The inspiration for the launch of Jersey-based Aviation Beauport, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, can be traced back to a beach in Sardinia. The company's two founders - Jerseymen Tom Clarke and Patrick Harrison - had travelled there to take delivery of their newly-acquired twin-engined Piper Aztec D. As they basked in the sunshine, they decided that the aircraft could be usefully and profitably employed as an air taxi.

The new company's early passengers included 3,000 day-old chicks en route from Jersey to St Brieuc in Brittany. "However, a snowstorm forced the aircraft's return to Jersey with the chicks still on board and, as a result, they were obliged to take up temporary residence in the Aviation Beauport offices," says md Capt. Greg Graham. "Since then hundreds of thousands of passengers have passed through its doors."

He adds: "The company now operates a long-established air charter business and our corporate management division offers everything from hangarage, flight planning and maintenance to a complete turnkey operation."

Aviation Beauport was acquired in 1984 by the current chairman, businessman Michael Bell. At the same time, he also acquired the air taxi division of Air Atlantique. The two companies were merged under the Aviation Beauport name.

The company now owns or manages five aircraft, including a Citation Excel, with a further two jets due in the next 12 months.