For your peace of mind we are members of the following:
BBGA - The British Business & General Aviation Association
The Baltic Air Charter Association
- News -
The Ultimate Challenge - Sept 2010
We are supporting paraplegic pilot David Sykes (Spokes) in his epic adventure - flying solo mircrolight from the UK to Australia. His journey begins in September from York and should take 6-8 weeks crossing some of the most inhospitable terrain. We wish him the best of luck on this courageous endeavour. Please visit his website - David Sykes - UK to Australia - Micolight Adventure for more information.
Summer 2010
We are exceptionally busy this summer with many artists out on tour utilizing all sizes of aircraft from an executive Airbus on a three month music tour to music festival helicopter hops. Our staff have been kept busy visiting the more difficult airports to oversee some of the passenger transfers to ensure all goes smoothly.
Other interesting charters include:-
a 260 passenger wedding party from Oslo to Marrakech for the weekend, including dancers / musicians and extra special cocktails
a very lucky little dog moving home from UK to Texas
several VIPs and performers back and forth to South Afria for the World Cup Celebrations
Volcanic Ash Activity Rescues - April '10
We were kept busy through the airspace closure in April with many operations including moving several groups of passengers back and forth across the Atlantic in and out of Madrid; helicopter charters out of France, and a rock group onward out of Moscow. We continue to monitor the situation closely on our daily Volcanic Ash update page.
The Carbon Footprint and UK Business Aviation….. March '10
We are a member of the British Business and General Aviation Association (B.B.G.A.) who are actively addressing this issue with an initiative to make the entire UK Business and General Aviation sector carbon neutral. The following points from the B.B.G.A. directive shows that as a sector of industry UK Business and General Aviation are not major contributors to climate change as sometimes perceived in the press.
The UK General Aviation fleet uses a similar level of fuel annually to that used by motor traffic during one London rush hour.
EU-flagged shipping emits considerably more CO2 than ALL EU aviation.
If every car owner in the UK drove 12.5 miles less per year, that would have the same contribution as completely eliminating UK Business & General Aviation.
Aviation in total emits 1.6% of overall UK Carbon emissions. Business and General Aviation is responsible for an estimated maximum of 1% of that, ie 0.016% of the total nation’s output. In other words, about one six-thousandth of total UK emissions,
However, the disproportionate attention given to aviation in the environmental debate does not diminish the belief that aviation, like all industries, needs to ensure it meets its environmental obligations. The UK B&GA sector has a good record here; we operate a fleet with generally new aircraft that are as clean and efficient as present technology allows; the International Business Aviation Council is producing excellent operational advice to further improve performance. Economically, the UK CAA reports Business and General Aviation to have an economic worth of roughly 8% of the airlines, yet we account for only 1% of aviation emissions.
As a sector of aviation, we realise we have to go further; politically and morally we need to minimise our impact on the environment; but aviation is one of the only industries that has no alternative to using fossil fuels today. Bio fuel may provide some alleviation, but until the next Frank Whittle provides a new generation of propulsion, we have to make sure we are doing our best to ensure aviation becomes seen as "Green" as possible. It was with this in mind that the British Business and General Aviation Association (BBGA) created the BBGA Carbon Balancing Scheme. This initiative, launched in March 2007, has a simple aim; to make the entire sector carbon neutral. Many leading companies have this goal but we believe it is unique for an entire sector to do so: the scheme has been welcomed by the former UK Aviation Minister Gillian Merron who was "..impressed by the BBGA Carbon Balancing Scheme - they're ahead of the game, and a good example .."
The issue of climate change is one for the world and all of its industries, not just the UK B&GA sector. BBGA is therefore joining forces with our colleagues across Europe to roll out the Carbon Balancing scheme to a wider operator base; indeed we hope to propose the scheme as a means of compliance with the goals of the EU Aviation Emissions Trading Scheme. Business and General Aviation creates value, it creates jobs and it does so for minimal environmental impact; the BBGA Carbon Balancing Scheme enables us to do even more; to aim for a carbon neutral sector driving a sustainable economy.
Crew charter for movement of oil rig to the Falklands - February '10
An International Oil Company in the process of moving a Deep Sea Oil Rig from the UK to The Falkland Islands in The South Atlantic, tasked us with arranging the transportation by Air Charter of the Rig’s 60 strong crews between Edinburgh and Recife,Brazil, and return, in order to effect crew transfers to and from the Rig.
The plan was to fly the new crew of specialist personnel from Edinburgh to Recife, hold the aircraft for 14 hours at destination, effect the crew change by boat transfers and then fly the first crew back to Edinburgh.
The first concern was to calculate the date to charter the aircraft and make the changeover, since the estimated tow time of the rig to Recife was 5 weeks, subject to weather and other operational conditions.
The rig being towed by a powerful tug set off from the UK, South West Coast in early December 2009. Already delayed a few days by bad weather the massive tow rope snapped and the rig was cast adrift in the Bay of Biscay. The tug had to return to the UK for a replacement tow rope. After making steady progress in the Atlantic against strong South Westerly winds, the tug ran low on fuel and again the Rig was cast adrift. The tug then refuelled in the Canary Islands before returning to the tow. The rig finally arrived off the coast of Recife in mid January 2010, nearly 6 weeks after leaving the UK.
We were fortunate to be working very closely with a specialist charter airline, operating a long range Boeing 767 wide bodied airliner able to fly directly between Edinburgh and Recife. In the weeks and days leading up to the charter it was necessary to almost daily amend and reschedule the actual date of the flights but both ourselves and the aircraft operator were able to offer this flexibility.
In the early morning of the rigs arrival we landed the new crew at Recife, and 14 hours later we flew the first crew back to Edinburgh on the same charter aircraft.
It had taken the Rig crew nearly 6 weeks to get to Recife and only 10 hours to return home again. The Rig with its 60 strong fresh crew continued on to the Falklands - a further 4 weeks tow time.
Newsletter - January 2010
Here is our 2010 Newsletter, just a brief insight into some of the aircraft charters that we have been involved in.
Music Tours and Passenger Security - October '09
We go to great lengths at Premier Aviation to ensure that our passengers’ safety is never compromised. We feel that our clients are paying for an exclusive service and this is exactly what they should receive. This summer we provided aircraft for several very high profile music tours.
We were faced with the issue of mobs of fans waiting for our passengers to arrive at airports. The only option for us therefore was to pre-position members of our team at what we felt, from experience, would be the most difficult airports. The purpose of this was to work closely with the handling agents, police and airport security, to ensure that General Aviation Terminal areas were clear of fans and that large numbers of airport workers did not appear just as the flight arrived!
Sometimes, due to our persistence we were also able to organise permission for cars to drive directly out to the aircraft at airports where this has never been allowed before, enabling our passengers to sneak out of the airport and off to their hotel without incident.
Premier Aviation Meets the Prime Minister - Aug '09
Our Managing Director Adrian Whitmarsh, along with other UK exporting firms, was invited to meet with the Prime Minister at 10 Downing Street to recognise their business success in overseas markets and their contribution to the UK economy.
Companies exporting British talent and products - from electric car chargers to airport security technology, classic British foods to flame retardant fabrics – discussed their successes and concerns with the Prime Minister. Business Secretary Lord Mandelson and Minister for Trade, Investment and Business, Lord Davies also took questions on what Government is doing to help UK exporters during the downturn.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown said: "I want to thank you for everything you are doing for the British economy, for British exports, and for British confidence. All of you here have successful businesses. All of you have made important innovations in the way you do business. Many of you have received Queen’s Awards for what you have done, and I congratulate you. Many of you are helping this country through one of the most difficult financial periods and doing so by increasing your growth rates and making sure that the economy can remain strong for the future."
Spring Newsletter '09
Here is our Spring Newsletter, just a brief insight into some of the aircraft charters that we have been involved in.
Industry News - Feb '09
The Dassault Falcon 7X business jet has been approved by the UK Civil Aviation Authority for operation into London City Airport, so this ultra-long-range aircraft can arrive and depart from the heart of the UK's financial centre along with the rest of the Falcon models - the Falcon 900, 50 and 10 series. This is good news as more and more business jet passengers prefer to use London City due to it's proximity to the centre of London in comparison to Luton / Heathrow and Stansted.
Credit Crunch - Impact on private aircraft charter - Dec '08
Traditionally December is one of the quieter months for private and group aircraft charter, except for the few days prior to Christmas. This year the Worldwide credit restriction has further impacted in a negative way on enquiries and bookings.
At the entry level customers are only chartering if essential to do so. At the higher end activities have slowed to a lesser extent but means more Operators and brokers are chasing less business. The strongest market remains the Middle East but even here supply is exceeding demand.
In all matters timing is vitally important and in early 2009 it will be fascinating to observe the changes that will occur in new aircraft orders.
During the second and third quarters of 2008 large numbers of executive aircraft were ordered or optioned. Unfortunately its most likely that many of these large orders will turn into options only.
Particularly at this time the choice between Operators purchasing an aircraft or just operating a unit on behalf of an Owner must be an intriguing one, and now essential to cost effectively.
Middle East Business Aircraft Show - Nov '08
Following the Moscow Business aircraft show, our representatives have this week been in Dubai visiting the Middle East Business Aircraft Show.
Most of the Arabian Gulf Business Aircraft Operators were represented, either on the static aircraft display or in the main halls. Many European based aircraft operators were also present actively seeking new business.
The number of Executive business jets available for charter from the Gulf grows weekly and includes BBJs, Embraer Legacys Challenger 604s and Lear jets. We have for some time arranged private jet aircraft charter within the region and are confident in growing our business here.
Senor Pavarotti - A Concert of Tribute - Petra, Jordan - Oct '08
Top artists from the worlds of classical and popular music performed on what would have been Snr Pavarotti's 73rd birthday (12 October) in remembrance of his great talent. The singers, including Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras, commemorated the life of late tenor Luciano Pavarotti at a concert, organised by British promoter Harvey Goldsmith, held in Petra, Jordan during October.
Senor Pavarotti was one of our longest standing clients, and we had provided aircraft for all his tours since Premier started. So we were pleased and honoured to be asked by the concert organizers to arrange charters to fly in many of the people involved in this great event. We chartered a B757 airliner for some of the guests and artistes, the production team and TV crew from London to Aqaba airport, Jordan. We also utilised business jet operators from 5 different countries to fly in many of the other artistes performing at the concert and to coordinate their travel between London, Moscow, Mumbai, Vienna, Barcelona & Madrid to Jordan.
Our Managing Director, Adrian Whitmarsh, was on hand in Jordan to coordinate and supervise all flight operations at Aqaba airport and liaise with ground transport, concert production staff & management. Flight operations continued around the clock over the 4 days, with artistes incorporating the visit into their busy tour commitments spanning from Spain in the west to India in the east. Adrian worked closely with Jordanian tour logistics company Discovery to coordinate the transfers of the guests, artistes and production teams to and from the special flights. VIP's attending the concert included members of the Jordanian Royal family, government delegations from other Middle Eastern states and, of course, Pavarotti's home country of Italy.
The artistes were among many others who made the long trek through the mountains to the site of the ancient Treasury at Petra to honour Pavarotti. Other famous names who took part in the three-day commemoration were Sting, soprano Cynthia Lawrence, Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli and 13 year old Jordanian violinist, Aleem Kandour.
Pavarotti had previously expressed a desire to give a concert himself at the UNESCO World Heritage site and discussed the possibility with members of the Jordanian Royal Family.
In common with Princess Haya of Jordan, Pavarotti was involved in raising funds for UN children's charities and proceeds from this concert, entitled Salute Petra, were for the continued benefit of these charities.
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Book signing by Sir Ranulph Fiennes at the BACA luncheon - Oct'08
Premier Aviation's MD, Adrian Whitmarsh and Aviation Charter Broker Cliff Marlow recently attended the Baltic Air Charter Association,s (BACA) Autumn lunch, held at the historical Ironmongers Hall, part of London Wall.
Over 200 key players from the Aviation Charter Industry attended including Private Jet Aircraft Operators and Brokers, both passenger and cargo. The guest speaker was the celebrated explorer and climber Sir Ranulph Fiennes who kept the room spellbound with his stories of intrepid hazardous journeys across the two poles.
His visit was sponsored by Tyrolean Jet Services, a high quality Operator of corporate jet aircraft.
After lunch all delegates repaired to a local Public Inn where business networking and a few ales were consumed.
