London Luton-based maintenance group Hamlin has adapted its work over the past several years in light of shifting regulation. Owner Mike Hamlin ran flying schools in the Caribbean and the UK when he was in his twenties, and later worked with Lotus Formula One boss Colin Chapman, amassing 10,000 hours in the process, and selling 81 aircraft before forming the EASA Part 145 organisation which he fronts to this day.

“In 2000 Hamlin Jet Ltd had a large managed fleet and I dreaded any unserviceability on a Friday, let alone a weekend,” he states. “It seemed that far too many maintenance companies still lived in the stone age; if helping you wasn't particularly convenient for them, they would always say no. You had to fit in with them, rather than the other way round.”

His relationships with aircraft owners were being negatively affected by a consistent lack of maintenance support so he started his own maintenance company with two engineers. “We ended up having an unofficial Part M planning service as this helped us become really efficient. By offering owners dates of projected maintenance downtime well in advance, we were able to ensure that our workshop always had an aircraft in it.”

It was the company's procedure to always have an engineer meet any managed aircraft that arrived back at Luton and, if a part was required, the engineer would stay until a fax or email had been received stating the part had been shipped. All Hamlin's managed clients were private individuals or overseas clients who wanted their aircraft flown and maintained by UK staff. Difficulties arose when the UK government removed the zero rating for VAT on all aircraft over eight tonnes. “These owners did not want to be on an AOC but equally did not want to pay 20 per cent non-refundable VAT on all their operating costs, so a business that had taken 35 years to build up dissolved in six weeks as all clients either sold their aircraft or relocated abroad,” he continues.

The management side of the business has disappeared and these days Hamlin, along with accountable manager Stuart Hood and deputy Nick Quantrill, focus primarily on aircraft maintenance. Having sold some of the first Learjet 45s in the UK, Hamlin Jet Support has 15 years experience with the type. Earlier this year, Embraer offered the facility Factory Authorised Service Centre status, which has led to a fresh direction for the company: “After just a few months, Embraer products now provide the bulk of our business and we look forward to expanding this relationship in the times ahead,” says Hamlin.

“Being located at London Luton, which has the most business aircraft movements of any airport in the EU, has without doubt contributed to our success and we look forward to future expansion.”