David Keys

11/01/2025

DAVID – NAVIGATOR AND FRIEND 

I first met David in 1977 when we set up Guernsey Airlines. He became our first Head of Operations in Guernsey, with Andy Blake as the Chief Pilot, Sally Ozanne (Rigler as she was then) running the office and, as some would say, me doing the twiddly bits. 

Guernsey Airlines was community-orientated, and it was soon apparent to us that there was no rapid-response airborne search capability in the Channel Islands which could assist in finding vessels or persons in difficulties in our very challenging waters: “The Lifeboat’s Eyes in the Sky”. 

As you will know, David was a Navigator on Royal Navy fast jets, flying the De Havilland Sea Vixen from carriers while sitting in what was known as the “Coal Hole”, with nothing but a very small sideways-facing porthole. Similarly, Andy Blake had commanded Shackleton and Nimrod aircraft on maritime patrol, both anti-submarine and search and rescue so, amongst other things, such as the part-time availability of the aircraft which I could provide, we had the makings of what is now CIAS and was initially Guernsey Airsearch. 

From the outset, we combined professionalism with voluntary service, and David was the prime source of the navigational side of the operation. The CAA would not let us call the role that of “Navigator” because nobody held their Flight Navigator’s Licence, so David became our first “Search Director”, which involved the management of the search, height, speed, search pattern and track spacing, which people like Andy and myself (mere “Drivers Airframe”) then flew as directed. 

Last year, Airsearch flew 32 searches involving over 50 hours of flying, of which one-third were at night and overall which involved 2,000 voluntary man hours, including training and other tasks. Service was provided to Guernsey, Jersey and France, 50% of services were maritime and 50% were land-based, using the now very sophisticated search aids, the value of which is equal to the value of the new aircraft itself (in all £2.5 million) and at a cost for the year of some £300,000 – almost all subscribed by voluntary donations and bequests from within the Channel Islands. 

Why do I mention all this? Very simply because David was a key player in not only setting up the Service but also in leading the team of Search Directors and flying as crew, day or night, come sunshine or storm, for many years. Without him, much of what I have mentioned today simply would not have been possible, so I offer these words in tribute to a highly skilled and very thoughtful gentleman with whom it has been my privilege to serve. 

Roger Dadd, Founder