Specialist UK aviation services provider RVL Group notched up a record number of flights and flying hours in July, underlining the company's strong progress and recovery from the operational challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. East Midlands Airport-based RVL completed a total of 374 flight sectors during July, shuttling between 42 different airports in 13 different countries in the course of more than 515 hours of operations.

It was a record flight tally for RVL in terms of ad hoc operations and was, according to head of flight ops Richard Baker, a technical and logistical tour de force by the company and its staff: “July marked a big upturn in operational activity for us, with all of our pilots and every single aircraft in our fleet playing an active role,” Baker states. “Behind the scenes the whole company pulled together to help achieve these results, with flawless operational planning, logistics and maintenance ensuring the smooth operation of every flight.”

In addition to the multiple inter-UK shuttle flights, hauling cargo and personnel that form RVL's staple schedule of operations alongside its aerial surveying work, the company undertook many flights on behalf of its cargo and passenger charter clients. These included a trip to the Faroe Islands airport of Vágar, known for its tricky visual approach; another to Billund airport in Denmark, and one to Vigo in western Spain.

The relative lack of passenger air traffic over the UK during July continued to assist RVL and its aerial survey client partners, permitting RVL aircraft an increase in flight frequency and duration, as well as better access to some usually congested areas of the country.

“July was an exceptional month for RVL Group,” comments MD Dave Connor. “And August and September were just as busy, with the exception of weather thwarting some of our routine survey activity. Given the difficulties that the COVID-19 crisis has thrown up not only for us but for all businesses in every sector, it is an encouraging sign that we are moving towards some form of recovery. Our team has the capability to respond quickly to all challenges, which is why we are equipped and able to support our wide range of customers on a continual basis.”