A PILOT’S flying standards in a jet which crashed at the Shoreham Airshow were “about as negligent as you can get”, a court heard.

Andrew Hill faces 11 counts of gross negligence manslaughter after failing to pull out of a loop manoeuvre in August 2015.

Jurors at his trial at the Old Bailey in London previously heard he completed the move while flying too low.

Yesterday, experienced display pilot and evaluator Jonathon Whaley gave evidence and said that flying too low was a “fundamental thing” and you “do not do it”.

Prosecutor Tom Kark QC asked how far Hill’s flying fell below acceptable standards, assuming he was not suffering a physical impairment.

Mr Whaley replied: “He had all the training, all the knowledge to know that he hadn’t achieved his gate height, and none of the parameters were correct to complete safely this manoeuvre.

“To me that is about as negligent as you can get in terms of flying.”

He told the jury he did not permit looping manoeuvres in the Hawker Hunter he flies.

Hill’s defence lawyer Karim Khalil QC asked: “It can be thought of as inherently dangerous?”

Mr Whaley agreed it could, but acknowledged that the manoeuvre was authorised to be carried out in displays.

“The profession of aerobatic display does carry inherent dangers?” Mr Khalil asked.

“It does carry inherent dangers which is why the pilot has to be aware of them,” Mr Whaley replied.

Mr Whaley was asked why he and other experts had said Hill’s display at the 2015 Shoreham Airshow contained “no difficult manoeuvres”.

He answered: “I said it needed arguably more concentration, but I accept that if it’s well flown then it’s not a problem.”

The 1950s jet plummeted on to the A27 after coming out of the loop manoeuvre.

Hill tried to keep the plane in the air but it came down on top of the busy A27 near Shoreham Airport, killing 11 men.

Earlier judge Mr Justice Edis reminded the jury Mr Whaley was simply giving an opinion on the matter.

He told them it was up to them to decide whether or not to accept it, or accept another expert, or none of the experts.

Hill, of Sandon in Hertfordshire, denies all the charges.

The trial continues.