Sir Peter Rigby’s Aviation Group, which trades as Patriot Aviation and Heliflight, has acquired London Helicopter Centres Ltd, the specialist helicopter charter and engineering company, headquartered in Redhill, Surrey and Enniskillen in Northern Ireland.
The strategic acquisition extends the Group’s national coverage for flight training, charter, sales and engineering and firmly establishes its status as a leading aviation specialist in the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, where it holds the Cessna and Schweizer distributorships (http://www.patriot.uk.com/CSE%20Home.html).
The deal provides London Helicopter Centres with the best environment in which to expand and build on its specialist expertise and capabilities – particularly around Eurocopter, commercial helicopter training (http://www.london-helicopters.co.uk/Helicopter-Pilot-Training.php) and VIP charter. Sir Peter’s intention is to retain the three brand names within the group, promoting their specialist expertise and underpinning each brand specialism with sales resource, scope and scale.
Customers can now access an end to end service, from learning to fly and/or chartering a helicopter, to buying a new machine, refurbishing an older one, to high quality engineering and maintenance. In addition, scenic tours and affordable access to VIP charter are available out of five aviation hubs: Cranfield in Bedfordshire; Gloucester’ Redhill in Surrey; Halfpenny Green in the West Midlands and Enniskillen in Northern Ireland.
Sir Peter Rigby said: “I’m very excited about the opportunity to continue to grow and expand our Aviation Group. In particular, extending and developing our charter and aviation services in and around London. We can now offer VIP commuters a cost and time effective transfer into Battersea from Redhill in 10 minutes.”
London Helicopter Centres has established an enviable reputation for training, engineering and VIP charter, offering a full maintenance, engineering and avionics service from both its Redhill, Surrey, and Enniskillen, Northern Ireland, bases.
Mark Souster founded London Helicopter Centres some 18 years ago. Much respected in the aviation sector, Mark will become Managing Director of Sir Peter’s fast expanding Aviation Group. He will be responsible for the day to day delivery of growth and development of aviation services across all three brands.
Mark Souster said: “I’m delighted to be working alongside Sir Peter. I am confident that this move will give London Helicopter Centres the opportunity to evolve, expand and grow as part of this successful aviation group.”
NOTES TO EDITOR
About London Helicopter Centres
Founded, owned and managed by respected pilot Mark Souster in 1994, London Helicopter Centres has fast grown to become a leading aviation business. It is now a dedicated helicopter charter and engineering company, encompassing corporate and VIP charter, London sightseeing tours and rides, aerial photography, pilot training, introductory flying lessons and pilot conversions. It also provides a full maintenance, engineering and avionics service from both its Redhill, Surrey, and Enniskillen, Northern Ireland bases.
A CAA approved Flight Training Organisation (FTO) and Type Rating Training Organisation (TRTO), it began flight training 15 years ago and was one of the first companies to be approved for JAR training in 2000, offering private, commercial and flight instructor training, as well as type rating conversions on twelve different types of helicopter. London Helicopter Centres is also a PART 145 approved maintenance company, as well as providing design, installation and rectification services.
http://www.london-helicopters.co.uk/
About Patriot Aviation and Heliflight
Sir Peter Rigby acquired Patriot Aviation in 2002. Based at Cranfield, Patriot is the UK and Northern Ireland agent for Cessna fixed wing and Schweizer and other helicopter brands. Patriot is a UK market leader in fixed wing and helicopter sales, engineering, flight training and charter.
Heliflight (UK) Ltd was founded in 1996, based at Halfpenny Green Airport near Wolverhampton. Providing high quality professional helicopter hire and flight training it has also established its services with a base at Gloucester. There are 11 flying instructors at the two airports and a comprehensive range of helicopters are used for both hire and training pilots. Heliflight has 15 helicopters in total, ranging from the Robinson R22 to the Executive Augusta A109.
http://www.patriot.uk.com
About Sir Peter Rigby
Sir Peter Rigby is one of the UK’s top entrepreneurs and a seasoned businessman. He was knighted in the Queens Jubilee honours for services to information technology and business in the community. Sir Peter founded, owns and chairs the UK’s fifth largest privately owned business, the SCH group. His business interests have further developed around his interest in and passion for aviation and hospitality. Sir Peter owns the Eden Group of Country House hotels and the fast growing Aviation business, he is also an enthusiastic and experienced fixed wing and helicopter pilot. While Sir Peter’s charitable foundation was established some 15 years ago (The Rigby foundation) and he is Chairman and Patron or Trustee of several major charities.
Media contacts
Judy Groves [email protected] / 07976 014 100
Louise Acton [email protected] / 07975 355 838
Iain Bruce [email protected] / 07929 466 152
