Dutch operator Tessel Air has acquired its second Cessna 208 Caravan, which will serve the thrill seekers and sightseers around the island of Tessel, as well as fulfilling the needs of nearby charter companies through leasing agreements.

The company purchased the aircraft at the end of May and took delivery in June. “We began operating it immediately and have completed about 120 hours of flight,” said pilot Robert Van Essen.

“We operate another 208, as well as a broad range of nine single engine piston aircraft, and the response to the new aeroplane from our customers has been very good.”

Tessel Air aims to supplement its core business, which consists of recreational and skydiving trips, by leasing the Caravan to other operators. “Most of the utilisation will be for pleasure flights and parachuting trips but we are also leasing extra capacity with crew – we can lease both 208s to other drop-zones or to people who are in need of aircraft, with or without crew,” said Van Essen.

The company mostly works locally, with flights around the island of Tessel, where the aircraft are based. “The aeroplane fulfils all of our needs,” said Van Essen. “It’s got good capacity, is low cost on maintenance and will bring a very good return on the investment. The performance is also good; it’s very quiet, which is very important for us here.”

Tessel’s Caravan has been configured to carry 15 parachutists seated on the floor. If it is set back to its configuration for passengers, it will have eight passenger seats and two pilot seats.

With the winter approaching, the company has tackled the problem of less flights – and a cut in profits – over the season by preparing the aircraft for the cold weather. “In the winter time we don’t fly too often but our latest 208 is fully equipped to handle this weather and we are now offering it to third parties who use it in Scandinavia, for example, for cargo flying or maritime patrol.”

As aircraft owners and operators are increasingly looking at the bottom line when deciding whether to purchase an aeroplane, Tessel Air has managed to ease the burden of the high initial cost of the 208. “It’s very expensive so you do need a large wallet to purchase the aircraft, but the operating costs are low,” said Van Essen. “We also have our own maintenance company, VOT, which is based here at Tessel, which helps, of course.”

The company is expecting the latest addition to its fleet to fly between 200 and 400 hours per year and aims for the 208s to achieve a combined total of between 750 and 1,000 hours per year. These figures may rise or fall, however, depending on the condition of the market in the Netherlands.

“The market is maintaining itself here. It’s a changing market; in some areas we are seeing less business and in other areas, where we have noticed new opportunities, we have regained the business,” Van Essen concluded.