Corporate Air, formed only a year ago, is reporting increasing take up by businessmen of its shared aircraft ownership facility. "Our aim is to be known as the people who provide jets in Ireland and promote St. Angelo airport at Enniskillen as the corporate airport for Ireland," says Tony Ringland, one of Corporate Air's partners.

"We see a great demand in Ireland for business aircraft and for Enniskillen as the business aircraft airport in Ireland. We average three days per week in each aircraft and that would relate to between 7,000 and 10,000 miles per week. We are looking closely at the VLJ market."

Ringland adds: "You can leave London City airport at 5.30 p.m. in a Corporate Air jet and be sitting down for dinner in beautiful County Fermanagh by 7.30 p.m." St Angelo airport is building a new jet hangar and business centre to cater for business aircraft and a runway extension is proposed for later this year.

Corporate Air, from its base in the north of Ireland, offers shares in aircraft which, at present, are all pre-owned. Each owner is allotted periods of aircraft use that reflect their shares. A 50 per cent ownership equates to six months' time usage spread throughout a year. Another aircraft is being lined up for prospective owners.

"We have an offer on a second 2001 C550 Bravo and should have this in operation by May 2008," says Ringland. The new aircraft will be jointly owned by two companies with business in Europe and will be mostly used for business trips. The Bravo was chosen for its range and payload.

Corporate Air combines organising share purchases in aircraft with managing business aircraft at St Angelo. "At present we look after three Citations (Bravo, Citation II and a C500) and two PA31s (Navajo and Chieftain)," Ringland says. Corporate Air also provides crew for other PA31s, C500 and C550 aircraft based in Ireland.

The company's expansion has sparked interest amongst job seekers. "We mostly head hunt pilots and do not have any vacancies at the moment but welcome CVs," says Ringland. "All our pilots are special and it is interesting that just two out of 14 are ex-airline."

Ringland says that Corporate Air is planning to further build its business. "We have, in a very short time, acquired the reputation as safe efficient corporate aircraft operators with some of the best corporate pilots in Ireland. We are driven by customer care and attention to detail and, as with any organisation, the best marketing is by word of mouth."

Corporate Air is organising a jet day at St Angelo and is inviting some of Ireland's top companies and businessmen to view aircraft and discuss their travel requirements.