One Charter Plc Is Awarded Its Air Operating Certificate

May 1, 2008 1:00 AM

Plans To Offer Contract Management Services For Cirrus And Eclipse 500 Owners

One Charter Plc (PLUS: ONCO) – the private aircraft charter, brokerage and management services provider – has been awarded, through its subsidiary operations company One Air Taxi Ltd, an Air Operating Certificate (AOC) for public transportation by the UK Civil Aviation Authority.

The company has also acquired a Cirrus SR 22G3 –a four seat single engine aircraft and will be the first operator in the UK to offer this aircraft for public transportation ‘one-off’ charters, targeting business, leisure or sports users of aircraft. Uniquely, One Air Taxi Ltd also offers its 25 hour ‘Cirrus Card’, acquired at £850 per hour, and charged when the passenger is on board only, for the aircraft to fly in the mainland UK as an air taxi service.

The Cirrus will be based at Fairoaks Airport, near Woking in Surrey, just 30 minutes by train from Waterloo station in London and near the confluence of the M3 and M25 motorways.

Mike Ryan, Chief Executive of One Charter Plc, said today: “The granting of the AOC means that we can attract other Cirrus owners and operate their aircraft under a management contract for charter when the aircraft is not being used by the owner. For each Cirrus aircraft that is placed under management contract, we estimate it will increase the turnover of the company by £250,000 per year.”

Building on its aircraft management and brokerage expertise and taking advantage of its AOC, One Charter is planning to offer a similar service for clients who wish to purchase and fly the Eclipse 500 Very Light Jet (VLJ). One Charter has an Eclipse 500 on order for delivery in 2009. For every Eclipse 500 placed under management charter, the company estimates it will increase the turnover of the company by £600,000 per year.

Mr Ryan said that in forthcoming years the company will be looking to expand to a fleet of 10 or more jet aircraft.

He added: “The Cirrus is a perfect mode of transport for corporate and leisure travel and we intend to target those who drive or use first class trains on day return trips in the UK to whom time is a rare resource. The experience is similar to a luxury car journey, but by air.

“We are in serious discussions with a number of Eclipse 500 position holders and hope to be able to offer this aircraft to the air charter market in late 2008/early 2009. This will complement our Cirrus operation in the UK and expand to the European market, taking us closer to our goal of being a major player in the dawning age of European Air Taxi services.”

One Air Taxi’s Chief Executive and Flight Operations Manager, Captain Mike Giles stated: “the granting of our AOC by the CAA is the culmination of 15 months dedicated planning. Our number one priority is for the safety, security and well-being of our passengers. We achieve this with the selection of highly-trained pilots and operating the Cirrus, one of the world’s most reliable and comfortable single engine aircraft. Its airframe and engine technologies are more advanced that those found in many larger commercial aircraft and allow the passenger a ‘close up’ experience in being able to follow the flight progress on the large moving map displays.”

He continued:” we also look forward to offering a new aviation experience with the entry into service net year of the Eclipse 500 twin engine Very Light Jet. It has a range of over 1,000 nautical miles and its capability to cruise at speeds and heights of larger commercial airliners, combined with its ability to land at airports which the bigger aircraft can only dream of, give it a distinct advantage for both the discerning business and leisure traveller of today.”

Want to use this article? Click here for options!
© 2012 Penton Media Inc.