Netherlands-based Zeusch Aviation has taken the next major step in its quest to earn its AOC, after it was named a CAMO organisation. Zeusch operates a King Air fleet that is used for broadcast relay services, aerial surveillance, medevac, transplant flights and aerial mapping. The first aircraft to be managed under its CAMO is a King Air C90A, with preparations to add its Beechcraft B200 Super King Air in full swing. The remaining aircraft in the fleet, a second King Air C90A and a second Super King Air B200 will be migrated over within the next year.

As a CAMO, Zeusch now has responsibility for managing every element relating to the airworthiness of the aircraft, including handling maintenance schedules and ensuring all required certificates are valid at all times of operation. To maintain safety standards and assure proper oversight, all maintenance is carried out by an external contracted main-tenance company.

“By taking airworthiness manage-ment in-house and establishing our own CAMO certificate, we are no longer dependent on a third-party service of which we are not the sole customer,” comments MD Herman van Kranenburg. “Now we can determine when and where the maintenance of the King Air C90A will be performed. Our customers will benefit by having greater access to our aircraft as we plan and manage our own maintenance schedules. We can also be assured of increased fleet availability and reliability.”

New hire Danny van Leperen will manage the CAMO for Zeusch as an in-house specialist, bringing 19 years of aircraft maintenance expertise to the organisation. He began his career as a mechanic for Dutch airline Martinair, and he has worked as a ground engineer, technical specialist and duty maintenance controller with several Dutch aviation companies since.

Zeusch recently reached a major milestone by recording its first aircraft registration on the Netherlands registry. The B200, under new registration PH-ZAZ, was outfitted to perform aerial mapping capabilities.

“We have the AOC in our sights and are focused on developing the necessary personnel, assets and safety management systems to reach this goal. Bringing Danny on board adds real value to the business, and these latest developments highlight that we’re working diligently towards our goal,” van Kranenburg continues.

The main missions performed in 2020 by Zeusch have been mapping in Scandinavia, Poland, the UK and central Europe and, to a lesser extent, relay broadcast in the Emirates. Its main clients are private companies. “Some of our clients provide their product to governments as well as other private entities,” explains van Kranenburg. “For the rest of the year we expect to continue to support mapping missions and, depending on the COVID-19 situation, relay missions for major outdoor cycling events. In addition we expect to perform our first surveillance missions on the northwestern part of Europe.”

The operator recently brought on its fourth King Air B200, and the purchase of a fifth has just been closed.

Van Kranenburg says this aircraft will be imported from the USA and re-registered to The Netherlands registry.

He concludes: “We will continue our fleet expansion with at least one King Air aircraft per year, or more if needed by the market. At the same time we are looking at expanding the offered mission profile portfolio for the future to further grow our business and presence in Europe and beyond.”

Before the pandemic struck, Zeusch was involved in the coverage of a number of sporting events, including the Volta Limburg Classic bicycle race.