Sean Raftery
Sean Raftery has more than 30 years of aviation experience, including over 20 with Universal Weather and Aviation, Inc. Based in Stansted, United Kingdom, Sean was an airman in the Royal Air Force where he worked in air traffic control and squadron operations. In 2002, he was appointed Managing Director of Universal Aviation U.K. – London-Stansted and in 2010 took on the additional responsibilities as Managing Director of Ireland as well. Under Sean's leadership, Universal Aviation U.K. – London-Stansted and Universal Aviation Ireland, with FBO locations at Dublin and Shannon, have continued to grow and add new services, including the European Operations Centre and a new fuelling into plane business in Dublin. Sean has also been instrumental in Universal Aviation continuing to upgrade its facilities and recently led efforts in Dublin to relocate the location to a new, larger facility while in Stansted he oversaw the complete refurbishment of Universal Aviation U.K. – London-Stansted in time for the '12 Games in London. Well respected within the business aviation industry, Sean has worked closely with government officials to develop and implement industry leading Health and Safety practices and was highly instrumental in influencing the U.K. government for fairer and better immigration procedures for visiting business jet passengers. Sean can be reached at seanraftery@universalaviation.aero.
Archive for Sean Raftery
Luton Airport Imposes Aircraft Noise Restrictions that Impacts Business Aviation
London is a popular destination for general aviation operators, and there are many airports in the region to pick from. One of the destinations that many operators travel to is Luton (EGGW). Though EGGW is a 24-hour airport, authorities have now published upcoming night restrictions that will be imposed June 1 through September 30—and every […]
Update: Temporary Importation of Aircraft into the EU – New Developments
Following changes to the 2011 permanent aircraft importation rules, when the UK was brought into line with other European Union (EU) member states, there have been lots of questions on how best to import aircraft into the EU. Permanent importation is still very possible, and in some cases it is the best—and often the only—option. […]
UK APD & Upcoming 2015 Changes: Part 2 – Payment & Compliance Issues
Although reporting and paying UK Air Passenger Duty (APD) have been legal obligations since April 2013, many General Aviation (GA) operators still do not do so. For this reason, Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has stepped up its policing of non-payers, and penalties are being […]
UK APD & Upcoming 2015 Changes: Part 1 – APD Basics
UK Air Passenger Duty (APD) was extended to General Aviation (GA) in April 2013 following its earlier introduction to commercial aviation in 1994. It is calculated based on distance flown and seat pitch, with higher rates imposed for aircraft with 1) a Maximum Takeoff Weight (MTOW) […]
UK Air Passenger Duty (UK APD) – How it Applies to UK Business Aviation
The UK government extended the Air Passenger Duty (APD) to General Aviation (GA) on April 1, 2013. The good news is that 3rd-party providers, and the industry as a whole, have worked with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to find solutions and clarify the processes for operators. The information below is an overview of what’s […]
All About Temporary Importation of Business Aircraft into the EU
The alternative to permanent importation of aircraft into the EU is a temporary admission (TA), otherwise known as a temporary importation (TI). As a TA does have certain limitations, it’s important to work […]
3 Must-Knows about Permanent Importation of Business Aircraft into the EU
If you plan to operate through the European Union (EU) in a non-EU-registered aircraft with EU resident passengers or crew onboard, it’s important to evaluate options of either permanent or Temporary Admission (TA) of your business aircraft into the EU. There’s no one answer that fits all operations. EU taxation is a complex area, and operators are advised to […]
