Volare Aviation, a private aviation company delivering aircraft sales, charter, aircraft management, engineering and refurbishment, has opened a helicopter maintenance, management and refurbishment facility at London Oxford Airport.
Up to 12 twin-engined executive helicopters can be worked on simultaneously in the 16,000sqft space. The business also offers interior and exterior work on pre-owned Leonardo, Airbus and Sikorsky models – from leather seat stitching to paintwork.
“Opening this new helicopter facility enables us to deliver one of the most comprehensive services on the market to helicopter owners,” said Volare Aviation founder and chairman Dustin Dryden.
“From this fully accredited facility, with international approvals including EASA, UK and US FAA, we have the ability to purchase, refurbish, manage and maintain owners’ helicopters all under one roof – from one location.”
London Oxford Airport added seven new ICAO/EASA/CAA-compliant helipads last year.
James Dillion-Godfray, head of business development at Oxford Airport, said, “These have facilitated safer interaction with fixed wing operations at the airport where interlining between jets and helicopters often takes place, in particular to undertake 22-minute shuttle runs to and from The London Heliport.
“Clients can also benefit from mitigated handling fees if they fly into the airport on a business jet and then take the London Heliport shuttle.”
Volare Aviation secured its helicopter Air Operator’s Certificate from the UK Civil Aviation Authority in September 2020.
In 2021, Volare acquired six Leonardo AW109E 7-seat helicopters from Babcock International. The AW109s were flown/or transported by road, to Volare’s Oxford HQ. They have since been retrofitted with luxury interiors – involving interior, paint and avionics upgrades. These luxury machines are now available for charter from Volare, or offered for resale.
Nick Isbister, formerly with Air Charter Service, joined Volare as director of sales recently. He said, “We have seen a significant uptick in interest for helicopters since the pandemic – both for charter and acquisition among HNWI’s, mirroring the trend in business jets.
“Newcomers have turned to private aviation to transport their families, friends and colleagues efficiently and safely in a Covid-secure environment, whilst saving time and travelling in absolute comfort.”
Volare’s helicopter MRO activity is undertaken by five full-time licensed helicopter engineers, headed by chief engineer Peter Knight. Knight joined Volare in 2017, having previously worked with HeliAir and A2B Aero.
With a workforce of 50 people, including sub-contractors, Volare runs its own in-house facility, offering everything from engineering, to aircraft charter services as well as aircraft acquisition and management.
Volare Aviation’s engineering capabilities are recognised by the UK CAA, US FAA, Nigerian CAA, Hellenic Republic, plus Cayman Islands, San Marino, Guernsey 2-Reg approvals. Volare is endorsed by aircraft manufacturers Bombardier, Embraer, Gulfstream, Hawker, plus suppliers Avidyne, BTEC, Garmin and Gogo Business Aviation.