The Team

A Royal Air Force veteran, Ben completed 18 years of service as a Tornado GR4 Navigator and MQ-9 Sensor Operator. After transitioning to remotely pilot systems, he trained in Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) tactics and techniques and gained a wealth of expertise operating at range. During his time on the MQ-9 Ben also served as a Staff Officer, his role to act as a conduit between strategic, operational and tactical command chains to maintain capability development and delivery. Ben was also responsible for Force growth through training management and front line assimilation.
Ben created Big Sky Theory in 2021 to share his knowledge and Front Line and Force management experience via consultancy. Since inception, Big Sky Theory has also invested in the research and development of an airborne methane reconnaissance capability; Launch & Locate. A leader by example Ben is fully qualified and authorised to complete trials and commercial operations. The Big Sky Theory aim to assist in climate awareness through safe, fast and effective fugitive emissions detection, characterisation and geolocation.
Married with two children, Ben is a keen golfer and traveller – a drone always packed before departure.

Aaron spent 13 years in the Royal Air Force as a logistics officer, specialising in air mobility. The early part of his career was spent leading teams of highly specialised movements professional on operations and exercises from California to India and everywhere in between. His enthusiasm for all things remotely piloted was borne out of a deployment to Creech AFB in Nevada where he was the lead project manager for the launch of 39 Sqn operating MQ-1 and MQ-9s. This included managing the delivery of the first MQ-1 to be air moved on a UK C-17. He completed his career in the Royal Air Force in the SF Cell at HQ Air Command where he was the lead for UK remotely piloted aircraft in support of global reconnaissance and strike operations. This tour culminated in the move of several air vehicles across 3 continents to reach full operating capability in a 4-month window. Having completed a BSC (Hons) and a MSc in Logistics Management, he is also a chartered member of the Institute of Logistics and Transport.

A fellow Royal Air Force veteran, Simon completed instructional duties on the Tucano before moving to a Front-Line Tour on the Tornado GR4 including deployed operations overseas. His military career concluding with captaincy on the L1011 Tristar, Si moved over to commercial flying with British Airways, initially on the Boeing 747-400 before transitioning to the Airbus A350-1000. Since 2020, Si has also consulted extensively within Remote Piloted Aircraft Systems innovation, advising on operational delivery, Beyond Visual Line-of-Site techniques, safety case design and build and CAA assurance and governance management. Qualified to operate UAS in the specific category, Si is driven by the inherent capability that Unmanned Air Systems bring to industry, specifically fugitive emissions detection, geolocation, and characterisation.

A Royal Air Force veteran, Wes has completed 21 years of service as a pilot. Serving on the Tornado GR4 as a weapons Instructor, B2 Stealth bomber as an instructor and evaluator pilot and most recently on Eurofighter Typhoon as an EASA Cat 1 experimental test pilot. Wes has accumulated over 2000hrs in multiple military and civilian fixed and rotary wing platforms whilst participating in operations and exercises across the world. Non-flying tours include operating within the RAF Air and Space Warfare Centre developing tactics and training for the F35B Lightning and supporting UK trials activity within the USA from Nellis AFB, Nevada. Most recently, representing the RAF within weapon capability strategy and procurement. Wes has a wealth of experience in design, planning, executing and reporting on a broad range of test and evaluation activity and is a qualified civilian fixed wing and VLOS drone pilot. Whilst continuing to utilise his test and evaluation experience within the civilian sector, Wes is excited to be involved with the Big Sky Theory methane emissions programme and combating climate change through drone innovation.

Ignatius, a molecular biology academic, specialises in LaunCH₄ & Locate data analysis and processing using bespoke software to exploit and disseminate emissions intelligence. Ignatius is also highly experienced in the use of UgCS mission planning and autonomous flight software, used in airborne inspections to isolate and locate Methane leaks via laser absorption spectroscopy. Ignatius' detailed knowledge of atmospheric science and the impact fugitive methane emissions at the tactical and global strategic levels, provide an informed and comprehensive service to clients in any emissions related industry.

John grew up as a lover of all things aviation after a field trip to a local airfield at primary school. After leaving school he joined the RAF as a pilot and spent nearly 20 years flying. As a front line pilot on the Chinook Force he flew on operations in the Middle East and was a Standards Officer and Qualified Warfare Instructor. His final tour in the RAF was as a Chinook Evaluator Pilot with the Rotary Wing Operational Evaluation and Testing Unit, where in between testing new equipment he gained an MSc. Since leaving the RAF in 2021 John has specialised in geospatial systems. In his spare time he assists school and youth groups with Outdoor Education as a Mountain Leader.