Manchester’s Northern

Executive Aviation has

recorded its first victory in this

year’s FBO Survey, finally

taking pride of place on the

winner’s rostrum after several

years in the top 10.

EBAN’s Richard Evans went

to visit the company and in

particular its long-standing

managing director David

Antrobus, to find out how the

company felt it had achieved

the accolade.

“I’m very proud, and

delighted for my staff,” he

said “and also grateful towards

the customers. It was very

unexpected, particularly when

you consider that we’re

small fry among the big guys.

But clearly, we’re getting

things right.”

A modest response to the

news of winning but it’s not as

if the running of an FBO is

anything new to David

Antrobus. A former pilot

himself, he was the company’s

first employee 41 years ago

and says he has learned a

thing or two about handling

corporate aircraft in his time.

“Quite simply, you have to

look after the passengers and

you have to look after the crew.

And I see looking after the

crew almost important as I do

looking after the passengers,”

he said.

“I think a great percentage

comes down to the staff here –

they’re a good, cheery bunch

and they’re here to help and

indeed, to try to help. The

building itself has also assisted

us a great deal.”

NEA’s current facilities at

Manchester were built brand

new in 1998. The terminal

building boasts a spacious

reception area with crew

lounge, and for those who

wish to conduct business, a

board room, as well as an ops

room and a second lounge for

vvip guests. The hangar is used

to house the company’s own

Lear 35, other owners’ aircraft

and also for the company to

carry out maintenance on

visiting aeroplanes.

“We have maintenance on

tap,” explained Antrobus, “and

while not everyone wants that

facility, people do have

problems from time to time

and very often we’re able to

help them out. Clearly that

makes a big difference with

regard to people’s perception

of us.”

NEA says that about five

per cent of its trade comes

from the over 10-tonne public

transport sector, 10 per cent

come from the over 10-tonne

private sector and the rest

are made up of under 10-

tonne aircraft.

The facility, says Antrobus,

receives its fair share of

Gulfstreams, BBJs and Global

Express-size aircraft but has

room for more. NEA had a

particularly good month in

May last year, when more than

60 aircraft filled the company’s

ramp for football’s Champions

League Cup Final.

He explained: “It was truly a

sight to behold. All I could see

from my office window was a

hive of business aircraft. We

received some very good

feedback about how well we

handled so many aircraft and I

believe this may well have

contributed to our excellent

standing in the survey. We

actually had every single

aircraft away from the airport

within one hour of the first

one leaving.”

While Antrobus is clearly

delighted at winning this

year’s survey, he concedes that

a certain amount of traffic

will visit his facility, regardless.

He explained: “The one

thing I always say is that

the destination is always

chosen by the customer. And

if someone wants to go to

Liverpool, the charter

operator or pilot isn’t going to

bring him to Manchester just

because he fancies us. And

vice versa.

“So, to a certain extent,

there’s a captive customer

base which comes to the

airport. However, once you’ve

got a choice of handler – and

there is a choice here – then

you have to show yourself to

be better than the rest. Choice

certainly keeps you on your

toes and maybe the

competition has spurred us on

to even greater heights.”

Having reached the top of

the tree, as far as our FBO

Survey is concerned, we asked

David Antrobus how he

intends to maintain the

excellence.

Throwing a smile which

says ‘the work’s only just

begun’ he concludes: “We

have to keep the standards up.

Certainly, we’ll be improving

our security side during the

course of this year – we’ve got

apron security and plans for

full security on the premises

are to be implemented in the

near future. We’ll also be

decorating the building. Apart

from that, we’re always

looking for the little things to

try and improve our service

and keep the customers well

looked-after.”