Woodgate Aviation - Flying Without The Hassle

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Through Pandemics And Beyond –Woodgate Aviation Plans For A HighFlying Future

The simple fact that Woodgate Aviation ranks as the longest-established operator at Belfast International Airport says something about the longevity of the company Mike Woodgate established 52 years ago...as well as something about the tough nature of the aviation business.

David Shaw, Accountable Manager at Woodgate

“We’ve seen a lot of different airlines come and go here at Aldergrove,” says David Shaw, Accountable Manager at Woodgate. “But we’ve kept going throughout.”

In fact, today’s company is thriving and has been left relatively unscathed by the Covid pandemic. There’s every chance that it can reap the benefits of a change in business travel habits as a result of the crisis.

Today’s Woodgate operates from a vast hangar and ultramodern operations base at the north western end of Belfast International’s main runway. From there, it flies air ambulance (Medevac) trips to and from other UK airports. It also operates regular air survey flights, and true to its roots, it runs a busy private charter business.

It was as an air taxi operation that Woodgate began way back in 1969 with Captain Mike Woodgate offering private flights to GB and beyond in a twin-engined Piper Aztec or single-engine Cherokee.

“Air charter still forms the mainstay of our operation,” says David Shaw. “We’re able to get our passengers to their destination and back cost effectively and without any of the hassle of modern day airports and airlines.”

Passengers can simply park outside the private Woodgate base or be dropped off there and be on board and ready to take off within minutes. But, if there is any waiting involved, there’s a comfortable and fully-equipped departure lounge on site.

“The big advantage is speed and convenience but it’s also a very discreet service,” adds Keith McKay, Woodgate’s Operations Manager. “Our customers travel well away from the hustle and bustle of the airport terminal.”

Woodgate’s larger King Air aircraft (the company has two on its fleet) operate regularly in air ambulance configuration, bringing seriously ill patients to GB hospitals for transplants and other lifesaving operations and transporting local patients home from Britain or overseas. Patients are cared for on board by specialist medical teams

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Keith McKay, Woodgate’s Operations Manager

provided by Dr. Jeremy Lyons and the team at NI-based Aero Medics.

But they can also operate as eight-seater passenger aircraft offering air charters from both Belfast and Isle of Man bases. The company has an additional maintenance operation at Newtownards Airfield which primarily supports the Ulster Flying Club.

“Our own aircraft fly largely within the British Isles,” says Keith McKay. “But distance isn’t an object. For longer flights, we act as brokers and we’ll bring in whatever aircraft and crew is best for the job, whether it’s a flight to a European destination or worldwide.”

A further string to Woodgate’s bow is its maintenance and aircraft management base at the Aldergrove hangar. The company’s highly experienced staff look after a number of aircraft on behalf of private owners based in Northern Ireland, including a number of large executive jets.

“We’ve worked hard to develop the avionics and engineering side of our business,” adds David Shaw. “We’re now capable of carrying out a wide range of maintenance and upgrade commissions across a broad spectrum of aircraft, including the supply and installation of the latest Garmin equipment under our dealership.”

While the company’s own aircraft are turbo props, private jets are no strangers to the apron outside Woodgate’s operating base. The company provides aircraft management and a VIP handling facility for a wide range of visiting aircraft from private helicopters through to large private jets.

“At the time of the British Open at Portrush a couple of summers ago, we had 17 movements on the final day of the event, jets were parked up on every available piece of space around here” says Keith McKay.

With airline timetables trimmed to the bone during Covid, and travel much less convenient, demand has increased amongst business customers for Woodgate’s flexible air charter services. And, even as travel returns to something approaching normality, the increase in demand is likely to continue.

“People see the benefits, especially at the moment,” says David Shaw. “The customer decides the destination and they also decide the timetable. We do the planning and the flying and we can even help with onward travel at the other end.

“We’ve had enquiries from companies trying to get key people to destinations from the very north of Scotland to the southern end of England.”

Woodgate Aviation has a staff of 45 – including pilots, engineers and support staff – across its operations at Belfast International, the Isle of Man and Newtownards.

Its impressive hangar and operations base at Aldergrove was the vision of Director John Keen. “This inspiration was in the planning for many years and was necessary to secure the company’s future and demonstrate our commitment within aviation.”

It’s impressive enough, in fact, to have been chosen as a location for a couple of TV and movie productions. The final scene of Marcella, the crime drama starring Anna Friel, was shot at Woodgate’s base and the building also featured in The Journey, Nick Hamm’s film about the friendship between Rev. Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness.

In fact, there have been countless celebrities and familiar faces on board Woodgate aircraft over the years, ranging from sportsmen and women to politicians to stars of stage and screen. Allan Keen, who took over the company from Mike Woodgate in the later 1980’s and whose family involved, used to fly John De Lorean from Belfast to Heathrow, from where he’d catch Concorde back to the United States.

More often than not, though, Woodgate’s aircraft and crew will be busy transporting specialist workers to remote Scottish airports, business executives to Birmingham, or flying urgent medical missions. The only thing that can halt operations is extreme weather, particularly fog.

“When we arrive to pick up a patient and fly them back to Northern Ireland, we’re a part of home for them. They’re delighted to hear a Northern Ireland accent,” smiles David Shaw. “More seriously, we provide a service that is vital to the wider health service here.”