About us
Xplor Aviation was established to provide independent aviation expertise founded on decades of experience at the forefront of military and civil aviation.
The company supports defence, government and industry customers across flight test and evaluation, aviation consultancy, operational aviation and specialist training.
Leadership
Xplor Aviation is led by Mark Burnand, former Chief Test Pilot of Leonardo Helicopters UK and an internationally recognised flight test professional.
With decades of experience leading complex aerospace programmes across defence and industry, Mark has worked alongside customers, manufacturers and regulators to successfully deliver global flight test and other projects. These include aircraft development, certification, operational evaluation, capability enhancement and training programmes.
This experience forms the foundation of Xplor Aviation's independent, evidence-based approach to supporting complex aviation projects.
Associate Network
Through a network of highly experienced associates, Xplor Aviation is able to provide scalable support ranging from specialist consultancy assignments through to multi-disciplinary flight test & evaluation and aviation programme support teams.
Experience across multiple aviation domains
Operational Roles
- Attack
- Anti-armour
- Reconnaissance
- Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR)
- Commando support
- Battlefield mobility
- Maritime
- Search and Rescue
- Aircrew training
- Flight test instruction
- Corporate transport
- Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS)
- Special mission operations
Aircraft Experience
- Apache AH Mk1
- Gazelle
- Lynx Mk7/9
- Super Lynx international export variants
- Sea King Mk3/3A/4/5/6/7 and international export variants
- Merlin Mk1/2/3/4 and international export variants
- Chinook
- AW101 international export variants family
- AW159 Wildcat and international export variants
- AW109
- AW169
- AW139
- AW149
- AW189
- Uncrewed air systems
Operating Environments
- Maritime and Littoral - Embarked
- Hot and High – Mountainous and Desert
- Arctic and Cold Weather – Snow and Ice
- Urban and Confined Areas
- Degraded Visual Environments (DVE) – Whiteout/ Brownout/ Night / Weather
- Worldwide deployments/ trials
Flight Test Experience
Including but not limited to:
- First flights
- Envelope expansion
- Stability and control – including DAFCS development
- Aircraft performance – including hot and high
- Systems and sensors – including helmet mounted displays
- Navigation systems
- Weapon system integration
- Uncrewed Air Systems
- Certification and qualification
- Academic research programmes
- Simulator development and qualification
- Military and civil regulatory compliance