UK aircraft broker Jet Connections is hoping to secure before the end of the third quarter the first clutch of owners for its non-equity sharers programme. The NES programme is designed as a low-cost alternative to traditional aircraft management offerings.
The scheme - believed to be an industry first - offers aircraft owners and users of business aircraft a transparent and personalised service. "It guarantees users a much lower rate than the market rate for chartered flights," said Jet Connections managing director Zahir Deir.
"A Citation Bravo user with around 100h on the NES programmes for example will save around £500 [$800] per occupied flight hour compared with a similar number of charter hours on the open market."
The fixed operating costs for the aircraft owner are also cheaper than traditional management programmes, Deir said. "While the advantages of owning an aircraft are numerous, so are the costs. A private aircraft is very expensive to purchase and comes with many added expenses, for example, hiring and training pilots, maintenance, insurance and management."
Oxford-based Jet Connections will source up to four individuals or companies to share between 70h and 100h a year each with the owner. The fixed operating costs - insurance, management, maintenance and pilots - are divided between the "group" and "each user is responsible for their direct costs such as fuel, landing fees, en-route air traffic control charges and handling for a specific flight".
NES has been well received by potential owners and airframers including Cessna, Embraer and Hawker Beechcraft have endorsed the programme. "We are in the process of securing the first owners. Once they are in place we will source the users within the same geographical area," said Deir.
Source: Flight International
