Lynton Aviation Advances Rotary Wing Business in US/UK

The new year has started with a healthy upswing in the helicopter business of UK-based Lynton Aviation Group. A sustained strong UK economy and a flourishing entrepreneurial culture points to a dynamic decade ahead in terms of helicopter operations in the United Kingdom.

Although probably best known for its fixed wing and FBO operations in the United Kingdom, Lynton also operates15 helicopters in the United States and the United Kingtom. Within the last two years it has absorbed four corporate aviation companies including fixed wing and helicopter operator Premier Aviation of Stratford, Conn., and Jet Systems and JetSupport of Morristown, N.J.

The current fleet consists of six Eurocopter AS355s, one AS365, two Agusta A109s including an A109E Power, plus six Sikorsky S-76s. Lynton is also the UK sales agent for the Sikorsky S-76.

"There is a sophisticated corporate helicopter community in the UK, with more aircraft based here than any other European country," said Lynton CEO Christopher Tennant.

He sees the greater availability of smaller and less expensive IFR equipped twin-engine turbine helicopters as having contributed to this upswing. "We are poised to meet this demand in the UK from our two helicopter bases: Air Hanson Engineering at Blackbushe Airport, and our facility at Denham Airport."

By Mike Vines