AIRLINE REVIEW
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2 Leaving the Algarve coast for a brief stint over the Atlantic Ocean enroute to Cascais from Portimão . The unpressurized Dornier doesn ’ t climb above FL100 making for some excellent views along the coastline .
THE SEVENAIR GROUP
Headquartered at Cascais Aerodrome , a small general aviation airfield to the west of Lisbon , Portugal , Sevenair is a major aviation group with interests in almost every aspect of commercial aviation , from sky-diving and aerobatic flights to flight training , aircraft maintenance , and scheduled airline services .
The company began by establishing the first commercial Pilot school in Portugal , Aero Avia , in 1980 . During its over 40 years of operations , the Sevenair Group has developed one of the largest flight training facilities in Europe , with a fleet of over 50 aircraft . The company ’ s little-known airline branch has become an expert in the commuter aircraft market , specializing in public service obligations ( PSO ) and ACMI ( wet leasing ) contracts , having operated in over 14 countries in Europe and Africa .
Sergio Leal , the airline ’ s Flight Operations Manager , who has been with the airline since its beginnings in 2008 , told Airways how the airline got started .
“ The company decided to buy two Dornier 228s from the Portuguese carrier AeroCondor , who ceased operations that year ,” Leal related . “ The objective was to tender for the PSO contract connecting Lisbon to Braganca using these new aircraft . We won the tender , so we operated this route for the next three years . Since then , the tender has been renewed multiple times , and we have continuously won it . We have effectively been operating this route uninterrupted since January 2009 .”
Aside from the PSO route in Portugal , Sevenair has grown its presence overseas . In 2013 , Aurigny Airlines ( Channel Islands ) was looking for a replacement for its aging Tri-islanders , which had similar STOL ( short take-off and landing ) capability to land at the small airstrips it serves , such as Alderney . Aurigny requested that Sevenair operate one of its Dornier Do-228s on their network on wet-lease terms to determine whether the aircraft was suitable for its operations ( CS-TGG MSN 8160 ). Following the trial , Aurigny was satisfied with the performance and purchased its first Dornier 228 ( G-SAYE MSN 8046 ). Sevenair continued to provide input in the form of flight training for the Aurigny aircrews and aircraft maintenance . Aurigny , which has continued to operate the planes to this day , has gone on to purchase the ‘ New Generation ’ model ; it ’ s still very much committed to the type .
Meanwhile , the PSO tender to connect the Portuguese islands of Madeira and Porto Santo
46 AIRWAYS MAGAZINE MARCH 2024 www . airwaysmag . com