Air Taxis Limited, based at Birmingham International Airport, has recently been bought out.

Chief pilot Dave Scott-Morgan headed an initiative to take the long-established aviation facility (formerly Warwickshire Aero Centre) forward into new areas of charter work.

“We are looking to develop new markets and cultivate a wider range of services,” said Scott-Morgan, who used to be a guitarist with the rock group ELO (Electric Light Orchestra).

“In addition to a growing corporate charter portfolio, we are following up enquiries from sports bodies, such as the Jockey Club, together with medical charters and pleasure packages.”

Although the current Air Taxis Limited was incorporated recently, the record-breaking Amy Johnson bought a Tiger Moth from

Hendon-based Air Taxis Limited back in the 1930s.

“We feel we share at least some of her pioneering spirit,” said Alan Smith, managing director. “We can’t say that we are planning on breaking any records flying to Australia, but we can boast a very fast mobilisation time here at Birmingham.”

Scott-Morgan is joined by Captain Mike Chamberlain in addition to Alan Smith. Future plans will be to procure a a larger capacity aircraft to augment Air Taxis’ six-seater Seneca.

Asked about Air Taxis experience of the UK charter market right now, Scott-Morgan said: “My perception is that the charter market is not so strong at the moment and competition is as fierce as ever. Having said that, the Seneca aircraft is, like a Chieftan, somewhat in a niche of its own – offering good value at the particular level it is at.

He added: “We know that a number of our previous customers have moved to Performance Group

A aircraft [aircraft certified at the highest level of safety redundancy], and for the future we would like

to be able to offer ‘Perf A’

transport also; as and when operations are expanded in this direction, our platform of choice is the Beech King Air.”