Post published:18/03/2022
Post category:Latest Member News
Reading time:3 mins read

London (March 16, 2022) – The Royal Air Force (RAF) will extend London RAF Northolt Airport’s (RAF/EGWU) operating hours to seven days a week starting June 1, 2022, making the airport accessible on weekends for the first time in five years.
Northolt’s new weekend hours will be:
• Saturday 0800-1500
• Sunday 1200-1900

“We commend the RAF for making this change, which is a huge win for Northolt and for business aircraft operators traveling to London,” said Sean Raftery, Regional Managing Director, Universal Aviation. “Northolt is already an extremely popular London airport. Business aircraft operators love Universal Aviation’s level of service and safety combined with the airport’s lack of
congestion, privacy, security, and most importantly, its great location. These extended hours are certainly going to make Northolt an even more attractive option for accessing London and everything to do here.”
RAF Northolt is the closest airport to Central London (12.8 miles and 32-minute drive to Hyde Park vs. 39 miles and an hour for Farnborough Airport) and the city’s popular cultural activities, which commonly draw private flyers. In addition, it’s close to many of London’s stadiums that host major international sporting events, including Wembley (14 km), Twickenham (18km),
Wimbledon (25 km), Emirates Stadium (27 km), and Tottenham (30 km). And it’s the closest airport to Heathrow for airline connections or crew swaps.
“Consider if two people leave the same hotel in Hyde Park at the same time, the one departing Northolt could be in Paris before the other even arrives at Farnborough Airport,” said Raftery.
This is the second time Northolt has extended hours since Universal Aviation UK took over the operation of the GAT in January 2021. In mid-2021, Universal Aviation UK – London Northolt worked closely with the RAF to test expanding the airport’s operating hours by three hours a day Monday-Friday. The success of that extension helped lead to the new weekend accessibility.
“We expanded to Northolt in the heart of the pandemic when traffic was at a standstill in anticipation of the eventual recovery and belief that we could unlock its tremendous potential by successfully working to make it more accessible,” said Raftery. “I’m proud to say that we’ve been able to achieve that in close coordination with the RAF.”
For more information on this location, including a 360 view of the FBO, visit Universal Aviation London-Northolt online.

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My name is Paul Cremer, and this marks my 42nd year working within the business and general aviation industry. Over this time, I’ve had the privilege of overseeing a diverse array of sector activities, ranging from aircraft charter and management to air ambulance services, ground operations, air traffic control, airport management, technology implementation, and the outsourcing services I currently manage.

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My journey into Business and General Aviation began during my teenage years while still in school. I was fortunate enough to be welcomed into the industry, starting at a flying club, and later working at the Air Traffic Services Unit at Blackbushe Airport. There, I maintained the ATC Movement Logs in the Control Tower during weekends, solidifying my passion for aviation. Upon completing my schooling, I seized opportunities at Fairoaks Airport, where I began as Ground Crew while pursuing my Aerodrome Flight Information Service Officer’s license. Advancements in my career led me to the role of Air Traffic Services Manager.

Since joining Gama Aviation in 1996, I’ve held various positions, including Operations Manager (Post Holder), Operations & Commercial Manager, Commercial Manager, Operations Delivery Manager, Head of Business Aviation Delivery, and currently, Head of Aviation Delivery. This role encompasses Gama Aviation Group’s Gama Aviation, myairops, and FlyerTech companies.

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