Ravenair

Ravenair, an aviation group at Liverpool John Lennon Airport

Ravenair is a general and business aviation group of companies based at Liverpool John Lennon Airport, in the North West of England. Its operations span aircraft charter and hire, specialised survey flights, flying training, fuel supply, FBO handling and aircraft maintenance. The group states that it operates aircraft in the UK and around Europe.

Its activity is organised into distinct departments, each with its own approvals and operational scope, and it runs from a wholly owned Business Aviation Centre at the airport.

From a flying school at Manchester to a Liverpool base

Ravenair began in the early 1980s as a small flying school at Manchester Airport, founded by Jeff Nuttall, a retired airline pilot who remains managing director. During the 1980s and 1990s the company expanded into aircraft management, air charter and aircraft engineering.

In the summer of 1998 it moved its main operating base to Liverpool Airport, a transfer the company links to the construction of Manchester's second runway. Since then, Ravenair and Liverpool Aviation Services (LAS) have operated from the Business Aviation Centre at Liverpool John Lennon Airport, opened in January 2002. The purpose-built unit houses a passenger lounge, an operations centre and conference and training facilities.

Charter, hire and specialised survey operations

Ravenair holds a UK PART-OPS Air Operators Certificate (AOC) permitting the legal carriage of passengers and cargo. The certificate includes approval for single-engine turbine operations at night and in non-visual flight conditions.

Survey work is conducted under UK PART-SPO, with operations run to AOC standards with variations adapted to each mission. The company also holds IBAC IS-BAO certification.

Flying school and training approvals

The flying school provides training from the basic Private Pilot's Licence up to advanced commercial licences. Its course catalogue covers trial lessons, simulator experiences, airline partnerships, UK and EASA funding, English Language Proficiency and airline assessment and job help.

Ravenair states that it currently holds more CAA and EASA training approvals than any other organisation in the North West. Training is delivered from Liverpool John Lennon Airport, which the school presents as an environment for practising controlled-airspace flying and radio telephony.

Maintenance, fuel and FBO handling

Ravenair operates a UK PART-145 maintenance organisation that services both its own fleet and third-party aircraft. Continuing airworthiness management is provided under a Part M Subpart G CAMO approval, and the company also references BCAR.

Through LAS, the group runs the only Fixed Based Operation (FBO) at the airport under contract from the airport company, and acts as lead tenant of the General Aviation site. These agreements require the provision of AVGAS and JET-A1 fuel grades to airport users. LAS is permitted to handle aircraft on both the General Aviation apron and the main airport apron, and reports having handled everything from microlights to large business jets and airliners, as well as historic aircraft, military helicopters and fighter jets.

Services for passengers and crew

The FBO operation includes complimentary transport for passengers and crew across the airport and to nearby airport hotels. LAS works with transport vendors covering taxis, black cabs, Mercedes, stretched limousines and coach hire, and can arrange car rental through service partners, for which it requires the driver's credit card details and a copy of the driving licence.

Hotel accommodation can be booked at chains around the airport, in the surrounding area and in Liverpool city centre, with corporate rates available at selected hotels. Catering is supplied through contracts with several businesses offering food and beverages for aviation and VIP/VVIP use, with stores delivered to the Business Aviation Centre and moved airside by LAS on both aprons, which operate to EU security standards. Servicing, cleaning, storage and executive transport are also listed among the handling services.

Management team

Day-to-day operations are overseen by Wayne Barrett, Operations Director and Accountable Manager, who has previous airline experience in operational and commercial roles, and by Jane Valentine, Finance Director, who has a background in corporate finance. The company notes that several members of its management team have prior careers in commercial airlines and the UK military.