The Brackley Memorial Trophy

Awarded to an individual, a complete aircraft crew, or an organisation, for an outstanding contribution to air transport or transport aircraft operations.
(amended Terms of Reference 2019)

2023 awarded to:  Jason Sandever

The universal response to any question that is ever asked regarding ground safety or aircraft weight and balance is ‘Ask Jason’.  Questions not only asked by his own colleagues within the UK CAA, but also from other national authorities and members of the aviation Industry worldwide.

Jason Sandever has an infectious and dedicated passion to making this area of the aviation industry as safe as possible. Jason’s conscientious drive and commitment is not only evident in his role as an Inspecting Officer (Ground Safety) but also in his role as co-chair of the Ground Handling Operations Safety Team (GHOST). GHOST is a multi-disciplined CAA and Industry group, set up to address and share the learning from ground handling issues with the aim of improving safety. This role, which he has held since 2014, has seen him become a trusted and admired advocate. It is due to Jason’s unstinting support and dogged determination to do the right thing that has led to him becoming recognised as a true global ambassador of ground safety and as such is regularly invited to address oversees and UK conferences and conventions supporting international colleagues.

SANDEVER JasonJason’s relationship with aviation safety started back in the mid-1990s when he joined Channel Express handling and loading cargo out of Bournemouth airport. Very quickly his enthusiasm and zeal led to him becoming a loadmaster on the Lockheed L-188 Electra and the Airbus A300 freighter. This role exposed him to international travel and the need for safety awareness, vigilance and the dynamic need to overcome obstacles.

Ironically, it was after the tragic loss of a Channel Express Fokker F-27 that the UK CAA recognised that it needed a subject matter expert for weight and balance, and in 2004 Jason joined the regulator.

Whist conducting oversight of the industry weight and balance elements Jason began to identify other deviations from best safety practices. Never one to avoid a challenge his role expanded towards looking at other ground safety matters. His job title then changed to reflect this becoming the Inspecting Officer for Ground Safety.

In 2011, still with a strong passion for ensuring safe aircraft loading, Jason joined forces with the Iron Maiden lead singer, Capt. Bruce Dickinson to produce the information video ‘Safety in the balance’.  This video was such a success and was used by multiple agencies to instruct all manner of aviation employees on the importance of safe aircraft loading.

This video is still widely used today, and it was amusing to watch his humble response when recently attending a weight and balance course at a major aircraft manufacturer, they showed this video to the rest of the candidates without realising that he was the creator and driving force behind it.

Whether it is creating industry guidance via GHOST, designing safety accident investigations courses with Cranfield University, conducting effective oversight of his industry operators or being a passionate supportive friend and colleague, Jason will always go the extra mile and that is why he is considered by many as a role model.

For his outstanding contribution to transport aircraft operations, Jason Sandever is awarded the Brackley Memorial Trophy.

Previous Winners:

1948/49  J L Parker Esq

1949/50  H W C Alger Esq

1950/51  Wg Cdr B J Aikman

1952  not awarded

1952/53  G A V Tyson Esq

1954  not awarded

1954/55  Royal Air Force Station - Pembroke Dock (201 & 230 Sqns)

1956 - 1957  not awarded

1957/58  Comet and Britannia Flights of BOAC

1960  not awarded

1960/61  Captain J S Shephard

1961/62  No. 216 Sqn RAF

1962/63  No. 22 (SAR) Sqn RAF

1963/64  Captain Richard Rymer (postumous)

1964/65  Captain Frederick Ladd MBE

1965/66  Cdr P M Lamb

1966/67  J H Phillips Esq

1968  not awarded

1968/69  Nos 22 and 202 Sqn, Coastal Command

1969/70  Flying Crews of Bristow Helicopters

1971  not awarded

1971/72  Captain C M Ramsey

1973 - 1974  not awarded

1974/75  Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose

1976  not awarded

1976/77  Captain Brian J Calvert

1978 - 1979  not awarded

1979/80  Captain Hugh P K Dibley

1980/81  Commander J Young and Captain R Crippen

1981/82  Long Range Operations-Falklands Islands Gp Capt Price, Wg Cdr P J Squire, Flt Lt W F M Withers, Flt Lt T F Locke, Flt Lt J A Cowan

1983 - 1986  not awarded

1986/87  Captain J Mason

1988 - 1991  not awarded

1991/92  Captain H Gee

1992/93  Captain T R Fulton

1994 - 1995  not awarded

1995/96  Aircrew of 47 Sqn Special Forces Flight

1997  not awarded

1997/98  Captain W D (Jock) Lowe

1998/99  Captain Neville J Hay

1999/2000  Captain Iain McClelland

2001  not awarded

2001/02  47 Sqn RAF

2002/03  99 SqnRAF

2003/04  Sqn Ldr James Dalrymple Cunningham MBE

2005  not awarded

2005/06  John Cashman

2006/07  J Tactical Training Flight RAF

2008  not awarded

2008/09 Sqn Ldr Keith Hewitt MBE RAF

2010 - 2011  not awarded

2011/12  Flt Lt C D Maggs RAF

2013 - 2015  not awarded

2016  Flt Lt Stephen Hewer RAF

2017  40 Sqn Royal New Zealand Air Force

2018   not awarded

2019  British Airways Concorde Fleet

2020  Number 32 (The Royal) Squadron RAF

2021   not awarded

2022  Sqn Ldr Richard Waller RAF

2023  Jason Sandever