Aviation Industry

What is General Aviation?

There are many definitions of General Aviation - some official and some unofficial. However, General Aviation is usually taken to mean all aeroplane and helicopter flying except that performed by the major airlines and the Armed Services. In the United Kingdom there are over 8,000 General Aviation aircraft representing more than 90% of the civil aircraft registered in the country.

General Aviation plays a vital role in a country's transportation system. Think of business aviation, flying in support of the emergency services, such as police, air ambulance and medical repatriation. Add to these flying training, for both professional and private pilots, aerial photography and survey, pipeline and electricity cable patrol and you have the measure of the contribution General Aviation makes to the economy.

General Aviation also comprises a wide range of activities in private and recreational flying including private flying from light aircraft through microlights to hot air balloons.

Business Aviation

Business Aviation includes Air Taxi operations, in which whole aircraft are chartered by clients and Corporate operations in which a company owns and operates its own aircraft using professional pilots. Business Aviation provides industry and commerce with speed and flexibility of operation which the rigid schedules and time-wasting routines of airline travel deny to those who need to travel quickly, cost-effectively and by the most direct routings. It enables busy executives to complete trips in a day which otherwise would involve the frustrations and expense of overnight stops.

It is no coincidence that many of the world's most profitable companies operate their own aircraft and there are well in excess of 200 corporately owned aircraft in the UK.

There are more than one hundred air taxi operators in the United Kingdom, not only providing regular charter and ad hoc services for business travellers, but a vital part of the overnight mail, business data transportation services and freight services.

Air Ambulance and Emergency Services

Increasing use by the emergency services of aeroplanes and helicopters means improved reaction and mobility for police and ambulance services. The UK's air ambulance services have the capability to transport medical supplies, urgently needed transplant organs and can repatriate critically ill or injured patients whose lives would be threatened but for General Aviation aircraft.

Pilot Training

Pilot Training is perhaps the most important aspect of the entire aviation industry, be it civilian or military. More than one hundred General Aviation pilot training schools and clubs are operating in Britain, producing some 2,500 new pilots each year. Many go on to obtain commercial pilot licences, graduating from the grass roots level of club flying to the air taxi and airline industries. Several commercial pilot training schools are also in operation, attracting airline trainees from every part of the world and earning valuable foreign currencies for Britain. Thus, virtually every new professional pilot begins his or her career in a General Aviation aircraft.

Agricultural, Aerial Survey, Aerial Photography and Other General Aviation

Agricultural Aviation helps protect farm and forest land each year. General Aviation aircraft are also used for aerial survey work, commercial support to military operations, shipping and fishing patrols, coast guard duty and the dispersal of coastal oil slicks.

Helicopters

British helicopter operators maintain vital links between the mainland and off-shore oil and gas platforms in support of our North Sea Oil industry. Well planned business executive point to point travel by helicopters can be cost effective and very efficient. Helicopters are used daily for power cable and pipeline inspection, air ambulance, traffic control, criminal surveillance and other police work.

Manufacturing and Support

The UK manufacturers whole aircraft, aircraft structures and components in the General Aviation sector. There are also a wide range of companies selling, overhauling, maintaining, financing and insuring General Aviation Aircraft.

Airfields and Aerodromes

There are around 200 licensed airfields in the UK used by General Aviation, providing swift access to more than 2,000 in Continental Europe. Some General Aviation aircraft have an intercontinental capability and fly regularly to North America, Africa and Russia. General Aviation public transport operators carry in excess of a quarter million passengers every year to and from places never served by the major airlines. Fixed Base Operators provide specialist facilities for Business Aviation at major and minor airports.

Recreational Flying

Flying is the co-ordination of mind and body combined with the discipline of flight safety. It is encouraged particularly for young people to learn to fly at Flying Schools or Clubs.