Czech charterer Silver Air has purchased its first LET410, after operating two on a lease basis. Company ceo Jan Maly said: “We’ve been able to make this investment after securing a contract with the Czech postal service around a year ago. As a Czech manufactured aircraft, it’s perfectly equipped to handle the conditions here.

“Aside from cargo, it can also be used to carry between 17 and 19 passengers, but it’s more suited

for cargo operations because it’s not pressurised.”

Maly agreed that this type of contract is crucial to succeed as a Czech charter operation. “Without work like this it would have been pointless buying the aircraft. We secured the contract after the previous operators went bankrupt and as we were the only people around with LET 410s, they chose us. This is an ideal contract because it’s long term and doesn’t need renewal.”

The aircraft will be delivered to the company’s base at Ruzyne Airport, Prague, as soon as a few problems with the TCAS system have been rectified.

Maly ran us through its interesting history: “The airframe was manufactured in 1992, but then the factory ran into financial difficulties. 10 years later we requested it, so the factory then started refurbishing it with brand new equipment such as TCAS and GPWS, according to JAR-OPS requirements.

“The total cost was around $1 million, but it’s basically like having a brand new aircraft. It did have to pass some checks from our CAA, but it means that the year of manufacture is registered as 2002.”

Silver Air is a JAR145 approved organisation, but only carries out light maintenance. Another facility in the Czech Republic will carry out any further maintenance required on the 410.