, achieving an enviable first time pass rate.