Professional independant source of expert aviation advice.
I have been around aircraft since 1965. With over 60 years of experience in the industry, I am committed to providing outstanding service.
PlaneTorque Australia Pty Ltd commenced services in 2003. Closed April 2025
Now operating as a Sole Trader t/a PlaneTorque AU
How can I assist you
Call, text or email me so that you can quickly decide if I might be the expert you are looking for. Valuation process explained on my YouTube channel. I am happy to share with you redacted copies of reports or my CV
Ensuring that your projects are completed to your exact specifications.
Whether you need a valuation, audit, pre-purchase review, or expert witness, I have the expertise and resources to get the job done. Thank you for considering PlaneTorque AU; I look forward to being of service.
Services Provided
I offer a range of services, from valuations to expert witness
Aircraft Valuations
Since 2005 I have completed a total of 194 valuations across a wide range of types - Aeroplanes 182, helicopters 12. Happy to send you some redacted examples.
Pre-Purchase Reviews
I no longer carry out Import/Export Certificate of Airworthiness issue. But I have completed 125 across Light Sport Aircraft, Helicopters and transport catergory aeroplanes and helicopters. These are obviously deeper than pre-purchase reviews
Expert Witness Services
I have provided Expert Witness Services across a range of subjects. Valuations and accidents. Of late these appear to be growing in number.
Audits
Internal or supplier audits are important. I first gained my Lead Auditor credentials in 1995
My other side hustle
About Me
With over 60 years of hands-on experience in the aviation industry, I provide expert consultation services focused on maintenance activities. My deep understanding of aviation maintenance, coupled with extensive experience in internal and supplier audits, allows me to deliver precise and reliable advice. My services also include expert witness support, where I bring a wealth of knowledge to litigation and arbitration cases.
For more detailed information, such as aircraft for which I have issued Certificates of Airworthiness (125 to Oct 2024) and valuations (191 to date), please contact me via email.
I held an Australian AME licence and have previously held a Malaysian AME licence. I also held until Oct 2024 a CASA Instrument to issue Import and Export Certificates of Airworthiness (no weight limitations). I am currently a CASA-approved drone operator (Deregistered Apr 2025) and pilot. I would be more than happy to email you my full CV.
I come from a family of aircraft maintenance engineers. My father and two older brothers, William and Richard and I have a combined aviation experience of approximately 158 years (And counting). Dad and my eldest brother Bill have passed away; Richard just retired from a board member position with a large helicopter company headquartered now just down the road from big brother Bill in Louisiana. We all cut our aviation teeth in HMF REME as aircraft technicians. Dad was in fact on course number one for aircraft tradesmen in the British army at the point the Army Air Corp was re-established after the end of WWII.
I started my aviation career in 1965 in the British Army as an aircraft technician, working in the UK, EU and the Far East. My first civilian job was in the Middle East, again on helicopters. Then to Australia via Malaysia. My last employer (of 19 years) was Pearl Aviation Pty Ltd, part of the Paspaley Pearling family of companies. In the company, I ended up in the head office as the Engineering Manager, and I was a key manager on the team setting up a cost control centre in Perth. I was also instrumental in the company gaining ISO 9002 accreditation. When the head office moved to Darwin, I accepted a redundancy in 2003 and set up PlaneTorque Australia Pty Ltd, as a consultancy business that utilised my acquired management skills, with over the years projects in Canada, USA, Singapore, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Philippines, Brunei, Indonesia, Vietnam, New Zealand and all Australian states. CoA issues, compliance audits (Which included auditing with the lead auditor (Pilot) the Vietnamese army’s helicopter offshore operations), valuations and pre-purchase reviews.
More recently, my experience and expertise have been used as an expert witness in legal cases.
I’m Now an Official VentraIP Affiliate
Here’s Why I Recommend Them
I’m excited to share a quick milestone: I’ve joined the VentraIP affiliate program. This isn’t a random partnership—I’ve been a happy VentraIP customer for years, so becoming an affiliate felt like a natural next step.
Affiliate disclosure: If you use my link to sign up, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Here’s the link: https://ventraip.com.au/affiliate/OGd8Vb9p
Why VentraIP Stands Out
1) Customer-first mindset
From day one, VentraIP’s support team has been outstanding—fast, friendly, and genuinely focused on solving problems. Whether it’s DNS tweaks, SSL hiccups, or a domain transfer, they don’t push canned answers; they listen, diagnose, and fix.
2) Stellar support (really)
Support quality is where hosting companies separate themselves. With VentraIP, I’ve had:
Prompt responses through live chat and tickets
Clear guidance that’s easy to follow, even for non-technical users
Proactive help when something looks off (rare, but appreciated)
3) Excellent value for money
They’re super cost-effective without cutting corners. You get reliable uptime, sensible resource allocations, solid security features, and straightforward pricing—no confusing upsells or surprise renewals.
4) Australian-owned & local performance
Being Aussie-owned with local infrastructure makes a real difference in speed and support availability, especially if your audience is in Australia.
My Experience in a Nutshell
I started with VentraIP for domain registration and hosting, and stayed because everything just works. On the rare occasion I’ve needed help, the team has been on it—no long wait times, no runaround. Over time, that consistency builds trust, and it’s the reason I’m comfortable recommending them.
Who I Think VentraIP Is Great For
Small businesses & freelancers who want reliable hosting and responsive support
Creators & entrepreneurs launching websites, stores, or portfolios
Anyone moving from a frustrating host and wanting stable, transparent service
Getting Started
If you’re considering a new domain, hosting plan, or a move from your current provider, take a look at VentraIP’s offerings here:
👉 https://ventraip.com.au/affiliate/OGd8Vb9p
Have questions about plans, migrations, or what you might need for your site? Send them my way—I’m happy to share what’s worked well for me.
Final word: I only recommend services I personally use and value. VentraIP has earned that recommendation through years of reliable performance, stellar support, and sensible pricing. If you’re ready to level up your hosting with a customer-focused provider, VentraIP is a strong choice.
Contact Us
Frequently Asked Questions
Is your QUESTION not listed? Please contact me.
As I ease into retirement, I need to downsize and rationalise my back office costs. This website is built on the Ventraip.com.au system, and whilst it does not carry a shop, it works for me. Oh yes, and it's a FREE service when one registers the domain name with them. Great support also.
Yes. Please contact me. Limited supply at the moment so if its a big order I will need to give my printer time to produce.
Yes and in stock. Pads of 25 $50/pad includes postage of qty 1 pad within Australia
A3, red ink, double-sided printing
SKU 800Lr03
Sure thing. It's a tad long through as I have been building it for 59 years. Just contact me and I will email you a copy.
Absolutely! Please contact me and I will email a FREE copy.
Sure do. @alanjupp363
It's a mixture of drone flights, PTA processes and my books (My recently started "Side-hustle").
Yes. Please contact me for yours. This can be used to audit an existing aircraft or as part of an Import or Export CoA process.
My hourly rate varies depending on the task being undertaken. Please contact me with a few details of your project and I will review and advise.
I have been writing short stories and poems and binding them into books for some time now. Currently working on book 14. Please contact me if you want to see the front covers and contents. All are for sale at reasonable cost and are delivered via email.