South African Fortune Air is operating a Global Express based in Johannesburg, and is working with Swiss-headquartered charter specialist Vertis Aviation to increase the hours on the aircraft when the owner is not using it.

Registered on the Fortune Air AOC, the latest jet seats 10 in a club combination, while the aft provides two club seating along with a three-seat divan that can be turned into a bed for overnight flights. A range of over 5,000 nm means that the aircraft is likely to be popular for clients travelling between north and south Africa, and to Europe and the Middle East.

Director and ceo of Fortune Air Gordon Robertson comments: “The South African charter industry is very slow at the moment. Fortune Air is operating this aircraft on behalf of its owner, who happens to be an overseas client. We are working with Vertis on the sales side of the charter market, because of the value that they believe they can bring to the partnership by generating extra hours and increasing utilisation.

“There are also a few changes happening in our business model right now. It is the first time we have had a deal with Vertis and because the Global Express is a transcontinental aircraft, we will have empty legs that should be filled. The aircraft is one of the earlier models but prior to commencing operations it was refurbished to a high standard, and I think there is a lot of scope within the South African charter market for such an aircraft, given its looks.”

The limited nature of the charter market in South Africa has caused Robertson to seek out alternative revenue streams, including the drone segment. “We are hoping that we'll be South Africa's first licensed operator, under what we call Part 101, similar to CAP 772 in the UK,” he continues. “We are looking at developing a strategic partnership with a Danish firm, however this project is still in its infancy. It might sound strange for a Part 121 operator to become a drone operator, but I think we all saw Lufthansa talking about drone training, using its existing ATO and structures to carry out drone pilot training, and I think there are a lot of opportunities in this respect.

“Some operators that are carrying out drone missions may not be aware of control zones and how safety is defined in the regulations, so we are pursuing a strategy along these lines. We are not completely moving out of the charter market, but we are looking at a service and technology product, because we feel it could run parallel with our other initiatives.”

The aircraft is the 15th in the Vertis portfolio, and the fourth it markets in Africa; other aircraft on offer from Vertis in Africa include a 2015 Global 6000, a Learjet 45 and a vip Boeing 727. It also has access to an AW139 helicopter.