James is a seasoned aviator and instructor with 37 years of experience flying many types of aircraft worldwide. After earning his Bachelor's degree in engineering from the University of Leeds, UK, James joined the Royal Air Force. After multiple tours as an operator he became an instructor accredited with the Central Flying School in 2003 and has since trained hundreds of pilots, sharing his expertise and passion for flying with students of all levels.

James is an FAA Part 107 Certified remote pilot and brings his extensive knowledge of aviation to a range of specializations, including photography, videography, thermal imaging, LiDAR, Synthetic Aperture Radar, photogrammetry, coherent change detection, OGI, TDLAS, and data processing. He teaches unmanned technology as a faculty member of the Sonoran Desert Institute.

In his personal life, James is a devoted husband and father. He enjoys walking the dog, skiing and playing various musical instruments. His unique blend of professional experience and personal interests makes him an outstanding mentor and instructor, inspiring his students to excel and achieve their goals.