As EBAN goes to Press, PC-12 operator Lions Air is within days of receiving the go-ahead from the Swiss Aviation Authority for single engine commercial aircraft operations.

Jurg Fleischmann told us about the company’s plans, in light of this imminent approval.

He said: “At present, our fractional programme is run on a private operation. With the new approval, we will be able to start offering not

only ad hoc public charter flights

but also air ambulance flights – which is the main reason we applied for this certificate.

“We’ve been approached by several big insurance companies

and this is one area we’ll

move into, once we have the commercial authorisation.”

Lions Air plans to dedicate one aircraft to ambulance work and have another on standby, ready to convert with a quick-change kit. There’s room onboard for two stretchers and three nurses or doctors.

Asked why the PC-12 was particularly suited to the air ambulance market, Fleischmann explained: “For short distances of 300-500nm, which covers from Switzerland to all the main holiday resorts in Italy, Spain, France and Germany, this aircraft is ideal. Also there are a lot of small airfields which other ambulance jets can’t get into, but which we can.

“So, we can land on a 600 metre runway and that’s still with a good cruising speed. Also, there’s very easy loading through the baggage door in the back, which is huge.”

In the past month or so, Lions Air has taken delivery of its ninth PC-12. Up until now, the single-

engine turboprops have primarily been deployed in the company’s fractional ownership scheme, now in its third year.

Said Fleischmann: “We’ve experienced an increment in business of about 25 per cent each year, and our customers can be anyone from private individuals to big companies. We’ve just recently signed a contract with a company which has 2,500 employees, so we appeal to a huge customer base.”

In mid-August, the company deployed one its aircraft for special missions requirements at the Zurich World Athletics Grand Prix and in November one will be used at the World Rally Championships in Wales. Lions Air relays TV pictures from motorbike and helicopter cameras through the PC-12 down to the relevant TV station on the ground. This special mission type use of the aircraft makes up one third of Lions’ business and says the company, “increasingly, it’s becoming one of our key markets”.

In the coming 12 months, Lions Air also hopes to have a jet on

its books.

A private customer is interested

in signing a contract, on the

basis of using it through the time

jet programme.