Aeris Aviation, the independent European distributor and sales agent for One Aviation’s Eclipse business jet family, is planning to launch an air taxi operation on the Channel Island of Guernsey at the end of this year, using a pair of EA500 very light jets.
Called Channel Jets, the venture will serve high-net-worth individuals and companies across the British Crown dependencies of Guernsey and Jersey, who want to travel to mainland Europe.
Aeris founder and chief executive David Hayman originally planned to launch the service last year. He attributes the delayed introduction to the lengthy and complex procedures involved in making the EA500 compliant for commercial operations in Europe, and challenges in securing the “right calibre” of staff to help run the operation.
Jonathan Le Ray
“We are almost there now,” Hayman says. “I plan to submit our application for the air operator’s certificate in August and hopefully be up and running by the end of the year.”
Channel Jets will launch with two managed, four-passenger EA500s – registration 2-JSEG and 2-TRAX – but may expand the fleet if demand requires.
“The EA500s are ideal for short one- to two-hour journeys, but we may add larger jets for longer trips and single-engine turboprops for increased flexibility,” says Hayman.
He calls the Channel Islands “an ideal base” for a business jet charter operation.
“There are only two ways to get on and off the Islands – by boat or by air,” he explains. “We will be offering a fast, flexible and convenient point-to-point service at a very appealing price point.”
Source: Flight International
