Michael Spanner has served with Flight Precision Limited since 1996.

He previously worked in the Flight Inspection area with the UK CAA Flight Calibration Unit, starting in December 1982 at Stansted Airport. In that role, he was responsible for aircraft servicing, flight inspection system maintenance and aircraft tracking

In 1993, he moved with the unit to Teesside to help set up the Strategic Business Unit CAA-Flight Calibration Service in 1993. His specific responsibility was Flight Inspection Software and Safety Regulation Unit approvals for the Digital Flight Inspection System.

Mr. Spanner trained as a Navigational Aid Inspector and gained qualifications in 1995, flying on the CAA’s HS748 aircraft in the operational role as a Technical Flight Inspector.

He then assisted with the start-up phase of the Military Flight Inspection arm of the Flight Precision in October 1996, which was born out of the privatisation of the CAA’s flying unit. In this role he was initially deputy manager of Flight Inspection and responsible for introducing the newly acquired Aerodata Automatic Flight Inspection system into operation at FPL. From April 1998, both the Civil and Military arms of FPL combined for both Civil and Military Tasking, and he maintained a deputy Manager role with main Flight Inspection duties including new customers, commissionings and detachments.

In January 2000, Mr. Spanner transferred to Aerodata (systems) in Germany to join the Marketing Department. This role had primary responsibility for the World marketing of Flight Inspection Systems and as a secondary function, services of Flight Precision, Flight Inspection International (now not operating) and AeroPearl.

In July 2001, he returned to Flight Precision as Head of Flight Inspection for Flight Precision, with specific responsibilities for tasking, operational issues and personal management of the Flight Inspectors. The role demanded liaison with all customers on operational matters and maintaining FPL’s technical Flight Inspection approvals, which included the approval of Flight Inspector for their respective tasks.

With the continuing growth of FPL, a Technical Department was created in January 2007, which looked after the Flight Inspection system approvals, projects and responding to customers’ specific technical needs and queries. In this role he also maintains the Quality System via a dedicated Quality Manager and continues to oversee the approval of all Flight Inspectors, determining their training needs through a dedicated Training Manager.

Has presented papers on a variety of topics at International events and is a regular at the International Flight Inspection Symposium.

Mr. Spanner holds the following qualifications:

TEC Diploma Electronics
HTEC Diploma Electronics and Radio
DOT RADAR Maintenance Certificate
Marine Radio General Certificate
B Eng Degree Electronics
Certificate In Management
Diploma in Management