Air Charter Scotland has transformed its fleet from mainly piston to almost exclusively jets to meet client demand in 2007. Alan Ruddock, one of the operations managers, says the move to five newer aircraft is in response to client demand. The fleet includes three Cessna 525s, one managed and two wholly owned, all available for charter, including a recently delivered 525.

A managed factory new Hawker 400XP has recently been added to fleet and is also being made available for charter. Ruddock says: "Clients want to fly in modern quiet jets not pistons

and this is reflected in our fleet transformation." The company also has one Super King Air, bringing the fleet to five. Two of the Citations are based in London with the remaining aircraft in Scotland.

Air Charter Scotland has been offering direct flights from Scotland, as well as London, to 'sunshine destinations". Operations manager Derek Thomson says the 400XP's impressive performance manages the distance from Scotland to destinations such as Malaga and beyond quite comfortably. "It has a range of around 1,600 nm. We can take three or four passengers in good time."

The company has moved its offices from Prestwick to an off-airport location in East Kilbride, south of Glasgow. Thomson estimates that 75 to 80 per cent of Air Charter Scotland's business is sourced through brokers with a mix of leisure and business demand.

In addition, following the lease of a 2,300 sq. m. hangar, the maintenance division of the company, Air Charter Engineering, is now providing third party maintenance, operating out of the Perth facility.