Flyt director and chief finance officer James Matthews, CEO and co-founder Andy King and co-founder and aviation director James Palmer

Flyt launches digital helicopter booking platform

Flyt is a newly-live digital helicopter booking service allowing customers to instantly view quotes from a range of UK helicopter operators and book online via desktop, tablet or smartphone.

Flyt is the brainchild of heli- copter pilot and tech entrepreneur Andy King and UK-based SaxonAir co-founder James Palmer. King, who trained as a commercial helicopter pilot, is responsible for strategy and business development. He received leadership training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and holds a BSc Hons degree in maths and business from the University of East Anglia. Palmer was formerly head of ground operations and head of quality at SaxonAir and has a keen interest in IT and technology. He is also involved with programme management at the UK's Atmospheric Research Aircraft at Cranfield. He will be liaising with operators, drawing on his operational expertise and network.

Located at the London Heliport in Battersea and with a tech team in central Manchester, Flyt's goal is to bring the same technology in the private jet sector to commercial helicopter bookings, which has not been done previously because in the rotary world it is more complex and ultimately time-consuming to make bookings as it requires gathering critical information such as passenger weight and landing site restrictions.

The company has secured backing from significant UK-based investors including John Ayton MBE, co-founder of both Links of London and Annoushka jewellery companies and an investor in the luxury industry, as well as mobile technology group Apadmi Ventures, and venture capital company EarlyMarket.

By working with operators to fill empty seats on shared charters, Flyt is also hoping to maximise revenue and utilisation for operators. Hitherto, seat sales on helicopters have not been the industry norm. King says: "We believe this will encourage private owners whose machines are looked after by management companies to get on board and offset their operational costs with charter."

The team will liaise with landowners on the 2,200 plus approved landing sites available in the UK and seek landing approval with the operator. It will work with an ever-growing database of helicopter traffic, continually capturing and analysing recorded helicopter flights, which will enable it to advise on flight times and costs in real-time. It is also working on a booking app and will be reaching out to lifestyle and sporting event partners, including luxury hotels with helipads, to support the platform.