KATE SARSFIELD / LONDON
Offering to consist of three components - spot, block and an integrated programme targeted at leisure market
US helicopter fractional ownership programme HeliFlite Shares plans to launch a charter service in January, following receipt of its third Bell 430 intermediate twin and Part 135 operator's certificate.
The charter venture will consist of three components, says HeliFlite president Bill Force - spot charter; block charter and an integrated programme, whereby an customer buys a share in a helicopter and leases the aircraft to a third party. The programme is similar, Force says, to the scheme under which Marquis Jet Partners resells blocks of hours on NetJets, fixed-wing fractional ownership fleet.
"We will roll out our spot charter and integrated programme first as the current fleet should be large enough service our customers," Force says. "The block charter programme will follow once we have evaluated the level of demand. We will then add a fourth aircraft, but not necessarily a 430," he adds.
Force says the integrated programme is ideally suited to the leisure market as a tool for attracting high net worth individuals. HeliFlite has begun targeting golf clubs in the New York area where, Force says, competition to attract and retain members is high. "A golf club can purchase a share from us and allow their members to use the aircraft."
HeliFlite has more than 20 share owners and plans to expand its fractional and charter programmes, starting with Florida, Force says, "when the New York area is a money-making success".
Source: Flight International
