‍CAVU’s David Hazell will be speaking at the IADC Well Control Conference of the Americas in New Orleans, on August 19, 2025, during the Well Control Training session at 10:45 AM.

His talk, titled “Enhancing Well Control Training through Simulation and Crew Resource Management (CRM)” will challenge the status quo of training in high-risk environments—and propose a bold, proven alternative.

If you work in drilling, safety, or operations, this is a session you won’t want to miss.

From Top Gun to Top Performance

David Hazell’s insights are shaped by a lifetime spent in high-consequence environments. With a career that spans British, US, and NATO military service—including time as Commander of the UK’s Top Gun course and a combat pilot flying aircraft like the F-14 Tomcat and Tornado F-3—David knows firsthand how people perform under pressure… and how they fail when training falls short.

Now, Hazell brings those same training principles to the oil and gas industry through high-fidelity simulation and Well Operations Crew Resource Management (WOCRM). His session will explore how this approach—already transforming aviation, healthcare, and nuclear—can elevate performance and save lives in well control operations.

Why This Talk Matters Now

Traditional well control training covers technical fundamentals. But it rarely addresses team performance, decision-making under stress, or human error—which contributes to over 80% of offshore incidents.

Hazell’s presentation will explore:

• Why simulation-based training leads to faster, more reliable responses
• How CRM improves communication, trust, and coordination among crews
• Real-world case studies showing improved safety outcomes
• How operators in Europe are already integrating WOCRM—and seeing results

In short: Hazell will explain how to shift from compliance-based training... to operational readiness.

Want to Learn More?

✅ Attend the Session
Join David on August 19 at 10:45 AM at the IADC Well Control Conference. His session is part of the Well Control Training block moderated by Matt Bolen, Wells Excellence Manager at Chevron.

✅ Register for the Conference
Sign up here to attend in New Orleans, August 19–20.

✅ Meet with David Hazell
Want to connect with David one-on-one while you're there? Reach out to David on LinkedIn to schedule a meeting and learn more about how CAVU’s simulation and WOCRM training is changing the game in high-risk industries.

About David Hazell

David Hazell has extensive experience in the British, US, and NATO Military, as well as the private business sector. After joining the Royal Air Force in 1985, he flew a range of fighter aircraft including the Phantom F-4, Tornado F-3, F-14 Tomcat, and Mig-29. He led the UK’s Top Gun course and oversaw training across the operational Tornado fleet. He also played a pivotal role in the 2009 uplift of 30,000 US troops in Afghanistan.

After retiring from military service, David became a program director in financial services before joining a global consultancy focused on human performance and leadership. Today, he brings decades of leadership, simulation, and operational expertise to the energy industry through his work at CAVU.

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from one of the world's foremost experts in simulation-based training and human performance under pressure.

See you in New Orleans.

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