Volare Aviation has formally opened a dedicated helicopter maintenance, management and refurbishment facility in Hangar 14, Bay 2 at its London Oxford airport home. Up to 12 twin engined executive helicopters can be worked on simultaneously in the 16,000 sq ft space. The business offers expertise in interior and exterior work on pre-owned Leonardo, Airbus and Sikorsky models, from leather stitching on seats through to paint work.

"Opening this new helicopter facility enables us to deliver one of the most comprehensive services on the market to helicopter owners,” says founder and chairman Dustin Dryden. “From this fully accredited facility we have the ability to purchase, refurbish, manage and maintain owners' helicopters all under one roof from one location. It's also a pleasure to continue our long-term partnership with London Oxford airport, now in its ninth year, as we expand our facilities hand in hand with the airport's growth.”

A significant part of London Oxford airport's ongoing strategic plan, in addition to investment in new hangarage, was the addition last year of seven new ICAO/EASA/CAA-compliant helipads.

“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, co-owned and operated with London Oxford airport,” says head of business development James Dillion-Godfray. “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 AOC from the UK CAA in Sept 2020. In 2021, Volare acquired six Leonardo AW109E seven seat helicopters from Babcock International that 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, and are now available for charter or offered for resale. The business was further strengthened last year with the addition of Nick Isbister, formerly with Air Charter Service, as director of sales.

"We have seen a significant uptick in interest for helicopters since the pandemic, both for charter and acquisition among HNWIs, mirroring the trend in business jets,” says Isbister. “Newcomers have turned to private aviation to transport their families, friends and colleagues efficiently and safely in a Covid-secure environment, while saving time and travelling in comfort.”

Drawing on Volare's close relationship with the Guernsey aircraft registry, with its own fleet of 25 managed business jets and helicopters, the business will work with new owners to help them secure creative and personalised registrations, for example 2-FAST.

Volare's helicopter MRO activity is undertaken by five full time licensed helicopter engineers, headed by chief engineer Peter Knight. Knight joined the company 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. The company is endorsed by aircraft manufacturers Bombardier, Embraer, Gulfstream and Hawker, as well as suppliers Avidyne, BTEC, Garmin and Gogo Business Aviation.