Redeveloped London Heliport to open this spring - PremiAir taking bookings for Farnborough Airshow

Friday 19th February, 2010

The new passenger terminal at The London Heliport will open for business in the next couple of months, well ahead of the Farnborough Airshow which is already generating demand for rapid helicopter connections to and from the show.

The impending opening follows the formal handover of the site by the builders, Weston Homes, on February 11th which paves the way for the staff at The London Heliport to transfer operations to the new passenger terminal during the coming weeks. As soon as this is complete, the old terminal will be demolished to make way for additional apron space which will increase helicopter parking capacity and with it the ability of the heliport to handle increased movements at peak times.

The London Heliport is operated and managed by PremiAir, the UK’s leading executive helicopter support company. At the building’s handover David McRobert, PremiAir’s Group Managing Director, said: “We’re all really excited about the change the new terminal facilities will bring to executive helicopter travel in the UK. Within a couple of months, heliport users will be able to use world class business aviation facilities which we believe are unique in the helicopter world. The terminal is directly linked to Hotel Verta, a fantastic new 5 star luxury hotel, so heliport users will have direct access to superb facilities, including conference rooms, entertainment suites, spa facilities, bars and restaurants. This has to be a first in business aviation.”

Hotel Verta, owned by von Essen Hotels, PremiAir’s sister company, will formally open its doors to clients in the summer to offer a unique set of facilities all within a short drive of London’s West End.

Neil Gibson, PremiAir’s Head of Charter & Management said: “I can see the new facilities becoming a major boost to the UK executive helicopter charter industry and we’re confident that the added value the new facilities will offer will help introduce the benefits of executive helicopter travel to new users. The old facilities are 50 years old and London’s capital badly needed the investment to bring its only licensed commercial heliport up to date. Now we have an FBO that is world class and we can’t wait to open the doors to the helicopter fraternity in a few months’ time.”

PremiAir is once again running helicopter shuttle services to and from Farnborough Airshow and has already taken many bookings, including several from leading US aerospace corporations, determined to beat gridlocked motorways. The 20-minute shuttle trips from the London Heliport are operated by Eurocopter AS355 Twin Squirrel and Sikorsky S76 VIP helicopters, offering executive seating for four and up to seven passengers, respectively. Contact +44 1895 830900 or e-mail charter@premiair-aviation.com.

www.premiair-aviation.com

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Editor’s Notes:

Established 30 years ago, PremiAir is the UK’s largest Executive Helicopter Charter and Management company. It has bases at Denham, Blackbushe, Oxford and Farnborough Airports in the UK

PremiAir is privately owned by the von Essen Group and is a sister company of von Essen Hotels, which owns and operates 30 luxury hotels throughout the UK and Europe.

PremiAir also manages and operates The London Heliport at Battersea, which remains the UK capital’s only commercial heliport. New ultra modern business aviation terminal facilities will be opening in 2010 connected to a luxury 5 star hotel development.

PremiAir flies approximately 4,000 charter hours a year with its modern fleet of Sikorsky S76s and Eurocopter Twin Squirrels. It has 18 Executive Helicopters on management programmes; providing turnkey services to their owners.

PremiAir’s maintenance business is also an FAA, EASA, CAA Part 145-approved organization; it is a Sikorsky Service Centre for the S76 (all models), a Bell Customer Service Facility for Bell 222, 230 and 430 and is a Hawker Beechcraft Authorised Service Centre for their Beechcraft Model range. PremiAir is one of the largest Eurocopter maintenance centres in Europe supporting EC155, AS365 Dauphin and AS355 Twin Squirrel. The company also provides support services on the AgustaWestland 109 model range and is a Pratt & Whitney Canada recognised maintenance facility and a distributor for Honeywell, Rockwell Collins and numerous other equipment vendors.

PremiAir boasts Part 21J and G design and manufacturer approvals for aircraft modifications. With a large and experienced design office team, the company provides full refurbishment and upgrade services on most executive helicopter types and a wide range of fixed wing aircraft, including the full Beechcraft model range. Fixed wing aircraft are maintained at a new facility at Oxford Airport, which opened in October 2008.

PremiAir is a leading player in the provision of pilots to the UK Police Forces with contracts with UK / Ireland Police Air Support units.

PremiAir Global is the company’s aircraft sales and brokerage business. It specialises in acquiring and selling new and used helicopters and business jets and is based at Farnborough Airport, UK.
PremiAir recently scooped the ‘Best Executive Aviation Provider’ accolade at the 2010 Business Travel Awards. Other accolades are: Buying Business Travel Diamond Award Winner 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 Best Executive Aviation Provider. Luxury Travel Winner Best Private Charter Company 2008.