Rotorhub 
Patriot Aviation acquires Heliflight (UK) Limited extending core capabilities for business benefit
Patriot Aviation, a market leader in General Aviation Services, has acquired Heliflight (UK) Limited, one of the UK’s foremost helicopter charter and flying training firms.
Patriot Aviation specialises in fixed wing and helicopter sales, charter, engineering and flight training. Based at Cranfield, it has the Cessna distributorship for the UK and Northern Ireland. This deal will significantly strengthen the capabilities of each firm and expand their geographic area of operation creating business advantage. Both will retain their existing brand names.
Patriot will now focus on aviation sales, engineering services and refurbishment. Whilst, Heliflight will continue to specialise in flight training and helicopter charter, with Patriot’s training activities consolidated into its operations. All of these services will be promoted and available to customers at the three locations from which the combined businesses will operate, namely Cranfield, Gloucester and Wolverhampton.
Strategic highlights:
· Aircraft sales, including Cessna fixed wing, Schweizer and other helicopter brands consolidated under Patriot brand.
· New sales offices at Heliflight’s Gloucester and Wolverhampton bases.
· Patriot’s helicopter charter and flying training at Cranfield enhanced through Heliflight brand.
· Cranfield based, Patriot engineering services expands geographical reach.
· Combined services offered from Cranfield, Gloucester and Wolverhampton.
Sir Peter Rigby said: “The acquisition of Heliflight by Patriot will develop and extend the core capabilities of each to the benefit of the business, its customers and employees. We are now better positioned to take advantage of the opportunities for growth leveraging our combined strengths, in the current challenging economic conditions.
“Undoubtedly, Patriot and Heliflight have seen sound trading in recent months with many UK aircraft owners realising the value of their aircraft in the euro zone, with the help of our sales operation. Moving forward, Patriot’s engineering capability in particular has the opportunity to grow into new regions, whilst demand remains strong for Heliflight’s flying training and helicopter charter work.”
Heliflight will continue to be managed by Jon Lane, who has run the business since its inception. A seasoned professional pilot and manager, Jon will report to Sir Peter Rigby, Company Chairman.
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