Directflight Limited was established in 1983 at Norwich Airport in Norfolk. Initially, the company provided ad-hoc passenger and freight charter services operating within the United Kingdom and North-West Europe. A policy to provide its early customers with quality services at competitive prices achieved initial market penetration. However, despite expanding presence in this very competitive and volatile market, Directflight sought to diversify, seek and secure service contracts which included postal and newsprint delivery.
In October 1991, Directflight was awarded by the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency (SFPA) a 7 year contract to operate two Cessna F406 twin turbo-prop aircraft for the provision of Offshore Maritime Radar Surveillance. These aircraft were extensively modified and specifically crewed to meet this task and were based and managed from a Directflight regional operations office established at Prestwick Airport in Scotland. This contract was successfully renewed with the SFPA in 1996 and was successfully completed in April 2004.
In April 1998, Directflight was awarded by the then Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) an 8 year contract to operate an additional two Cessna F406 aircraft, also in the role of Offshore Maritime Radar Surveillance. Now the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). These aircraft were acquired by Directflight and substantially modified to meet with specific customer requirement. Managed and crewed to provide day and night radar surveillance capability, they are based at Directflight?s regional office at Exeter Airport.
In recent years therefore, Directflight has had total domination for the provision of Offshore Aerial Radar Surveillance in this sector, for all United Kingdom sea areas from costal fringe to the extremities of the continental shelf.
In June 2003, under the new ownership of the Aeromega Group, Directflight was awarded by British Aerospace plc (BAe Systems), a 10 year contract to operate a modified BAe 146 Atmospheric Research Aircraft (ARA). This unique modified regional airliner, provided by BAe to the Facility for Airborne Atmospheric Measurements (FAAM), has global capability and is configured to be a versatile and highly specialised meteorological platform capable of carrying 18 scientists and system operators. It not only meets with current requirement but also embraces the future demands of a diverse UK and European science community for the next 20 years.
Despite its highly specialised role the ARA is operated by Directflight under JAROPS AOC regulations as a passenger carrying aircraft due to the disparate nature of the research science community that has access to it. The contract specification is extremely demanding and includes regular flight profiles between 35,000 feet to 250 feet AGL and 50 feet AMSL. It further includes formation flying with other international ARA?s including the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the deployment of Radio Sondes and Sonar Bouys, and High Power Laser Illumination.
Clearly the complexity of the ARA and its science research programme has challenged both Directflight and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to meet with Public Transport regulatory requirements. However after contract award, a post-production into service delivery of only 7 months was achieved by Directflight when the ARA commenced operations in July 2004. Successful sustained research campaigns have so far been achieved in the Azores, Adriatic, North Atlantic and West Indies. The ARA is based and currently operating in the United Kingdom from Directflight?s central operations and Head Office, co-located with FAAM, at Cranfield Airport in Bedfordshire. Future overseas campaigns are planned for the Sahara and Polar Regions.
Directflight?s expertise lies principally in its ability to confront new, exciting and sometimes unusual aviation challenges. The company has consistently demonstrated an ability to acquire the material and human resources to meet these challenges, while remaining compliant with JAA regulation and in accord with customer operational and commercial expectations.
In June 2003, Directflight was acquired by the Aeromega Group of Companies. The founding company Aeromega Helicopters was established in 1979. Now one of the leading onshore group of helicopter companies in the UK, areas of expertise and current operational activities include:
? VVIP & VIP Passenger Charter
? Executive Helicopter Charter
? Provision of Police Pilots, currently under contract to:
o Cambridge Police Air Support Unit
o Essex Police Air Support Unit
o Suffolk Police Air Support Unit
? Aerial Surveillance and Filming
? Pipeline and Cable Surveillance
? Traffic Monitoring
? Medivac and organ transfer
? Pilot Training and Testing
Significant synergies existed between Directflight and Aeromega. Considerable benefits were quickly derived from integrated operational, administrative and financial management. Directflight consolidated its position within the Group and embraced the benefits of new ownership, such that it was able to seek further market share in specialised associated aviation activities.
Airtask Group plc.
Directflight and Aeromega are now part of the Airtask Group plc. This group of companies is committed to deliver a diverse range of aviation solutions to meet modern market demands. Its subsidiaries are established, mature companies with proven reputations for providing high quality services.
The Airtask Group ascribes the highest priority to safety without compromise to customers? operational and commercial expectations. Approved and recognised quality control and safety management systems provide customers with reliable assurance of the Groups total commitment to extemporary aviation and aviation related activities.
Airtask Group plc recognise the expertise of Directflight in their excellent ability to respond to complex customer requirements. The recent award by BAe Systems of a contract, to introduce into service and establish the operation of a modified BAE146 Atmospheric Research Aircraft, on a global basis and public transport compliant, is a testament to that capability. Their expertise in ground handling, passenger processing and security management now provides an opportunity for the company to further diversify.
