Heli Operations
HeliOperations is a UK-based helicopter aviation services company delivering military pilot training, aircraft maintenance, and operational support from three UK sites to defence ministries, naval air forces, and superyacht operators.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2007
- HeadquartersFortuneswell, United Kingdom
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Heli Operations does
HeliOperations is a UK-based specialist helicopter aviation services company that delivers military and civilian pilot training, aircraft management, maintenance, and operational support. Founded in 2007 by former Royal Navy helicopter pilot Steve Gladstone (via Developing Assets (UK) Ltd), it operates from three UK sites — Portland heliport (Dorset, headquarters and AW139 base), a 3,000+ sqm engineering and storage facility at Somerton (Somerset, MAA Part 145 approved), and the Sea King Mission Simulator at RNAS Culdrose (Cornwall). Core assets include a six-axis full-motion Sea King simulator with Night Vision Device visuals, 16 former Royal Navy/RAF Sea King helicopters, an AW139 fleet being expanded to six aircraft, and a CAA-licensed heliport that doubles as a CAP 3145 Approved UAS Test Site. Customers include the German Ministry of Defence (£141M, seven-year NH90 training programme), the UK Ministry of Defence (£41M Royal Navy FHSU contract), the Royal Norwegian Air Force, Pakistan Navy, Bangladesh Air Force, Empire Test Pilots' School, and commercial/super yacht operators. Revenue is generated primarily through long-term government training contracts, line and base maintenance services, helideck certification, NVIS training, and bespoke aircraft management, delivered via direct enterprise sales and formal defence procurement channels. The company holds dual UK CAA and Military Aviation Authority approvals (including CAA-approved AW139 NVIS operations and Part 145 maintenance), and is certified to ISO 9001, ISO 14001, AS9100/9110, Cyber Essentials, and IS-BAO standards.
Heli Operations firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Heli Operations
- Legal name
- Developing Assets (UK) Ltd
- Website
- https://helioperations.co
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2007
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- HeliOperations is a UK-based helicopter aviation services company delivering military pilot training, aircraft maintenance, and operational support from three UK sites to defence ministries, naval air forces, and superyacht operators.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Heli Operations industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Military Helicopter Training Services
- NAICS
- Flight Training (611512), Other Support Activities for Air Transportation (488190), Airport Operations (48811)
- SIC
- Aircraft (3721), Aircraft Parts & Auxiliary Equipment, Nec (3728)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Naval Training, Simulation & Shore-Based Support Systems (IMABAKAO)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Rotorcraft Mission Systems (EO/IR, Radar, EW) Integration (IMABABAI), UAS Payloads (EO/IR, LiDAR, SAR, SIGINT) & Gimbals (IMABAIAI)
Keywords
Where Heli Operations is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Fortuneswell
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Heli Operations business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Military Training Contracts: Long-term government contracts providing helicopter training to military forces. Includes the £141M German Navy contract (7-year) for NH90 Sea Lion/Sea Tiger pilot training and £41M Fleet Helicopter Support Unit contract for Royal Navy. Covers theoretical instruction, simulator sessions, and practical live flight training.
- Helicopter Maintenance Services: Comprehensive maintenance services including line maintenance, base maintenance, and military Part 145 approved maintenance at Somerton facility. Includes maintenance for Sea King and AW139 helicopters.
- Aircraft Management and Operations: End-to-end management for private and commercial helicopter operations including aircraft selection, registration, compliance, pilot training, crew management, and maintenance oversight. Services extend to superyacht aviation management.
- Helideck Certification and Compliance: Independent helideck certification, inspection, auditing and compliance services for vessels and offshore platforms worldwide. Includes operations manuals, training, and temporary or permanent crew provision.
- NVIS Training Services: EASA Standard NVIS qualification training for civil and military customers using own simulator and aircraft. Includes overseas organic training using non-ITAR restricted NVIS equipment.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Heli Operations product offering
Product offeringCore offering
HeliOperations provides helicopter training (Search and Rescue, Anti-Submarine Warfare, Night Vision Imaging System operations, deck landing, maritime mission training) on Sea King full-motion simulators and AW139 aircraft. It also delivers end-to-end helicopter management, line and base maintenance (Part 145), helideck certification/inspection, and aircraft operations support for military forces, government ministries, superyacht operators and commercial aviation clients.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Drone Certification Agency (DCA): Sister company dedicated to supporting the testing, evaluation and certification of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), operating from the CAA-licensed heliport on the Isle of Portland within a CAP 3145 Approved UAS Test Site.
Products and services
- Search and Rescue (SAR) Helicopter Training Search and Rescue pilot and aircrew training delivered using Sea King helicopters and AW139 aircraft at the Portland base, covering maritime SAR scenarios, day and night operations including NVIS.
- Night Vision Imaging System (NVIS) Operations and Training EASA Standard NVIS qualification training using a state-of-the-art full-motion NVIS-equipped simulator at RNAS Culdrose plus live NVIS flying training on company-owned Sea King helicopters (for civil and military customers); overseas organic training using non-ITAR-restricted NVIS equipment is also provided.
- Helicopter Maintenance Services (Part 145) Comprehensive maintenance services for Sea King and AW139 helicopters — line maintenance, base maintenance, and UK MAA Part 145 military-approved maintenance at the Somerton facility in Somerset.
- Aircraft Management and Operations End-to-end management for private and commercial helicopter operations: aircraft selection, registration, compliance, pilot training, crew management and maintenance oversight — including superyacht aviation management for HNW/UHNW owners and charter companies.
- Helideck Certification and Compliance Services Independent helideck certification, inspection, auditing and compliance services for vessels and offshore platforms worldwide, including operations manuals, training, and temporary or permanent crew provision.
- Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Mission Training Bespoke ASW training (e.g., six-week course for Royal Norwegian Air Force P-3 Orion students at HeliOperations Cornwall facility) delivered by former Royal Navy ASW instructors using full-motion Sea King simulator and live aircraft.
- Medical, Point of Injury and Medevac Support Medical, Point of Injury and Medevac support services provided to a range of helicopter operations, leveraging HeliOperations' SAR and rotary-wing operations experience.
- Drone Certification Agency (DCA) — UAS Testing, Evaluation and Certification Wholly-owned subsidiary providing a controlled aviation environment for UAS testing, evaluation and certification under CAA CAP 3145 Approved UAS Test Site arrangements.
Quantifiable outcome
- 100% track record of safe, reliable and cost effective service
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Heli Operations
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Heli Operations technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Heli Operations partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and significant.
- Leonardo HelicopterscoreFormal partnership for AW139 helicopter fleet expansion. Contract signing at European Rotors Show confirmed purchase of two additional AW139 aircraft bringing total fleet to six. Leonardo is a key strategic partner for aircraft supply and support.
- HMS Heron Field Gun TeamminorHeliOperations sponsors the HMS Heron Field Gun team representing Royal Navy Air Station Yeovilton. Sponsorship supports team competing in annual Field Gun Competition dating back to 1907.
- Portland United FCminorSponsor of Portland United FC U18s football squad. Company hosted team visit ahead of FA Youth Cup match, demonstrating community engagement and support for local youth development.
- Lobo LeasingsignificantEntered into letter of intent to lease one Pipistrel Nuuva V300 hVTOL unmanned cargo aircraft with option for three additional units. HeliOperations intends to offer the aircraft to its network of military customers for replenishment of naval vessels at sea and commercial maritime sector applications including offshore wind farm support.
- Helliar Pest ControlminorLocal pest control company providing bird and pest control services at the Osprey Quay hangar. Harris Hawk named 'Blue' regularly visits to provide bird control, managing pigeons and seagulls.
- Dorset Fire ServiceminorCollaborative emergency planning exercises conducted at Portland facility. Simulated aircraft incidents to rehearse procedures and improve collective response capability.
- Portland Sea CadetsminorCommunity support initiative providing laptop donation to support cadet training programme. Demonstration of commitment to local community development.
- Yeovil College University CentrecorePartnership with Yeovil College University Centre for aviation engineering apprenticeship programme. Apprentices receive degree in aerospace engineering while gaining hands-on engineering experience, blending theory with practical skills from sheet-metal fabrication to composite construction.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves11 records
Expansion highlights7 records
Heli Operations competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Castle Air: UK-based helicopter operator offering charter, management, training and maintenance services. Direct competitor in the UK civil helicopter management and training space, including superyacht and corporate clients.
- Cobham Aviation Services: Provides specialised aviation services including military training, SAR and mission systems support. Direct peer in delivering contracted rotary-wing training and operations support to defence ministries in Australia, the UK and allied nations.
Broad incumbents
- Vector Aerospace (now StandardAero): Major helicopter MRO provider with military and civil approvals, including former work with HeliOperations on painting services. Comparable on helicopter maintenance, repair and overhaul capabilities including Part 145-equivalent work.
- FlightSafety International: Major commercial and military flight training organisation operating full-motion simulators worldwide. Overlaps with HeliOperations on rotary-wing training, NVIS and synthetic training, although focused more broadly across commercial and business aviation.
- Bristow Group: Large helicopter operator providing SAR and offshore services to government and commercial customers globally, including UK SAR. Comparable to HeliOperations in rotary-wing services for military and government, though with much larger fleet and broader geographic footprint.
- CHC Helicopter: One of the world's largest helicopter operators serving offshore, SAR and government markets. Already a HeliOperations customer (S92 NVIS training in Ireland), making it both a comparable rotary-wing services provider and a live commercial relationship.
- CAE: Global leader in aviation training and simulation, including helicopter mission simulators for military customers. Comparable to HeliOperations in providing synthetic training devices and instructor services, but at much larger scale and across fixed-wing, rotary-wing and UAS.
- Leonardo Helicopters (training division): OEM of the AW139 platform and a HeliOperations strategic partner (Nov 2025 contract). Comparable as a vertically integrated helicopter training provider, but with far greater scale and the ability to bundle training with platform sales to military customers.
Others
- HeliOffshore: Industry association of offshore helicopter operators focused on safety and operational standards. Comparable as an ecosystem participant rather than direct competitor; useful proxy for understanding HeliOperations' addressable offshore/defence helicopter market.
Regional players
- SaxonAir: UK-based business aviation operator providing charter, management, FBO and helicopter services from Norwich. Comparable to HeliOperations on UK-based managed helicopter services for high-net-worth and corporate clients, though more focused on fixed-wing charter.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Heli Operations social profiles
Digital presenceHeli Operations financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Heli Operations leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Heli Operations subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Heli Operations funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Heli Operations M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Heli Operations
What does Heli Operations do?
HeliOperations provides helicopter training (Search and Rescue, Anti-Submarine Warfare, Night Vision Imaging System operations, deck landing, maritime mission training) on Sea King full-motion simulators and AW139 aircraft. It also delivers end-to-end helicopter management, line and base maintenance (Part 145), helideck certification/inspection, and aircraft operations support for military forces, government ministries, superyacht operators and commercial aviation clients.
Is Heli Operations a public or private company?
Heli Operations is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Heli Operations founded?
Heli Operations was founded in 2007. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Heli Operations based?
Heli Operations is headquartered in Fortuneswell, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Heli Operations make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Military Training Contracts are the primary driver. The others are helicopter Maintenance Services, aircraft Management and Operations, helideck Certification and Compliance and NVIS Training Services.
Who are Heli Operations's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Castle Air and Cobham Aviation Services. Broad incumbents are Vector Aerospace (now StandardAero), FlightSafety International, Bristow Group, CHC Helicopter, CAE and Leonardo Helicopters (training division). HeliOffshore is listed as an others. SaxonAir is listed as a regional player.
Does Heli Operations have an API?
No public API is recorded for Heli Operations.
What industry is Heli Operations in?
Heli Operations's product category is Military Helicopter Training Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABAKAO, Naval Training, Simulation & Shore-Based Support Systems, with a secondary code of IMABABAI, Rotorcraft Mission Systems (EO/IR, Radar, EW) Integration. Its NAICS code is 611512 and its SIC code is 3721.