Air Charter Scotland and Elit’Avia champion collaboration

Friday 1st April 2022

In a challenging aviation market the global Air Charter Association (ACA) offers a vital network and environment for its operator members to keep the safety and service for clients at the highest standards.

A recent example of this saw Air Charter Scotland and Elit’Avia collaborate to support the transfer of a UK-registered Embraer Phenom 300 onto the 9H Maltese aircraft registry. As a G-registry operator, Air Charter Scotland supported Elit’Avia with the process of achieving an export certificate of airworthiness in a complex transaction.

“We are very grateful to Air Charter Scotland’s Commercial Director Derek Thomson and Richard Rooney, Continuing Airworthiness Manager, who supported us in the communications between the UK Civil Aviation Authority and Transport Malta,” said Elit’Avia COO Iain Houseman. “As a competitor in the same marketplace it was especially satisfying to collaborate in this way,” added Gary Whitecunas, Director Business Development, Elit’Avia.

Elit’Avia approached Air Charter Scotland to assist with the process of full research on the aircraft’s records, including inspection and preparation for commercial operations. The collaboration achieved the goal inside three weeks, concluding a very complex administrative situation.

“Aviation is constantly evolving and we have endured significant disruption to every part of the administrative and management infrastructure we all took for granted. Covid, Brexit, the UK being out of EASA with the requirement for bilateral agreements/permits and now the growing business and operational impacts of sanctions - a result of the terrible conflict in Ukraine - have created new and complex challenges for every business. Being able to work with very supportive, competent and diligent ACA members such as Air Charter Scotland, who have the same goals of safety and client experience, has shown that collaboration and partnership is essential in a market experiencing considerable turmoil and consolidation,” said Iain Houseman.

“We were very pleased to support Elit’Avia with this project,” added Derek Thomson. Business aviation is a great enabler and collaboration, especially among boutique, independent businesses, is an excellent way to drive our dynamic sector forward.”