Barry Fehler is a businessman whose progression from business class traveller to private aircraft owner typifies what many believe is a growing trend. Disillusioned with scheduled business class he tried fractional ownership - and ended up owning a Super King Air which is chartered out when not in private use.

"I have worked hard all my life and have built up extensive insurance and leisure interests," Fehler explains. "Like many Brits, my family and I enjoy leaving the unpredictable U.K. weather for warmer climes. We have found southern Spain just right for us in terms of climate and way of life. My family and I usually visit our home in Malaga once a month. We used to be able to deal with the airline travel part but not any more. In fact, it had got to a point where we were actually avoiding going to Spain because of the awful airport experience, and things have further deteriorated."

In the summer of 2006 he noticed a scheme being launched by Atlantic Bridge Aviation Limited (ABA) based at London Ashford Airport in Kent. ABA provides low cost timeshare in executive aircraft under the Air Share name and operated by Lyddair, a wholly-owned subsidiary of ABA.

"We decided to invest in one share to start with and see how things went," says Fehler. "In November 2006 we had our first flight to Malaga and stopped for lunch in Pamplona on the way. It occurred to me that we could, in fact, plan to stop in a variety of places including some notable French Chateaux equipped with their own landing strips."

The Piper Chieftain did not, initially, have the range to make Malaga directly from the U.K. However ABA completed the fitting of a long range tank option in April of 2007 to provide that option if the family did not want to stop for lunch. Fehler says: "We found we'd arrive at the airport and be on board our aircraft with the engines started 10 minutes after getting to the airport. The vip escort to the aircraft ensured we were away in less time than it normally takes just to find the car park at a larger airport. By the time you would normally still be sitting on a cramped airliner at Gatwick with the captain announcing 'we have a 25 minute delay due to traffic congestion', we were already over the north coast of Spain."

On arrival, the family enjoyed being taken by private air conditioned people carrier to a vip terminal. "We were leaving the airport in our pick-up car less than five minutes after disembarking. This vip treatment is par for the course: I travel to Manchester on business and get just the same treatment."

Fehler says that Air Share worked so well that, during 2007, the holding was increased from one share, to two and then three. "Our quality of life and enjoyment of our Spanish home was much improved." In late summer 2007, ABA carried out a professional feasibility study on the best aircraft type to fit a budget set at around £1.2m and the purchase was complemented by a leaseback arrangement to generate revenue. "The aircraft recommended by ABA, a Super King Air, is perfect," says Fehler. "It is has a three-section cabin layout with a club four seating arrangement, a two place couch and a further seat in the main cabin. There are fold-out tables and hot coffee and ice box in the forward cabinetry. The cabin is large and quiet with big windows. The seats are luxury leather and the finishing all round is perfect.

"Entry is via a large door and this takes you into the rear cabin where there is a flushing toilet and a large baggage area - you simply cannot take too much baggage, it all fits and is accessible in flight."

The Super King was delivered in November. "The aircraft is very versatile and can operate onto short runways at small airports, or into major hub airports requiring advanced navigation equipment. This gives great flexibility when choosing where you wish to fly," Fehler says. "The whole experience is one I would thoroughly recommend, particularly for those who want a low cost/low exposure way of finding out if a private aircraft can work for them. I now have a superb luxury turboprop that, with the cooperation of ABA and Lyddair, will earn money for me when I am not flying in it myself through charter at very competitive rates."