United Kingdom – Padpilot, a leading aviation publisher and pilot training courseware creator, is pleased to announce the appointment of Nathan Gray, former F35 test pilot and one the most decorated pilots in the British armed forces, as its new Head of Learning and Development.

This newly created role comes at a time of significant momentum for the UK-based company. More than 300,000 of its interactive textbooks have been sold and the company continues to grow its global network of training partners including 140 airlines, air forces, universities and training organisations worldwide now use Padpilot resources.

In the past year the company has launched a new ATPL(H) theory course for commercial heli- copter pilots and a new ‘eReader’ content platform allowing its best-selling interactive ebooks to be downloaded to any device: Android, Apple and browsers – a move away from it’s previous Apple-only iBook format. And there are more innovations in pilot training coming in 2024.

Nathan Gray is an experienced high-risk test pilot, fighter pilot and fast jet flight instructor. He flew with the Fleet Air Arm for over two decades and flew multiple aircraft including the Harrier, F-15, F-16, F-18, and F-35. Completing over 140 combat missions, he also qualified as a com- mando green beret, paratrooper and forward air controller.

Gray was recruited to the ground-breaking F-35 stealth jet development program and conducted the first ever F-35 launch and recovery on HMS Queen Elizabeth in front of an audience of VIPs and the world’s media in 2018. He is also a published author and STEM ambassador.

In 2002, as a trainee Harrier pilot, Gray walked away from an ‘unsurvivable’ accident, caused by a tiny piece of FOD (foreign object debris) during which his instructor, Lt Cdr London, was killed. Gray vowed he’d leave the military before reaching the same age that London was at the time of the accident. He retired as a Commander in 2019 and his post military career is defined by a desire to give back to the industry.

Gray said: “I’m excited to join this agile, passionate team developing cutting-edge, next genera- tion learning for the civil aviation industry. As pilots we’re always learning: new types, new roles, new operations. So it’s vital to get the foundational knowledge in place properly at the very be- ginning of pilot training.

“It’s important to build skills and knowledge efficiently with the long term in mind so I’m looking forward to helping to create learning experiences for the next generation of pilots that are efficient, effective, immersive, and enjoyable.”