UK-based Sterling Air Charter's Beechcraft Raisbeck 200 Super King Air has just completed one year's service, flying to a range of European destinations. Prior to the introduction of the 200, Sterling Air operated a King Air E90 for three years. The E90 was too small, and limited in range, according to the company's operations manager Chris Mace.\rHe told EBAN: "We were having to sub-charter because we had more than five passengers for the E90. The hourly operating costs are higher than for the E90, but the increase in speed that the 200 brings has meant shorter flight times, and hence lower overall costs. "Our aircraft has been the preferred option on many charters because of its ability to carry more baggage and offer a quieter, more comfortable cabin ride. We have all six Raisbeck enhancements which transform the King Air 200 into a more modern machine, resembling today's production line aircraft," said Mace. \rSterling Air Charter, which has its headquarters at Norwich Airport, operates primarily out of London City airport, to destinations as far afield as Italy, Poland and the Czech Republic. As well as business chartering, the company has been associated with the film and television industry for over 10 years.\rAs well as numerous UK television and advertising roles, Sterling helicopters has starred in the feature films Entrapment and Jilting Joe. The Beech 200's most impressive flight ferried an American business client to no fewer than ten destinations across seven countries in a hectic six-day schedule: from Malmo in Sweden, through Germany, France, Italy, Austria, the Netherlands and the UK. \rThe Beech 200 has flown over 500 hours in its first year of operation while flying a wide range of charters, including airline crew changes, stretcher-equipped medevac flights and executive corporate shuttles. Another Beechcraft 200 might be purchased next year. "More than half of October 1999 is booked already, and we are turning down a lot of work," said Mace. Norfolk police and the BBC [British Broadcasting Corporation] have both requested Sterling's charter service around the millennium, although the Beech 200 is not yet booked for New Year's Eve. \rWhen asked to comment on the current condition of the charter market in the United Kingdom, Mace said it was "buoyant" and that Sterling Air, operating primarily in a European market, was much influenced by the strength of the pound in this arena.