UK-based Airtask Group has announced it has acquired Hebridean Air Services (HBR, Cumbernauld) from the carrier's founder, George Cormack, for an undisclosed sum.
Cormack has been a long term supplier of engineering services to Airtask Group through Islander Aircraft Services Limited.
"The Group shall continue their working relationship with Islander Aircraft Services which will support the Britten-Norman Islander fleet utilized on the air services," it said.
Hebridean Air Services operates scheduled air services on behalf of the Argyll and Bute Council from Oban Airport servicing the islands of Coll Island, Colonsay, Islay, and Tiree. They also provide air charter services. Given that the Airtask Group operates similar services on behalf of the Shetland Island Council, it expects to be able to offer efficiency gains and greater resilience for the PSO Services.
For its part, the Airtask Group, through Directflight (DCT, Exeter), holds two Air Operator Certificates (AOCs): the first, a National Certificate for Public Transport, as defined by the UK Air Navigation Order (ANO), which governs the company's Cessna-Reims F406 surveillance, general operations and BAe 146-300 Atmospheric Research Aircraft (ARA); and the second, an EU-Ops AOC for Commercial Air Transport (CAT) which governs its BN2 BN-2 Fleet operations in service in remote regions such as the islands of Fair Isle, Foula, Out Skerries, and Papa Stour.
