JD, APEM, Kilo and Moss Avn at Liverpool

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JD AVIATION
2002 – current
at LJLA 2009 - 2011

Although a company little known to the general public, JD Aviation is a much respected company in the field of commercial fixed-wing flight training. The company was formed by John Dale an Air Traffic Controller at Manchester Airport and offered CPL/IR training for experienced PPLs taking the step up into commercial flying. The Company received its first approval in September 2002, initially at Blackpool Airport. The aircraft used were TB-20 Trinidad G-KKES, TB-10 Tobago G-BLYE and Seneca G-JDBC.

However, accommodation became available at Manchester airport and in June 2003 the operation was moved. At first offices were rented from Manchester School of Flying and after they moved to a remote location, from Northern Executive Aviation (subsequently Ocean Sky). The aircraft at this time were Seneca G-JDBC, & TB-10 G-TBIO.

From March 2005 Cherokee Arrow III G-DNCS was on the fleet, being brought from its base at Liverpool when needed for the training and tests. The aircraft was finally based at Manchester in August 2006.

The company moved to Liverpool in May 2009 taking up office space with Liverpool Flying School beside the GA apron. Seneca G-JDBC arrived at Liverpool early April 2009, followed three weeks later by Arrow G-JDPB (the former G-DNCS re-registered 9.08). From Liverpool JD Aviation offered training, renewals and revalidations for JAR multi-engine piston rating MEP(A), JAR Commercial Pilots Licence CPL(A), JAR CPL Instrument Rating IR(A) on single or multi-engine aircraft.

During 2009 John became involved with an aerial survey company, APEM Ltd, then operating a P.68 Observer based at Leeds. This aircraft was subsequently based at Liverpool. With the expansion of APEM, a BN-2 Islander G-JPEG was purchased in November 2010 and a Cessna 172S, G-HABS in June 2011. These operations placed pressure on the accommodation available near the GA. Despite negotiations to build a hangar and the prospect of bringing 14 jobs to the airport, the Airport Management was unable or unwilling to provide the necessary location. This resulted in APEM moving to Hawarden were they where made very welcome! As JD needed to keep an active oversight of APEM operations, it was decided to move at the same time to Hawarden, although the Seneca does continue to operate from Liverpool at times. At times in 2011 JD Aviation use the 3-letter ICAO designator 'JDA'.

Contact details: www.jd-aviation.co.uk

FLEET LIST

G-DNCS  Cherokee Arrow III  in use from 3.05, re-registered G-JDPB 09.08.
G-JDBC  Piper Seneca II     in use since 2002, arr LPL 06.04.09, to Chester part-time 4.11
G-JDPB  Cherokee Arrow III  arr LPL 01.05.09, to Chester 4.11
Other aircraft used when required: G-BLYE TB-10 2002-03, G-KKES TB-20 2002-03, G-TBIO TB-10 2003-2005.

Compiled by Brian Jones for nwan forum, with much help from JD Aviation, correct to August 2011.

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Although not based at Liverpool for long, APEM Ltd expanded rapidly during the period it was here. Slightly different to the majority of companies covered in these short histories, APEM charters its aircraft out to undertake survey work, rather than to carry passengers or freight. Note that they are mentioned in the JD Aviation story above too.

APEM Ltd, 2009 - current
At LJLA 2009 - 2011

APEM Ltd is a Stockport based environmental consultancy, specialising in remote sensing of hydrological systems (river basins and coastlines) and environmental conditions for a variety of customers. The company website www.apemltd.co.uk has lots of details about their activities.

In May 2009 they purchased their first aircraft, a Vulcanair P.68 Observer for photographic and remote sensing work. The design with its glazed nose, provided excellent visibility for the pilots while on task. Initially flown as I-SORV, it was seen widely around the country. Reregistered G-RIPA in September, it arrived at Liverpool from an operational base at Leeds in early October and was hangared with Keenair/LFS in Hangar 4. APEM rented office and operations space from LFS in the accommodation beside hangar 4.

Clearly after an active year, business had grown rapidly, so in October 2010 a ‘factory-fresh’ refurbished BN-2A Islander G-JPEG was acquired and arrived from Staverton in a smart two-tone blue scheme. The aircraft has a state-of-the-art vertical digital camera mounted in the cabin with a special ‘door’ under the fuselage. With the two twins in service, a modern ‘glass cockpit’ Cessna 172S G-RGAP was delivered from Halfpenny Green in January 2011. This was resprayed in hangar 4 at Liverpool in a two tone blue to match the Islander and appeared as G-HABS, reflying on 27th January. The Cessna 172 being an ideal for quick-reaction surveys that don’t require the high tech equipment of the Islander.

Although operations from Liverpool suited APEM, they quickly outgrew the facilities available and looked to build their own hangar and operations centre. However discussions with airport management did not progress quickly, so new premises were located at Chester/Hawarden and APEM moved out of Liverpool during April 2011. A second Partenavia P.68, G-GIGA, was added to the fleet during November 2011, and a third this one another P.68 Observer G-TERA during summer 2012.

FLEET

G-RIPA P.68 Observer 2 05.10.09 ISOM 18.04.11 to Chester
G-JPEG BN-2A Islander  20.10.10 ISOM 19.04.11 to Chester
G-HABS Cessna 172S     11.01.11 ISOM 27.04.11 to Chester.  Arrived as G-RGAP, repainted Jan.11
.
ISOM = In Service on Move

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[glow=red,2,300][/glow]A further company whose activities may well be within the scope of these Liverpool resident aviation charter company histories. However I am not certain, as the company does not seem to maintain a website. It is possible that the company operates on behalf of the owners, rather than on charter work.

Kilo Aviation Ltd, 2002-onwards

This Liverpool based company is closely allied to the Liverpool Aviation Centre and Ravenair. The company name presumably is derived from the operational name given to the entrance to the General Aviation apron off the parallel taxiway at John Lennon Airport of ‘Kilo’, rather than the weight in freight/cargo operation.

Their first aircraft was a Seneca, G-CLUE which arrived at Liverpool in April 2002 from Tatenhill, although it had been registered with the CAA to the company for a while before then. The Seneca operated from Liverpool for the summer. However it would appear that the type did not meet the company's aspirations, as on 19th December 2002 it departed for Oxford. For much of 2003 Kilo don't appear to have had their own aircraft until a much more upmarket executive Beech King Air E90 was acquired late in 2003. The aircraft purchased, G-DEXY, underwent overhaul and re-registration to G-ORTH at Oxford, prior to delivery to Liverpool Airport 24th December 2003. The King Air 90 operated from LJLA until departure for Caernarfon Airfield during May 2005. It was exchanged with Caernarfon Airworld Ltd for another twin, G-CCXJ a Cessna 340A, arriving via Tatenhill early August 2005. This aircraft was operated by Kilo Aviation for some five years until sold in Germany. The replacement arrived in September 2010 from the USA, via Wick, in the form of a pressurised Piper Malibu turbo-prop. During 2011 this aircraft has been much more active than the Cessna twin ever appeared to be.

Fleet

G-CLUE PA-34-200T Seneca  06.04.02  19.12.02
G-ORTH Beech King Air E90 24.12.03  17.05.05
G-CCXJ Cessna 340A        04.08.05  10.07.10
N921GG PA-46-350P Malibu  22.09.10  current
As Aug '11

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Another company whose activities may be within the scope of these Liverpool resident aviation charter company histories. However I am not certain, as I cannot locate a website for the company. While it is possible that the aircraft only operate on behalf of the owner, Moss Aviation did operate a contract courier flight from Liverpool for over six months, which seems to qualify inclusion here.

Moss Aviation LLP, 2008-onwards

The first aircraft for this company arrived at Liverpool from Odense, Denmark as N60936 at the end of May 2008. Away at Shoreham for respray from 12th August 2008, it returned as G-JMOS a month later on 12th September. From 14th December 2009 Moss Aviation commenced a regular courier flight to the Isle of Man each weekday morning, gaining the contract from Fly(CI) who had also used a Seneca. The flights operated with the call-sign “Propstar” PPR103/104. From 15th April 2010 through to the 30th, Seneca G-OTVR routed EMA-Liverpool-IoM, as a substitute aircraft, still using the ‘Propstar’ call-sign. G-JMOS returned to the flights on Monday 3rd May. The contract ceased to operate at the end of June.

Seneca G-JMOS departed Liverpool for Jersey en route to a new owner 24th October 2010. A replacement arrived from the USA via Reykjavik on 2nd November 2010 in the form of King Air 90GTX N6014V and was immediately active on flights from Liverpool. Slight damage was received when it ran off the runway at Geneva 11th January 2011, the aircraft returning to Liverpool via Oxford on 2nd February, now wearing British registration G-MOSJ. Currently the aircraft appears very busy, operating widely around Europe. During summer 2011 the call-sign “Enzo” was noted in use for some flights, showing a link with Jota Aircraft leasing. During 2012 and into 2013 their King Air C90 G-MOSJ has continued to be busy. The 'Enzo' connection continues. During March and April 2013, with their own King Air way from Liverpool, King Air 300 LY-LTE was used for nearly 4 weeks. G-MOSJ was re-registered as 9H-MOS July 2015, but continued to operate charters from Liverpool and elsewhere though 2014 and into 2015. 9H-MOS last departed Liverpool to Oxford 19th March 2015 and was subsequently re-registered back as G-MOSJ July 2015, although while still registered to Moss Aviation, is operated by Jota Aviation and has not returned to Liverpool.

Fleet

N60936/G-JMOS         PA-34-220T Seneca V   29.05.08  24.10.10
N6014V/G-MOSJ/9H-MOS  Beech King Air 90GTX  02.11.10  current
LY-LTE                Beech King Air 300    01.04.13  26.04.13  leased in as temporary cover

This article written and posted without contact with Moss Aviation August 2011 and updated July 2015.

[Beemer]

Apem aircraft

G-RIPA Partenavia P.68 Observer II


G-HABS Cessna 172S Skyhawk


G-JPEG Bn-2A Islander

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Moss Aviation aircraft

G-JMOS Piper Pa-34-220T Seneca


N6014V/G-MOSJ Beech King Air C90GTX

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One of the King Air after application of registration G-MOSJ

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A few more from me, these all digitised from prints.

King Air 90 G-ORTH noted at Liverpool, arouund May 2004



Kilo Aviation then went on to operate Cessna 340 G-CCXJ. Here seen 30th August 2004, still with its previous owners.



JD Aviation's Seneca at Manchester on 18th August 2005.



.... and from a somewhat similar angle at Liverpool, on the GA 2010.