While there has been no denying the global downturn experienced by most sectors over the last few years, Ireland's Mach Aviation Services has every reason to be optimistic.

"In the past our business was for the most part focused in Ireland. However, we are now working increasingly with customers in the UK and in other markets worldwide," says chief executive Joe McCarthy. "

Assistance to our UK customers has been helped greatly by the addition of the London office where we have been responding to a strong flow of enquiries relating to both charter business and aircraft sales. Since January of this year we have closed 10 transactions and in July alone we closed deals on one jet and three helicopters, including one late model EC155B1 helicopter with a very plush vip interior."

As the Ireland, Channel Island and Isle of Man representatives for Hawker Beechcraft aircraft, in June of this year Mach Aviation took the Baron and Bonanza on a tour of flying clubs around the Isle of Man, Channel Islands and Ireland North and South. "The tour was a resounding success and mirrored the return in market confidence that we had already witnessed first-hand," says McCarthy.

"The tour also helped highlight customers interested in other products in the HBC fleet and we are currently in discussions with a number of interested parties and believe that some of these will translate into sales over the coming months." In 2011 Mach has added two members to its team; Alannah Conlan in the aircraft sales and purchases division, and Teresa Colgan who now heads up the charters department.