Multiflight

[tleeds]

Fantastic, it is a really nice cafe-bar and seems popular for both; Aviation Enthusiasts and the general public.

 

[lbaspotter]

Hi

I think some people may find the following article about Multiflight as very interesting from the Yorkshire post. Especially the bit about getting the own AOC and maybe flying private passengers to the south of France and the USA.

Sorce: http://www.multiflight.com/pdfs/Yorkshi ... %20PDF.pdf (You need Adobe PDF Reader to open)

Aviation group aims to spread its wings

Multiflight looks to apply for air operator’s certificate to carry out corporate flights as it plans expansion

The private aviation company owned by Yorkshire serial entrepreneur David Hood is to expand its presence in the aeroplanes market after seeing significant growth last year.

Multiflight, which is based next door to Leeds Bradford airport, wants to run a corporate jet service and run more private flights to continental Europe and potentially the US.

The firm works in several areas including aircraft maintenance, flight training, sales and a charter flight service. It also provides a base for companies and wealthy individuals who want somewhere to house their aircraft.

It is considering buying a light twin engine jet and also allowing plane owners to hire out their aircraft for corporate use through Mulitiflight. It intends to apply for an air operator’s certificate (AOC) for aeroplanes, which would allow it to run corporate flights.

Managing director Steve Borrowdale said: “It is something that we don’t have but would like to add to our portfolio. It is perhaps the only thing missing. In the coming months we would like to work towards getting an AOC to expand our base.”

Multiflight had seen revenue increase strongly last year, despite rising fuel prices and the chaos caused by the Icelandic ash cloud last April. The firm saw a dip in 2009 when international travel was hit by the global downturn.

The company has not published its 2009-10 accounts yet but Mr Borrowdale told the Yorkshire Post that turnover for the 12 months to November was up 36 per cent on the 2009 figure of £8.04m and gross profit was up 26 per cent from £1.80m.

Mr Borrowdale, a longstanding aviation executive, said: “It has been tough. Last year we had a very strong year despite what was happening in 2009.

“We have been able to weather the storm relatively well but it has been a testing time for us all. Certain areas, particularly with engineering with the lack of flying, the lack of maintenance and the lack of charter, have certainly slowed the business down in those areas but fortunately some of the sales and acquisitions side have still been pushing ahead fairly strongly.

“We managed that despite the ash cloud and the snow and ice and whatever else. The ash looks like being something that we will have to contend with (in future) when you look at Greenland and the number of volcanoes there.”

The firm currently offers a corporate jet service with a 48-seater 737 but only as a broker, subcontracted through private aviation charter operator GainJet. It already has an AOC for helicopter use but a separate aeroplane licence would allow it to take passengers to holiday locations such as the south of France.

Multiflight is also working to counter perceptions that private air travel is only the preserve of the super-rich. Mr Borrowdale said using the firm’s services could prove economical, however, as well as saving time when compared to using traditional commercial airlines

“The recession has taken its toll. People don’t want to be seen to use it (private flying) which is a bit of a shame.” It is not just business travellers and the wealthy who have chartered Multiflight aircraft, however. It regularly takes groups of customers by helicopter to days out at Royal Ascot, Glastonbury, Wimbledon and rugby union at Twickenham, as well as being used by individuals who want to mark a family member’s wedding or birthday.

The firm has managed and maintained helicopters and provided crew for the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) since early last year and recently won a five-year contract extension with the charity, which bought the Helicopters through Multiflight and has a high-tech base on the site. Multiflight wants to increase its share of the air ambulance market.

The firm, set up in 1994, also carries out wide-ranging repairs to aircraft and has provided maintenance for fixed wing aircraft made by companies such as Piper Meridian, Lear, Kingair, hawker, Gulfstream, Falcon, Challenger and Cessna, as well as for Robinson, Bell, Sikorsky and Eurocopter helicopters. Multiflight is owned by Mr hood, best-known as the founder and major shareholder in Pace, the Saltaire-based set-top box giant

his love of flying was sparked by his work at Pace when he was taken on a pleasure flight in a Jet Ranger helicopter from Bolton Abbey. he soon learnt to fly, earning a helicopter pilot’s licence, and he went on to buy a Falcon 900B and then Knight Air, an aviation business on the south side of Leeds Bradford Airport.
[email protected]

 

[eastcoaster]

A barrier is currently being built for entry to Multiflight alongside the Harrogate Road. This will mean anyone also wanting to use the really nice cafe/bar over there will have to negotiate it. Does anyone know what or if there is going to be a charge for exit? Or will it be, buy something in the cafe and get your fee waived? I can't see the new owner of the cafe being too happy about restricting access to this facility. Or is it just a ploy to stop all the taxi and minibus operators who now wait for their flights at Multiflights car park when once they used to hang round the terminal area.

 

[tleeds]

I always thought that side of the road from the Airport roundabout towards Murgatroyds was Victoria Avenue, and assumed that Harrogate road was from The Airport roundabout towards the + junction where the traffic lights are towards Pool.. anyway I could be wrong and it's off topic.

I haven't heard anything about this eastcoaster, so thank-you for informing me, and I'm sure a lot of others are grateful for the information. I agree, it may be to stop people just sitting there in their cars, taxis especially and not purchasing anything from the cafe. Like you said, it may be like what happens at City Airport Manchester, if any of you have been. If you purchase something from the cafe, they stamp your ticket and the fee is waived, when you go to get the code at the ATC tower.
I wouldn't be surprised if Multiflight have actually authorised this! I suppose if people really just wanted to sit and watch the aircraft and not purchase anything, there is always the Cemetery and 'The Hill' behind Multiflight and off Bayton Lane...

 

[Aviador]

A barrier is currently being built for entry to Multiflight alongside the Harrogate Road. This will mean anyone also wanting to use the really nice cafe/bar over there will have to negotiate it. Does anyone know what or if there is going to be a charge for exit? Or will it be, buy something in the cafe and get your fee waived? I can't see the new owner of the cafe being too happy about restricting access to this facility. Or is it just a ploy to stop all the taxi and minibus operators who now wait for their flights at Multiflights car park when once they used to hang round the terminal area.

Good question, I was wondering what Bentley's were doing there. Even if taxi drivers are using the area to wait, I can't see what airport will achieve by moving them on. They'll just resort to parking on surrounding roads which will only serve to annoy local residents that would otherwise support the airport.

 

[Seasider]

I don't use this area very often but was there last Wednesday. Rumours from the locals was that there would be a barrier and a charge would be made, with it being refunded if you used the cafe. I stress it was a rumour.
Off topic
Can I recommend the Cafe, it is reasonably priced and good food.

 

[Aviador]

I don't use this area very often but was there last Wednesday. Rumours from the locals was that there would be a barrier and a charge would be made, with it being refunded if you used the cafe. I stress it was a rumour.
Off topic
Can I recommend the Cafe, it is reasonably priced and good food.

The rumour may well be correct. I learnt yesterday that the work being carried out by Bentley's is to lay down proper parking spaces on the previously graveled and grassed area on the right hand side as you enter Southside. I would think they will need to charge much less than around at the terminal if people are to carry on using the area to wait for friends and relatives to arrive. After All the main reason they're doing this now is because they don't want to pay for parking.

Re the Cafe, yes it's very good and they used to give discount to airport pass holders, not sure if they still do though.

 

[Bigman]

All gone quiet over there as they say!!!

Whatever happened to the rumour that Multiflight were applying for their own AOC?

The new road access into Multiflight looks pretty smart I have to say. I like the clearly marked pedestrian route.

The cafe was very nice when I went over the other week. It's just a shame that they don't have real time flight information up on the big screen TV. Flightradar would be even better.

 

[lbaspotter]

AOC's don't come cheap and quick you know big-man. They will have to prove themselfs to the CAA first. I guess it just all takes time.

I understand that once they do have there own AOC the Boeing 737-300CJ, SX-MTF will be re-registered onto British markings and transferred onto there own AOC instead of using the current Greek, Gainjet set-up.

 

[michael w]

Hope I'm posting in the right place here.
Is there any expert out there who knows if it is possible to view the Multiflight Webcam on an Apple Ipad?
I am no expert, all I get is the screen with an arrow on it and I don't know what to try next.
If it is possible, it would greatly enhance my aviation spotting.
Thanks.

 

[dmrodgers]

Hope I'm posting in the right place here.
Is there any expert out there who knows if it is possible to view the Multiflight Webcam on an Apple Ipad?
I am no expert, all I get is the screen with an arrow on it and I don't know what to try next.
If it is possible, it would greatly enhance my aviation spotting.
Thanks.

I have an Apple iphone 4s and can't get the multiflight webcam to display on it. Although the Multiflight broadcast is in Quick Time format the apple iphone and ipad don't have quick time install although this is a proprietory apple programme. There is no way to download quick time on the iphone and I assume the same applies to the ipad.

 

[lbaspotter]

There is a rumour going around that Multiflight may have gone and bought a 2nd Boeing 737-300 (VIP) aircraft in form of N553MS (C/N 24680) which was built in 1990. The said aircraft has just undergone a VIP conversion and is currently outside the same hanger at Bournemouth airport along side SX-MTF.

Here’s what she looks like now.

http://img.planespotters.net/photo/...AS-Boeing-737-300_PlanespottersNet_233151.jpg

 

[pss53]

What's deal with MF, are they sealing it off so you can't enjoy Murgatroyd's there anymore ?

 

[EX9]

Eventually yes. As its also seems to serve as a taxi depo for other carriers who take up all the space.

 

[Jordan-34092]

Well i can confirm today that the viewing area of multi flight will soon be a pay area, signs have been placed up saying pay station and they were testing the barriers earlier today with the tickets. Also as for the taxi drop off, it won't deter them, the taxi firms will think of another way around and that area is also used by parents dropping off students at the aviation academy inside hanger 1, of course they can't go past the security barrier at the top so they tend to drop the students off in the car zone.

 

[Galaxy]

Huddersfield Town FC become 'partners' with Multiflight: http://t.co/LtPwMXrR

 

[The Pole]

See my post last week

Expected Friday 13/01/12 & Saturday 14/01/12

Loganair are running a Saab 340 aircraft on a charter through LBA this coming Friday and Saturday. I don't know if its for Leeds Utd or Huddersfield FC.

Friday = LOG846P ETA 14:15 From Aberdeen - LOG857 ETD 15:00 to Biggin Hill

It's probably Leeds as they are playing Palace at the weekend, Town are at Sheffield

interesting link follows.......

http://www.htafc.com/page/PartnersDetai ... 10,00.html

 

[Galaxy]

Cheers, didn't see that.

 

[doofhead]

Is anybody else having trouble with the webcam. Everytime I try to view it comes up negotiating. I dont know if there is a problem or is it just my laptop.

 

[lbaspotter]

Is anybody else having trouble with the webcam. Everytime I try to view it comes up negotiating. I dont know if there is a problem or is it just my laptop.

Its working fine for me right now while i type this post.