Multiflight is expanding its fleet's capabilities with the addition of an AS365N2 and a Bell 206L4. Steve Borrowdale, md, of the Yorkshire, UK, headquartered company says: "The choice of helicopters is one of ease of operation and reliability. Given the diversity of our fleet we can meet most of our clients' demands."

The new arrivals join a Bell 206, AS350B2, AS355F2, another AS365N2 and an AS365N1. "The demand is for a combination of business and pleasure with golf, horse racing and motorsports providing regular charter demand," Borrowdale adds. "We cover the whole of the UK, Ireland and sometimes Europe with the Dauphins."

In 2008, Multiflight's Dauphins averaged 25 hours commercial flying and about 50 hours total each month from May to October. Borrowdale says: "We would expect commercial hours to be similar for the equivalent months this year."

The company was formed in 1994 by technology entrepreneur David Hood, after he purchased a Falcon 900B. "My interest in aviation and learning to fly started when I was a passenger on a pleasure flight on a JetRanger. I was inspired to gain my Twin Squirrel helicopter pilot's licence, bought a Falcon and acquired Knight Air, an aviation business located on the south side of Leeds Bradford international airport," says Hood.

Borrowdale joined as md in 1999 bringing experience of worldwide operations, sales, engineering and company acquisitions. Multiflight acquired two other companies based on the site: Yorkshire Light Aircraft Limited and the Yorkshire Flying Club, as part of a redevelopment and restructuring of the south side of the airport.

"We saw an opportunity to develop a first class aviation facility that would not only offer flying enthusiasts like myself a great place to learn to fly and to fulfill their ambitions, but also provide a one-stop shop for professionals and charter customers with a flight training centre, specialist engineering, charter, aircraft management and sales and executive aircraft handling departments," says Hood, now Multiflight's chairman. "We are constantly striving to improve our facility and have recently totally refurbished our executive aircraft handling department, our flight training centre and our cafe bar."

Hood adds: "Multiflight continues to develop and grow. We are the only operator in the north of England that is able to provide two vip AS365 Dauphins."