Executive Aviation Service (EAS), a UK AOC holder and subsidiary of 51 North Group, has taken delivery of a Challenger 350 for a private individual. The client initially wanted a Challenger 300, but will benefit from the warranty of the newer jet, which will be based in the London area.

“The aircraft has a really modern stand-up cabin with eight seats,” says chairman Neil Cochrane. “We typically operate larger aircraft like the Gulfstream G550, Globals, Falcon 900, and we have recently signed up a G-V.

“The Challenger 350 is a fantastic aircraft for the European market. We think that Farnborough and Biggin Hill are particularly suitable airports for it. The charter market around London has been picking up. Last year was good, and this year has started even better. We are developing a good relationship with Plane Audits, which has administered the engineering part of the early delivery of this aircraft prior to the engine being taken in-house with our engineer Devinder Kalsi, of Kal Aviation Services.”

Plane Audits is run by Mark Abbott, former owner of London Stansted-based Part 145 MRO EBAS. Assisting him is Andy Baker, who says: “Mark brings a wealth of experience and longevity to the table, especially with Bombardier products. I have joined forces with him and so far we have completed three appraisals, four pre-buys and two aircraft record reviews, as well as being involved with this brand new Challenger 350 delivery.

“We work well together and he is passing on his experience and eye for detail.”

The CL350 is the second aircraft that EAS has signed up to its AOC in the last few months, the first being a Falcon 900. The company also has a letter of intent for a Falcon 7X, but has not received the aircraft yet. “The idea is to build up the activity of the AOC, and we have some other developments ongoing,” explains Cochrane. “When we took over EAS it was a bit of a quiet business, and we have instilled more ambition to drive it forward.”