About Us
Aircraft Grouping Ltd was established to provide a low cost flying model to pilots and student pilots who wish to have all of the benefits of aircraft ownership but without any of the hassles. The main product offered by this company is our "No Equity" concept which provides new generation, high quality aircraft at the lowest rates in the entire UK.
In February 2007 we bought out and closed down another flying school at Blackpool Airport and in its place we formed a new company called Flight Academy Blackpool. At this point we also incorporated the parent company, Command Aviation Ltd and formed the group of companies upon which we were to build.
April 2008 saw us buy another existing business on Blackpool airport and open our next new company, Silverstar Maintenance Services Ltd. This also coincided with the move into our current premises at Hangar 8. With our move into the aircraft maintenance business we underpinned our already existing infrastructure and further aided our future expansion plans.
In December 2009 we added another flying school to our collection taking over the fixed wing operation of Flight Academy Ltd (a company not owned or run by us) and forming Flight Academy Barton Ltd. The infrastructure which we now have in place at City Airport Manchester (formerly Barton) is very complimentary to our Aircraft Grouping operation and to our maintenance expansion plans.
February 2010 led us to an opportunity at Wolverhampton Airport where we set up our third flying school, Flight Academy Wolverhampton. This operation works as an alternate base for our prospering commercial and instrument rating training at Blackpool, whilst in addition bringing instructor training to the collection of services offered. We also offer ab-initio training at Wolverhampton as we do in our other locations.
Also in February 2010 we bought Mann Air Ltd and acquired the ability to operate AOC (Air Operators Certificate) work with some of our existing multi engine fleet and a pleasure flying operation with some of our single engine aircraft. We bought Mann Air as a going concern and continue to use our own company, Equity Air Charter to broker its services and supply aircraft to the operation. Equity Air Charter was founded in February 2007 along with the original flying school and parent company although it had mainly traded internally until this point.
2010 being a busy year for us, in November we formed a new company, Helicopter Grouping Ltd in partnership with our associates Flight Academy Ltd. (a helicopter operation not owned or run by us) The company model is to mirror our hugely successful Aircraft Grouping which started it all back in 2006. As the name suggests, the product provided by this company is Helicopters which further expands the portfolio of aviation activities serviced in our own unique and innovative style. This company strives to make helicopter flying as accessible as we have made light aircraft flying over the previous years.
In March 2011 as part of our plan to focus more heavily on the Maintenance and Grouping operations we sold Flight Academy Barton to private buyers. It now continues to run with it's new owners who still have an excellent working relationship with Aircraft Grouping and our members.
Following the sale of Flight Academy Barton, and for the same reasons, in July 2011 we sold Flight Academy Wolverhampton to private buyers based in the Midlands. Once again we maintain an excellent working relationship with the new owners who work with the members of Aircraft Grouping to maintain the same level of service as they received before to cater for their training needs.
Since we started in June 2006 our growth has been steady and strong even through times of recession. Our mission statement is, "standards of excellence" and we mean to provide this by offering a diverse yet high quality range of services through our collection of complementary businesses. We continue to take opportunities to become stronger in the industry whilst maintaining a firm reputation for providing our services as promised to all concerned.