New career for pilot who cheated death

Nov 20 2009 by Tom Mullen, The Journal

A LUCKY pilot who cheated death three times has spoken of his new occupation – teaching others how to fly.

Jim Martin, who has flown for the Great North Air Ambulance and the police, made headlines when he survived a 1,000ft plunge from the skies in his microlight aircraft.

Jim was at the controls when the craft’s tail snapped, sending it spinning through the air before crashing at Burgham Golf Course, near Morpeth, Northumberland.

Only the pilot’s skill in ditching the plane down into trees saved his life and that of Jon Ker , his passenger.

Both men suffered life-threatening injuries, but Jim always expressed a desire to return to the skies.

But when the 52-year-old failed to regain his licence on account of poor eyesight, he took a charity job helping the Air Ambulance that was so close to his heart.

Now Jim, of Wylam, Northumberland, has told how he has made a second career change after being dropped by the charity – who confirmed they decided not to extend his probationary period.

The charity would not comment on details, and Jim is convinced it was simply the case that “my face didn’t fit”.

But now Jim revealed he has set up a business offering training to the pilots of tomorrow.

The black belt in karate, former flying examiner and survival expert is running courses on everything from flying and landing to safety at sea and procedure on the ground.

He said: “I’ve always fancied training and I thought by the time I got to around 55 I would like to be in management and training.

“I actually trained four doctors and paramedics to fly on the air ambulance four weeks before I was sacked.

“It’s all good stuff. I just did some work with some marine scientists down in Stockport.

“They have to do little flights in a plane and needed to know more.

“The best thing about it is when you get these doctors and scientists they are all in their 30s and absolutely keen as mustard. It’s a real pleasure.

“I don’t tell them about my crashes – unless they ask!”

The microlight crash left Jim with two broken legs, smashed ankles, a broken arm, skull fracture and broken jaw.

He lost 12 pints of blood during the crash and subsequent operations over the space of a month.

An Air Accident Investigation Branch report laid the blame on corrosion in the microlight.

The February report said wreckage examined by experts revealed the bolts that attached the tail to the rest of the plane had failed.

Echoing Jim’s instinctive efforts to land on vegetation rather than hard ground, the report said: “The pilot attempted to guide the aircraft towards the trees. The aircraft then descended through the trees, a factor which probably reduced the severity of the final impact and made the accident survivable.”

Now the pilot wants to draw on his experiences to help others.

He added: “I’ve had three bad accidents in my life and every time I’ve survived because of my training.”

To find out more about Jim’s business visit www.jmaircrewtraining.co.uk