South Africa's Agri Lime has invested in a Cessna 525 CJ1 for mining site and customer visits. “The aircraft is a dollar asset and represents a good move for the company,” says MD Gerhard Maritz. “It will depreciate and therefore reduce current tax implications within the company. Based in Cape Town, it will have relatively long distances to travel and will therefore save us time over using a turboprop. The SA Rand per kilometre is either cheaper or comparative to any of the turboprops available in the market.”

The aircraft has not taken to the skies yet, as the South African CAA has taken more than five months to finalise the import and issue its certificate, a source of frustration for Maritz. Once it is airborne, it will mostly be used to visit customers and mining sites – roughly 700 nm legs. “The shortest legs we will fly are 250 nm, and the longest 1,050 nm. The jet offers us a higher cruise altitude so we can get above the weather, a quieter cabin and higher speed so flying time is reduced. We are now able to base the aircraft closer to home, and we can fly longer distances to reach the destinations.”

Finding a suitable available runway for the CJ1 is going to pose a challenge, but Maritz is pleased to have found an aircraft that will supplement the core mining business effectively.

Agri Lime has clients across South Africa and runs a lodge in Mozambique. Its previous aircraft included the Beech Baron 58, Cheyenne II, Cheyenne III and Caravan C208.