Jet-Care International, which specialises in jet engine trend monitoring and oil analysis, has purchased a brand new Cessna CJ1. The company also has a Piper Malibu, but as pilot Keith Heron explained, this situation may change: “Ideally we’d like to get rid of the Malibu, but it’s a bit of a buyer’s market at the moment so it’s difficult to find a buyer. We operated them until January side by side, but now we try not to use the Malibu.” Heron believes the company opted for a step-up because it needed something with more range and because what it perceives as the reliability of the Cessna product. “Ultimately we were looking at a Pilatus PC-12, but for a little more money you can step into a jet. Our admission requirements at the time were to carry four people.

“We could get the speeds that we needed, although unfortunately it doesn’t really have the range we require. Down the line we’ll probably end up replacing it with something that does go the distance,” said Heron.

Since its purchase the CJ1 has been flying around Europe at the behest of the company chairman and other staff. “This is purely used as a corporate tool, at the disposal of the company. They enjoy the flexibility it offers and the passengers have all found this aircraft very comfortable,” added Heron. The pilot particularly likes the accessibility the aircraft offers to smaller airfields, which the bigger jets can’t access. “Small jets really do have their place in the market. The CJ2 offers the owner a lot more aircraft than the CJ1, in terms of performance, range and accessibility. But obviously it’s what you personally want out of it,” he said.

Despite the soft used market, Heron confirmed that Jet-Care would never consider buying second hand. “If you can buy new it’s beneficial. One of the reasons is because of future regulations and also because you get the warranties.

“The owner knows what the aircraft has been through, there’s no damage history and you’re getting something that meets your spec-ifications. It’s not so critical with a smaller aircraft like the Citation, but as you start getting bigger to Falcons and Gulfstreams everybody has their own requirements for aircraft, which you don’t get if you buy second hand.”

The Citation has been flying around 30 hours per month, but there are no intentions to offer it for charter in order to recoup costs. “It wouldn’t work putting this on AOC, we need to be flexible,” said Heron.