Alan Wrigley has a background in aviation stretching back to 1988, when at Rufforth near York he took his first training flight in a glider and on the same day discovered that he was going to be a father for the first time. Quickly becoming addicted to flight, Alan went solo in 1989 and never looked back, although he did continue to maintain a good lookout! He quickly rose to be a junior instructor within the British Gliding Association and spent most of his free time helping the development of other pilots. Not satisfied with silent flight, he then went on to obtain a PPL, initially in motor gliders but very shortly thereafter in what were then called Group A aircraft (SEPs to the modern generation). Again, not totally fulfilled by just flying, Alan decided to undertake training to be an instructor and took up his first post at Sherburn-in-Elmet in 1995. By 1997, he was an examiner.

Further career development saw Alan gain an instructor rating for twin engine aircraft, which allowed him to get a place at Humberside as a commercial instructor, helping aspiring airline pilots to obtain their CPLs and IRs via the modular route. Subsequently, he became Head of Training for a start-up school in the Czech Republic and, having completed the set-up, moved to the Pilot Training College in Waterford (Republic of Ireland) as Chief Flight Instructor. His task there was to ready the school for the newly-introduced JAA system for modular and integrated training.

The next move for Alan was to Teesside as HT of Cleveland Flying School, where he brought the establishment up to standard to commence training pilots under the modular system towards their CPL/IRs. 

Having trained very many such pilots, Alan was persuaded into the airline industry, taking up a post with Eastern Airways, where he gained his command on the Jetstream 41 and became the company’s deputy safety officer. Initially based at Humberside, he next went to Leeds Bradford and then was promoted to base captain at Teesside. 

After a few years in that role, he returned to his first love of instruction, with a job as HT at Atlantic Flight Training in Coventry. This school concentrated on integrated training and attracted many overseas students to the UK. In search of a way to combat the often-unsuitable local weather, Alan was instrumental in opening the school’s first overseas base in Huesca (northern Spain), where his language skills were of considerable value. Whilst at Coventry, he qualified as an MCC instructor on the CRJ200 simulator.

Along the way, Alan added to his examiner qualifications, becoming FE(CPL), IRE and FIE. With the advent of the EASA system, he became a Senior Examiner. He is also a FRTOL examiner and senior examiner.

When the CAA decided to pass initial IR tests to industry with the shrinkage of the CAAFU cadre of staff examiners, Alan was in the first batch to be selected by the CAA. This led to him being sent to Jerez in southern Spain as the first non-staff/retired staff examiner to undertake this task. Being a strong hispanophile, it wasn’t long before Alan took up a post as an MCC instructor on the Boeing 737 simulator, later adding MPL instructor to his growing list of qualifications.  Now, Alan continues as a part-time consultant to FTE, with roles including MCC instructor, MPL instructor, FI, FE, IRE, FIE, SE, FRTOL SE.

In parallel with his career as a commercial instructor and examiner, Alan also continued in his voluntary role within the gliding movement and became a senior examiner in gliders. He gained two Diamond Awards for gliding cross-country achievements and served as both CFI and Chairman of his club at Rufforth with a total of 15 years in committee positions. Other pro bono work has involved flying for the disabled.

It is believed that Alan is uniquely qualified, being the only person known to have held simultaneously EASA and CAA Senior Examiner certificates for both powered aircraft and sailplanes along with FRTOL Senior Examiner. He has some 9500 hours flying plus 4500 in simulators.  In recognition of his outstanding contribution to civil flying instruction, Captain Alan Wrigley is awarded the Pike Trophy.

1963/64  L V Worsdell Esq

1964/65  Captain Charles William Cowan Hamilton

1966  not awarded

1966/67  J W (Peter) Peckowski Esq AFC ARAeS

1967/68  Rex A Smith Esq

1969  not awarded

1969/70  Captain F Kirk

1970/71  W H W Lucas Esq

1971/72  Captain C W Sweetman

1972/73  A E Bramson Esq

1973/74  E Claxton Esq

1974/75  Captain Douglas E Batten AFC DFM

1975/76  Captain R R Critchley

1977 - 197  not awarded

1978/79  Captain J Varley

1979/80  James John Forbes (Hamish) Logan Esq

1980/81  Miss Joan Lily Amelia Hughes MBE

1981/82  F C Hector Taylor Esq DFM

1982/83  Sqn Ldr R T Bowring AFC

1984   not awarded

1984/85  Sqn Ldr John B Gratton RAF (Rtd)

1985/86  Sidney Harry Parker Esq

1986/87  Colin Beckwith Esq

1987/88  F J Loveridge Esq

1988/89  John K Hill Esq

1989/90  Sqn Ldr R J Cutler

1990/91  Harry A A Smeulders Esq

1991/92  Captain P W Kennedy

1993  not awarded

1993/94  Captain Donald G (Archie) Kinch DFM

1994/95  Peter F C A Thorn Esq

1995/96  John C Cole Esq

1997  not awarded

1997/98  Harvey R Britten Esq

1998/99  Captain Leonard James Otley

1999/2000  Captain Peter David Godwin FRIN

2000/01  Captain Thomas Michael Dyson

2001/02  Michael Arthur (Rufus) Heald Esq MBE

2003  not awarded

2003/04  Captain George Arthur Bedford

2004/05  William Frederick Arthur (Bill) Ison

2005/06 Captain Andrew Gutteridge

2007  not awarded

2007/08  Richard William Kenneth Snell

2008/09  Captain Richard "Dickie" Bird

2009/10  Ian Bain Mackie

2010/11  Mark Woodhouse

2011/12  Gp Capt Christopher E Gould

2012/13  Andrew Dunstan

2014 - 2015  not awarded

2016  Captain Philip G Mathews MAP

2017  Piers Hugh Smerdon

2018  not awarded

2019  awarded twice: 
      Dorothy Saul-Pooley
      Carol Louise Cooper

2020  not awarded

2021  Primo Lonzardi

2022  Anthony Mollison

2023  Anthony Cooke

2024 Eva Ceh