Fairoaks, UK-based Starspeed has taken over the management of a Sikorsky S-92 helicopter previously operated by Air Harrods. “The owner needed a new solution for his existing aircraft, and we are honoured to be chosen,” says Starspeed director Gary Butcher. The aircraft is owned privately and will be operated commercially for third party charter, in addition to supporting the flights of the owner. Butcher says the S-92 is the only corporate aircraft of its type available in the UK for charter, with the exception of offshore aircraft.

The aircraft's 16-seat capacity is a huge advantage: “We often have requirements to move a number of people and we traditionally have to do that with two or three aircraft. But now we can potentially get them all into one,” he explains.

“We would envisage it doing a lot of work for pop groups on tour. With 16 seats I would say it is certainly the largest commercial helicopter available for charter anywhere in Europe.”

The S-92 is often used for oil rig support, yet Butcher is enthusiastic about its onshore potential, and reveals that he has been in dialogue with a number of brokers who are already familiar with the aircraft and its services to music groups. It entered Starspeed's AOC mid-January and has received numerous enquiries, and he adds that the proving flight with the CAA went 'perfectly.'

He does, however, express concerns about the limited capability of the aircraft at locations such as Silverstone race circuit: “They don't have a big enough landing site for it and I think that will be the main challenge. The suitability of landing sites at those special events where lots of people want to be.

“Silverstone used to be fine but now they've got a new helipad and there just isn't the space, so we are going to be searching for a new site there that we can use.

“Nonetheless, for anyone who wants to move a large number of people in one go, this aircraft is the only solution, and it's more cost effective than having two S-76s.”

The operator is hoping that the addition will give its fleet more depth, and the latest aircraft joins a roster with varying size and weight categories, ranging from a five-seat Bell 429 upward. Butcher now believes his fleet is the most extensive of any onshore commercial operator in the region.

He expects to stay just as busy in 2014 as he was last year: “We were just looking at our charter figures for 2013, which were more than 200 hours up when compared to 2012.

“We picked up the difference when others stopped operating, and I think there's no sign of anybody coming back in any significant capacity.”

Despite surviving while other operators have 'fallen away', his company is determined not to be complacent, and Butcher says that no operator is immune from difficulties: “We have always concentrated on making our operations super safe. We've been going since 1978 and we've never taken any risks with owning expensive, unreliable aircraft.”