Martin Bird

Martin Bird is Blink’s Deputy Director of Flight Operations and Quality Manager, responsible for ensuring that all Blink processes and procedures are being executed correctly and conducting internal and external audits and assessments.

Martin previously developed and implemented a Quality Assurance Programme for a business aviation company that encompassed 50 internal and external audits a year throughout Europe and the USA.

His love of “all things air” began in the Military where, as part of the Army’s Red Devils freefall parachute team, he became Army Parachute Champion at the age of 23 and also represented Great Britain. Having subsequently qualified as a Helicopter Pilot, he then gained a commission and attained the rank of Captain with the Army Air Corps. He flew operationally in diverse areas which included Belize, Norway, Germany, Iraq during the first Gulf War, Bosnia and Northern Ireland. He also served with The Parachute Regiment in the Falklands conflict.

His Military Management has been complemented by extensive experience in the commercial Business Jet world from managing a busy ground operations department to becoming the Accountable Manager. His qualifications include BSI Dip Quality Management to ISO 9001/2008; BSI Auditing to ISO 9001/2008; EASA Part M Quality Management, He is also a DfT qualified Aviation Security Manager/Instructor; Survival Instructor (Aviation) and JAA Flight and ground operations auditor. Outside of his Blink activities he still flies fixed wing for pleasure.