Volare Aviation added a dedicated helicopter maintenance, management, and refurbishment facility at London Oxford Airport. Located in Hangar 14, Bay 2, the 16,000-sq-ft facility can accommodate work on up to 12 twin-engine helicopters simultaneously. Volare can provide a variety of services for helicopters including Leonardo, Airbus, and Sikorsky models, it said.
"Opening this new helicopter facility enables us to deliver one of the most comprehensive services on the market to helicopter owners,” said Volare Aviation founder and chairman Dustin Dryden. “From this fully accredited facility, with international approvals including EASA, UK, and U.S. FAA, we have the ability to purchase, refurbish, manage, and maintain owners’ helicopters all under one roof—from one location.”
The expansion will help Volare keep up with the growing demand at London Oxford, Dryden added, noting that the airport added seven helipads last year as part of its ongoing strategic plan. “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,” said James Dillion-Godfray, head of business development at Oxford Airport.
Volare’s business also has grown as it has folded in six Leonardo AW109E seven-seat helicopters that it acquired from Babcock International last year. That acquisition followed the company's receipt of its air operator certificate in September 2020, and the helicopters have since been retrofitted with new interior, paint, and avionics upgrades.
"We have seen a significant uptick in interest for helicopters since the pandemic—both for charter and acquisition among [high net-worth individuals], mirroring the trend in business jets,” said Nick Isbister, who joined Volare last year as director of sales. “Newcomers have turned to private aviation to transport their families, friends, and colleagues efficiently and safely in a Covid-secure environment, whilst saving time and traveling in absolute comfort.”