Skydrift has acquired a Citation 560 to service a business niche established by its U.K. operational base. "The Citation 560 fills the jet gap here at Norwich and is already serving our longstanding oil and gas exploration clients," says Tabs Taberham who formed Skydrift in 1987.

Skydrift was acquired by Longmint Aviation in 2006. It operates all fixed wing aircraft for both Skydrift and Sterling Aviation. "These aircraft operate on ad hoc and contract charter for both passengers and cargo, specialising in particular, in the offshore oil and gas business," says Taberham.

He adds: "Business is growing all the time, hence we are getting more aircraft to fill the gaps. We buy good preowned aircraft. All of our fleet is preowned."

The fleet has grown to consist of the Citation 560, an Embraer Banderiante, three PA31-350s, a Beech B58 Baron, a BN2 Islander and a Cessna 172. One of the PA31-350s is being used on daily scheduled services to Le Havre, and weekly services to Le Touquet, operated by Skydrift under its trading name of Skysouth.