Andrea Brown, Helicentre Liverpool
Flying high over Merseyside isn't just a description of the ever-expanding John Lennon Airport. The same is true of the highly-successful operation located in the north-east corner of the airfield - Liverpool's own helicopter centre.
"Helicentre Liverpool is one of the biggest and busiest helicopter flight training schools in the UK, which is a fantastic achievement for a Liverpool-based company, " says managing director Andrea Brown. "We provide both private and commercial training, so we can take people from a one-off trial lesson right through to becoming a flight instructor."
The helicentre combines helicopter instruction and charter work - and the latter has become so successful than Andrea has set up a separate company, Helicentre Charter, to cater for the demand. "Charters can involve anything from weddings and filming to taking celebrities to events and participating in corporate days." Her next aim is to provide back-up for the emergency services across the UK.
Setting up the business in 2002 was the realisation of a dream for a woman who has been crazy about helicopters from an early age. "My real interest was sparked off during a two-week college placement at RAF Shawbury, a helicopter specialist school in Shrewsbury. From that moment I wanted to be involved in teaching people to fly."
It's seeing people return from their first solo flight that gives her the greatest buzz. "For someone to come in knowing nothing about helicopters and go on to have their first solo flight is an absolutely fantastic achievement and often a lifelong ambition. So it's amazing to be able to put that into place, and give them the opportunity to fulfil their dream."
Helicentre Liverpool
Business Aviation Centre
Viscount Drive
Liverpool John Lennon Airport
Hale Village, Liverpool L24 5GA
0151 448 0388
Helicentre Charter 0808 1008889
www.helicentreliverpool.com
