Isle of Man-based Luviair, which specialises in private helicopter management for luxury yacht owners, is celebrating its tenth anniversary. Founder Nigel Watson is delighted with what his team has achieved in that time. “Aviation is one of the most regulated areas of business today and starting a helicopter operating company with our goals of safety and efficiency has not been without challenges,” he remarks. “You are only as good as your last flight is an adage paramount in our minds; there is no complacency with regard to the service we provide our clients or the safety standards we set ourselves.”

The market has changed substantially over the last decade, with vessels becoming larger and regulations evolving. Luviair is now compliant with Part NCC, and Watson believes that this will enhance the industry now that it has come into force. He is also seeing changes in client behaviour, anticipating that clients will seek seasonal solutions rather than owning the asset outright.

“The environmental impact of helicopters remains a challenge,” he says. “OEMs are investing in new types and are very conscious of the need to make these machines as innovative as possible, particularly with regard to their environmental impact. External noise disturbance and fuel efficiency remains a hot topic and any improvements that can be achieved in these areas will be welcome.”

Luviair currently operates a fleet of five privately-owned Airbus Helicopters; two EC155B/B1s, one AS365N3 and two EC145T1s. Two aircraft are based in London and the remaining three are positioned in Europe on large luxury yachts with global cruising capabilities. Over the past ten years it has operated throughout the Americas, in Asia, northern Europe and the Mediterranean.

Watson is not ruling out fleet additions: “There is always an interest in developing the management fleet but this has to be with the right helicopter for the client,” he says. “There are some exciting new models such as the H160, Bell 429 and AW169 which are either already in operation or arriving soon. We would relish the opportunity to introduce these types to our fleet.”

As for the next ten years at Luviair, Watson indicates that he may move from a private to a commercial operation, and potentially start an Isle of Man tour and training organisation. “It is also a goal to take our international experience and skills into the world of humanitarian support, working with NGOs and disaster relief programmes. There are plenty of exciting possibilities.”