Following a programme of steady fleet expansion, MAS Airways has purchased a Citation Excel. The London Gatwick-based aircraft joins a Citation II, which is based at Biggin Hill, performing ad hoc charter flights.

“We were thinking about a Hawker,” said accountable manager John Matthews. “Although it’s

slightly faster than the Citation, maintenance costs are a nightmare. There’s only two people who like the Hawker: The maintenance providers and the pilots.”

The aircraft has been fitted with a new interior, featuring DVD players and a satellite telephone. MAS is considering fitting an oven to serve hot food during flights. The Excel has a nine-place interior, opening up the option to operate crew movement flights for brokers.

“It’s got a very quiet cabin too,” he added. “We are very impressed with it. I expect we’ll be making some flights around Turkey and we have some clients who don’t mind tech stops, so we can open up routes to northern Africa.”

A number of the company’s clients who fly to destinations further than Madrid, for example, are upgrading from the Citation II to the Excel, though Matthews notes that the Citation II remains popular thanks to its refurbishment.

As well as refurbishing the interior of the Excel, Jet Aviation refurbished the Citation II and fitted the ‘Branson modification,’ which replaces the brakes and undercarriage of the aircraft, increasing the maximum takeoff weight from 13,300 to 14,500 pounds – comparable to a Bravo.

“Even with full fuel, it can carry a reasonable load compared to other Citation IIs so, if the customer is willing to land 10 to 15 minutes later than they would in a Bravo, he can take an aircraft that still has an excellent interior and exterior. I defy the customer to notice the difference.

“Now that EASA has come into force – although the UK can stop a modification if it believes it is

critical to flight safety – as a

principal, whatever is good for one country is good for another, which opens up these modifications in

the UK market.”

TCAS and EGPWS have also been installed in the Citation II, and it

now sports a ‘Bravo’ interior, featuring a door for the lavatory in place of the curtain, new side walls and gold fittings.

“The brokers are interested in a reasonable, cost-effective price and when you combine that with a new interior, the client doesn’t really know any different,” said Matthews.

MAS intends to acquire a second Excel in 2006 and is currently looking for management clients to branch into the transatlantic market, setting up routes from London to Dubai and New York. The company is also working with a client who owns a share in an Agusta 109 and is currently comm-unicating with the authorities to place the helicopter on the G register.

“I’ve got a steady plan for MAS. We’ll buy an aircraft when it’s the

right time, and for the right price.\r

The main profit in aviation is owning the aircraft, and that’s why we have the edge over clients who don’t work well with their managed clients. We can be more flexible, which the brokers love, too.”

A recent addition to the MAS team is Cy Williams, who takes on the role of company director. Having previously worked as an IT director for another operator, Williams is hoping to improve technological proficiency at the company.

“This has allowed me to concentrate more on the CAA paperwork and the growth of the company,” said Matthews, who, at age 24, has progressed quickly in his career to become one of the youngest accountable managers in the industry. “We now have room for another Citation and I am actively looking for a client to invest in a smaller Citation-type aircraft.”