Slovenian operator Elit'Avia has been awarded an AOC by Transport Malta. Three aircraft have been placed on the certificate: a Global XRS, a Falcon 7X and a Challenger 605, all of which are managed jets. The XRS and the Challenger are immediately available for charter, while the factory-new Falcon will initially be operated privately. The operator's global fleet now stands at 15, serving clients throughout EMEA and North America.

“We are very pleased to announce that we have been awarded a Maltese AOC,” says Michel Coulomb, president and ceo of the company. “Looking at 2013 compared to 2012, we have enjoyed overall fleet traffic growth of approximately 20 per cent, with Africa representing a four fold increase in activity. By year end, we expect to be managing 20 aircraft and, by adding the Maltese AOC to our portfolio, we are well positioned to support increased activity levels without compromising our commitment to service.”

Coo Puja Mahajan adds that Malta has emerged as a preferred location for business aircraft operators, and cites key reasons: “Malta is EASA and FAA Category 1 certified, and the government has created a tax-friendly environment for aircraft owners and operators.”

Elit'Avia is offering its clients full service management and charter support, including ground operations, continued airworthiness and other related services.

The operator has also been awarded EROPS approval by the Slovenian CAA for the Global 6000 and Challenger 605 aircraft in its fleet. These aircraft may follow a more direct flight path, within three-hour access of a suitable alternate airport, over water, using one engine. This higher standard exceeds the extended range twin operations ETOPS regulation for charter, which requires two-hour airport access, resulting in more frequent fuelling stops and less direct routing options.

“We are now part of an exclusive club of operators worldwide with 10 EROPS-approved aircraft in our fleet and the only European company operating EROPS-approved Challenger 605s,” says Coulomb. Puja Mahajan adds: "We have adopted EROPS maintenance procedures to maximise the dispatch reliability of flights operating at extended distances from alternate airports and to reduce the likelihood of diversion or turn-back.

“We have also implemented a real-time approach to maintenance, including continuous engine and critical system monitoring to further protect aircraft operation and safety. Like our recent IS-BAO stage 3 accreditation, EROPS approval is the latest step in our strategy to meet and exceed the highest operating and safety standards.”