Sales broker Kudos Aviation, previously based at Southend Airport, ceased trading early in 2010 and its website shows a default page from their Internet Service Provider.  The company was best known for helicopter management and sales brokerage.  Companies House records show that one company ceased to legally exist this week and the other company is heading in the same direction imminently.

Looking at public accessible information on accounts filed with Companies House, Kudos Aviation Ltd was incorporated in October 2006 and filed “dormant company” accounts for the period to 31st October 2007.  The accounts for the year to 31st October 2009 are shown as overdue.  On 1st December 2009, Companies House (the UK Government entity for monitoring the legal side of companies) issued a “First Gazette Notice of Dissolution”, the procedure when Companies House has reason to believe the company is no longer carrying busineses or is not in operation.  On 29th March this year, the appointment of Steven Berry as a director of the company was terminated (note, he did not “resign”) and a further notice was issued by Companies House this week on 14th September.  A separate notice is sent to the company owner and if no response is received, Companies House will strike it off its records and post another publication in the London Gazette, making it official the company is no longer in business (nor is it then permitted to do so under that registration number).  The company’s internet domain name kudosaviation.com was registered in Mr Berry’s name.

A separate company registered to the same address, Kudos Aviation Sales and Management Ltd, was incorporated in January 2009.  No accounts had been filed for this company, which appears to have had one director – Barry Chalmers – appointed shortly after the company was formed.  However, Companies House also issued a “First Gazette” notice to this one, and it was dissolved on the 7th September 2010.  Mr Chalmer’s Facebook page shows him posing in front of a black corporate jet.

HeliHub.com also contacted Lee Birling, a pilot who had previously worked for Kudos on a freelance basis, but he declined to comment beyond stating that they had not been trading from Southend Airport for over a year.