Capital Aviation Trading has added another Super King Air 200 to its fleet, to meet growing demand for this type of aircraft. This is the second King Air 200 purchased by the company since 2002 and the aircraft has been operating since September of this year. Operations manager Lisa Humphries explained why the company is keen on Beech aircraft. She said: “We bought the first King Air as a trial really, to test the market and she’s worked very hard in the two years that we’ve owned her so we definitely feel this is

the way forward.”

In an interview with EBAN in May 2003, Humphries had said that the future was with turboprops. Did she still think that was true? She said: “Yes, I still believe that’s true. It’s still very cost-effective compared to using jets and obviously a lot more upmarket when you compare it tothe pistons. And I think experience has borne me out.”

When it came time to purchase another aircraft, Humphries said there was little doubt what the company wanted: “We didn’t really consider anything else. We looked around a bit, but really we wanted a King Air 200.”

The aircraft will be used for ad hoc charter and will, like the rest of Capital Aviation’s fleet, be based in the west of England, this time at its new base in Exeter.

The company has been in Exeter for just over a year, adding to its bases in Filton and Jersey. Humphries said that the base had been a great success and explained why the latest aircraft will be based there: “There’s nobody else based in Exeter using that sort of aircraft and our other King Air, which is based at Filton, is currently working very hard on air ambulance duty.

“But we’re looking to target the whole of Devon and Cornwall with vip and executive work, particularly on the new aircraft. Essentially, we’re hoping to cover the whole region using both aircraft.”

Humphries expects the King Air to do a great deal of European work, particularly in southern Spain, and believes the aircraft is well suited to Capital Aviation’s business: “It’s partly a range issue. It covers the territory we need it to, and we also find that quite often we get a group of, say, six passengers who want to go to two or three places in the same trip and it’s good for operations like that. It’s also got the speed and it’s very upmarket and comfortable inside. We feel it’s got everything that our customers need, without the cost of a jet aircraft.”

She adds: “And there’s plenty of space inside too. It’s a very roomy cabin and you can nearly stand up in a King air, of course.

“Then there’s things like the leather interior and the toilet. There’s lots of baggage space too, which is a huge advantage.”

So far, the customer reaction has been extremely positive. “We attracted some new customers just recently,” Humphries is pleased to report, adding: “We took them on a trial flight and that was it;

they’re hooked!”

Alongside the two King Air 200s, Capital Aviation also owns and operates a fleet of six other aircraft, including a Cessna 404, two Cessna 310s, a Cessna 421 and two Piper Chieftains. It also manages a Citation I on behalf of a customer and is looking to manage another of the Cessna-manufactured aircraft. Humphries feels that the company might, at some point in the future, look to jet ownership itself, saying: “Possibly a few years down the line but I always think it’s nice to not get too big too quick.”

With a good year behind it and with its aircraft kept busy, Capital Aviation is optimistic about the future. “I think the market’s very good at the moment. We’ve had a good year, and it’s certainly grown throughout the year with the King Air side of things. We feel that things are only going to improve,” said Humphries.