Aircraft Charter Group (ACG) has taken delivery of a pair of Pilatus PC-12s under management contracts. Due to strict EASA regulations, the aircraft, which are owned by two different companies, are available only through a fractional and block charter programme.

“Because of the legal requirements in Europe, you are not allowed to fly commercially IFR with single

engine aircraft, so the only way to operate the PC-12 is to offer block hour programmes,” commented md Andreas Staehli.

“With our Share Plane fractional programme, we allow clients to buy hours on our aeroplanes, like fractional ownership, so the client is a part-owner for 25 hours per year – up to 300 or 500 hours.”

The Altenrhein-based aircraft will also be used to perform demonstration flights for potential clients, which will account for about 10 per cent of the aircraft’s use. According to Staehli, the aircraft owners’ use will account for approximately 20 per cent of the hours, with the remaining 70 per cent made up of block hour charter flights.

“It’s good for the owners, as they have the aircraft with fixed and variable costs, and if we sell the block hour programmes, they can reduce the costs for themselves.”

The company has formed an alliance with two other Swiss companies, Redex Air and Scenic Air, ensuring that aircraft are always available. “We help each other with aircraft and have a pool of pilots. If they need an aircraft, we can charter them an aeroplane, for example, with agreed prices. Perhaps in the future we would like a pool of clients, to serve the clients in a unique way.”

Staehli believes that there is potential for the market for PC-12s in Europe to grow, primarily because of high fuel prices. “The aircraft has only one engine, so it’s very economical, and the landing fees are very low. The other advantages are that it is able to land on short runways and is pretty fast.”

ACG already has four major Swiss companies signed up to its Share Plane scheme, including two national banks. The company is currently forecasting aircraft usage of 500 hours per year. “This is increasing, as we are working on a very big prospect list, looking towards the eastern part of Switzerland.”

A typical mission has a flight time of between an hour to an hour and a half, which Staehli says is the economical range of the PC-12s, placing it in competition with smaller Citations.

“We can fly point-to-point, unlike the airlines, so our clients have plenty of time for their appointments. We have a client who flies to Palma for meetings, which is an hour each way, so he can conduct his business in a single day. With the airlines, he would need two working days.”

The company operates both of the aircraft with two crew members, even though they are suitable for single pilot operation. “We operate with one captain and a copilot, because the PC-12 is similar to a Citation in terms of cabin space and speed, on short legs. This is also for safety reasons, decreasing the workload of the commander.”

Staehli believes that the charter market in Europe is growing, having noticed a trend that passengers who flew business and first class on airlines are recognising the benefits of business aviation, and its ability to save them time.

The biggest problem facing ACG at the moment is the removal of duty free fuel benefits. “If we fly from Switzerland to a foreign country we must pay the taxes on the fuel, which makes it a little more expensive than it was before.”