BBGA Honors Patrick Margetson-Rushmore With Michael Wheatley Award

Patrick Margetson-Rushmore, co-founder of Luxaviation UK (predecessor LEA) and inspirational business aviation ambassador, was named today as the 2021 recipient of the British Business Aviation Association’s prestigious Michael Wheatley Award for Outstanding Services to the general aviation industry.  BBGA Chair Aoife O’Sullivan shared the news during the Association’s annual conference and AGM on March 4th.

Following an illustrious career, Patrick retired from his full-time CEO position in May 2020. He continues to speak on behalf of Luxaviation Group at conferences and events.

His passion for aviation started from his school days in the RAF Cadets.  Patrick was given flying lessons as a birthday gift and became hooked, completing 6 am training flights with his instructor before rushing back to his accountancy job in the City.  Qualifying for his PPL, Patrick became involved in aerobatics, flying competitions in the late 1980s, to late 1990s.  He still owns his Pitts S2A biplane.

Patrick co-founded LEA in 1996 with managing director George Galanopoulos and Amanda Galanopoulos when he still had a successful accountancy career in London.  George and Amanda worked full time. Patrick did one day a week, going full time in 2000 as the business outgrew its early beginnings from a hut at Stapleford Aerodrome, Essex, although the company still has its head office at the Aerodrome today.  George was the pilot of one Piper Navajo flying horse racing jockeys and local businesses.

LEA grew to become the leading business aviation aircraft operator and management company in the UK with a diverse fleet of aircraft, ranging from Cessna Citation IIs and Embraer Phenom 300s to the ultra-long-range Bombardier Global 6000. It has aircraft bases in the main UK airports and in Athens, Helsinki, Moscow and Paris with a client base embracing the arts, entertainment and media sectors, FTSE 100 corporations and government bodies.

In 2014, LEA entered a global era to became part of the Luxaviation Group, one of the largest business aircraft and helicopter operators worldwide. The company rebranded to Luxaviation UK in 2016.

The 2021 Michael Wheatley Award is sponsored by Close Brothers.