Moenchengladbach's Westavia is to take on a Beech 100 under lease in October, with the intention of purchasing the aircraft a month later. "I think we will add the aircraft permanently to our fleet, but we have to make sure of the differences in operation.

“One factor is that usually all the Beeches have PT6 engines and this one has Garrett engines, which are more sensitive to maintenance," said deputy manager Ralph Ermisch.

Much like the Beech F90 added last August, the company made sure that there was a client base ready and waiting for this potential addition. "We'll decide on the purchase at the end of October, but our clients will be able to charter the aircraft for a few months even if we don't buy it," said Ermisch.

Westavia has enjoyed a rise in business this year, after charters picked up last December. "Charters for our F90 alone have risen by 20 per cent up to the third quarter of the business year, so it's been a very good acquisition.

“We had a couple of customers who didn't like to take the more expensive Beech 200 and were waiting for an aircraft like the F90. It has the same speed as the Beech 200 - the only difference is that the cabin is around one and a half metres shorter," he added.