Erik Scheidt, director of German operator K5-Aviation, reveals that his company has added a Global XRS to its fleet, on the back of a successful spell with a Global Express: “We already have one aircraft which is flying very well and which is chartered out quite a lot. We just saw the need to increase the fleet,” he says.

Scheidt explains that range was at the forefront of the operator's needs when selecting this aircraft. Having received it at the beginning of August, the XRS has been running for a couple of months and is performing very well: “Things are exactly as expected, because it's doing the same job as the first aircraft.

“The one we had previously was a straight Global Express, a normal one. We saw the need to have a newer aircraft available for charter also. Our operation is only vip charter. While the Express was running pure vip charter, the XRS is an owner and charter aircraft.”

K5-Aviation has added an ACJ as well, and now has two ACJs with a third ordered for next year. Scheidt says that although these different models are not assigned to different functions, for clients who require something bigger, the Airbus is available. “The newly added Airbus has slightly less range but is still a long-range aircraft. It also provides a bigger cabin which can fly bigger groups. We fly 18 passengers on the ACJ versus 14 on the Global,” Scheidt continues. “We received ETOPS 180 certification for the Airbus in the middle of the year. ”

The company has added a number of personnel to account for this increase in operational size, including pilots and ground staff. The roster also contains staff from Augsburg Airways, which ceased operations in October.

The next ACJ will go into completion at the beginning of 2014, and K5-Aviation is due to receive the green aircraft in February, with a view to entering service at the beginning of 2015.

“We are doing the full range of operations, meaning that we purchase aircraft for clients, we do the outfitting, and later on the entry into service and operation of the aircraft as well as charter for managed aircraft,” Scheidt remarks.