Anglo American Airmotive (AAA) has started up the Meridian Club, which aims to make the Meridian aircraft available to a wider audience by marketing the concept of group ownership. Owners will be able to share use of a fleet of Meridian aircraft, and have the option to use the aircraft for up to 90 days per year. Company director John Norris said: “The club allows members to have access to professional accountants and solicitors to help run the group, and a central internet booking system.” We decided to help set up the club after several potential customers expressed an interest in starting the scheme, and the Meridian was considered the ideal aircraft for group ownership. Once established, the Meridian Club will effectively be a group run by owners for owners.

Norris stresses that the Meridian Club does not provide the whole transport solution, it merely facilitates the group’s running and aircraft bookings. He added: “If the owners are pilots, they can of course fly it themselves. Otherwise, they will need to subcontract their own pilots and make their own crew arrangements (which we could advise them on).” A quarter share of a new Meridian aircraft, including Meridian Club membership is £287,000. Yearly cost is £4,250 and hourly operating costs are £111 (all exclusive of VAT). AAA says that it is marketing the scheme to attract the critical mass of people necessary to make the project work, and first time purchasers will be targeted especially.

Meanwhile the CAA recently granted certification to the first Malibu Meridian in the UK. Purchased by Sunseeker Sales, this is the first of four ordered by AAA customers. Norris said: “These customers will also have the opportunity of joining the club. Although they own the aircraft outright, if they want to take advantage of the club in other ways, they can.”

The Malibu is a relatively economic means of travelling around Europe with a range of around 1,000 nms, AAA also says that fuel burn is 50 per cent lower than similar aircraft. Norris explained: “The Meridian fits into a market which isn’t at all catered for. It offers a pressurised single engine turbo prop for $1.6 million, and once this is split between four people in the club, the market opens up to include a number of smaller businesses also.” The aircraft also incorporates the new Meggitt Magic EFIS, the first GA aircraft to do so. The navigational display and laser driven gyrosystem is currently used by the Boeing 777 as a back-up, but AAA say that this is the first time that a GA manufacturer has made it affordable.