UK-based aircraft management company Naljets has acquired the Multiflight flight training centre at Leeds Bradford airport.

The operator is rebranding the centre, which will now be known as PTT Aviation – Pilot Training and Testing. As well as offering PPL and CPL training, Naljets will make instrument rating courses available.

The investment will begin with £500,000 put towards new aircraft, including the Diamond DA42 and Cessna 172, both with Garmin G1000 avionics. PTT is now a subsidiary of Naljets, which currently has a Challenger 350, a Challenger 605, a Citation Excel and a Gulfstream G200 under management.

MD Craig McLeod holds both EASA and FAA Airline Transport Licenses, including EASA Instructor and Examiner authorisations. Having worked with Multiflight for many years he approached MD Steve Borrowdale with a view to acquiring it. Says Borrowdale: "We have had a close relationship with Craig and Naljets for a number of years now and we are delighted that they are going to take over and further invest in flight training for the north of England. We are confident that Craig and the PTT team will develop additional capability from Leeds Bradford."

McLeod adds: "We have always been impressed with Multiflight and its private aviation operation, which is why we chose it as the base for several of our UK aircraft. The flight training facility has enormous potential for further development and growth, giving pilots and companies of today and tomorrow first class training and testing services. We have modern facilities designed to meet the needs of all clients, from private and commercial students to experienced flight crew needing ongoing or additional training."

Fellow Naljets director Nick Waters says that the PTT integration has taken up a lot of his time so far in 2016, but he is equally impressed with the performance of the charter operation. "Last year was a record year for us on the charter side," he states. "Our charter revenues and charter flights are probably up in excess of 100 per cent on the previous year. We are seeing a lot of activity with the Challenger 350, the Gulfstream, and the Excel too.

"We are looking to invest further this year, and hopefully build on last year's performance. Everybody is very busy and is flying a lot. We are confident that the next few months will be all go."