Jota Aviation - responding to demand in short medium and long term ACMI with expanded Avro RJ fleet

Wednesday 18th October 2017

Jota Aviation's recently delivered BAE Avro RJ100 (G-JOTS) was quickly contracted by Europe's regional airlines Flybe franchisee Stobart Air and France's HOP! since entering service four months ago, providing valuable supplemental lift.


 
Now Jota's management are at the ERA General Assembly in Athens to highlight availability from November, for ACMI and charter work. "We have been successful recruiting a full complement of RJ pilots and are actually looking to recruit more next quarter," said CEO Andy Green, who is already eyeing the addition of a fourth RJ.  This aircraft has proved a great niche for us.  It is proven, popular with both regional and legacy airlines and hard to match for wide cabin comfort."


 
G-JOTS, which arrived in May, immediately performed six months' flying - initially for Stobart Air out of London Southend Airport, supplementing scheduled services to Cologne, Lyon, Reus, Budapest, Venice and Perpignan.  Then it moved to Toulouse and Lyon flying domestic services including Nantes, Bordeaux and Nice, as well as Prague and Rome for the French regional carrier.


The ex-Brussels Airlines aircraft (Serial Number E3355) which Jota purchased from Falko Aviation is Jota's third BAE regional jet and its first Avro RJ100.  Configured with 97 seats in five abreast layout, the aircraft joins Jota's Avro RJ85 and its original BAe 146-200.


 
In the 100-seat market the Avro RJ mirrors the equipment size offered by many of Jota's regional airline customers, and ERA member airlines, serving primarily business rather than leisure routes.  An important added bonus is that the RJ has STOL capabilities and can fly into adjacent London City Airport," adds Head of Commercial Mike Sessions.



Jota obtains UK Part 145 line maintenance approval for regional jets


 
Underlining its commitment to the Avro/146 family, Jota Aviation has just obtained UK CAA approval to undertake Part 145 line maintenance at its expanded Southend Airport facilities.  The certificate was awarded in May, just ahead of service entry for G-JOTS.



Last year Jota Aviation finalised the lease of a 23,000 sq ft hangar facility to house its own spares for its BAe 146/Avro RJ aircraft with the specific objective to look after all its line work.  Heavy maintenance on the regional jets will continue to be outsourced and this is currently handled by MRO partner Avalon Aero at Cranfield.



Jota is represented at the European Regions Airlines Association annual meeting in Athens this week by Andy Green, Mike Sessions and Kevin Callan, CFO.  They are looking forward to talking with operators about longer term ACMI requirements.


Jota Aviation is part of the independent Jota Group, which also comprises Jota Sport, Jota Design and Jota Historic.  Now in its seventh year Jota was set up to cater for the travel and cargo demands of the motorsports industry, Jota Aviation has grown to be a leading specialist air charter and ACMI operator serving the UK and Europe now focused on BAe 146/Avro RJ jet operations since October 2014. The company is run by Andy Green, CEO and CAA post holder, who set up the company for the directors of Jota Sport in 2009.  Jota Aviation was granted a type B operating licence in September 2010, initially flying light piston aircraft and then progressing to Beechcraft King Airs. The Company gained it's A licence in 2014 with the introduction of the BAE Avro RJ series.



Jota Sport

The racing division of the JOTA Group currently competes in the European Le Mans Series plus selected rounds of the FIA World Endurance Championship including the Le Mans 24 Hours - a race JOTA Sport first contested in 2005 and has claimed a top-six overall placing in. Including runners up in the European Le Mans series and winning the coveted Le Mans 24 hour race in LMP2 in 2014 and 2016 and second placed in 2015 and 2016.  Jota Sport has also competed successfully in the American Le Mans Series, British GT Championship, Le Mans Series, Le Mans Endurance Series and FIA Sportscar Championship since its formation in 2000 as well as the Spa and Nürburgring 24 Hour races.

Jota Historic

This focuses on restoring and running historic race cars at Blue-Ribbon events such as the Le Mans Classic and Goodwood. Built on a foundation of supreme attention to detail, dedication and expertise, Jota Historic offers a turnkey operation from restoration, race car setup, race weekend support and performance driver coaching.

Jota Design

Jota Design specialises in the design, development and manufacture of road, race and rally projects. The knowledge and experience gained through motorsport competition is directly translated into all the projects that Jota Design is tasked with, from major OEM projects for the likes of Mazda through to individual vehicle performance enhancement.