Paving the Way for Future Aviation Talent With Safeer

30 September 2025

As part of our commitment to developing future aviation talent and supporting the industry leaders of tomorrow, Air Charter Scotland recently welcomed Safeer scholarship students Laura and Caterina to our Malta Office for a three month internship, providing them with in-depth, hands-on work experience at a leading European private charter company.

Safeer is a provider of flight operations and dispatch training, consultancy, and strategic support for the airlines and aviation industry. Safeer’s mission – to inspire, guide and equip future aviation professionals with the knowledge, confidence and mindset to thrive in the heart of airline operations – aligns with Air Charter Scotland’s own goals to foster and train the industry’s next generation.

At our Malta office, Air Charter Scotland’s management team partnered with Safeer to offer Laura and Caterina their first professional placements within the aviation industry. This three month placement gave our future aviation talent the opportunity to gain in-depth, valuable insights into the inner workings of a private charter company.

From the Operations Control Centre in Malta, Ground Operations Manager Mathew Huddart and Deputy Flight Ops Director for Air Charter Scotland and Co-Founder of Safeer Irene d’Ovidio guided Laura and Caterina through our dynamic aviation environment, preparing them with the skills required to succeed in the aviation industry.

At our Scottish HQ, Chief Operating Officer Derek Thomson and Chief Financial Officer Jasmine Purewal liaised with our Maltese base, providing essential administrative assistance and ongoing professional support for the students throughout their placement.

Laura said:

“My three months at Air Charter Scotland in Malta gave me invaluable industry insight and the chance to learn from a supportive, professional team.”

Caterina said:

“This internship was a fantastic experience that helped me grow both personally and professionally, while feeling part of a dynamic company culture.”

Air Charter Scotland COO Derek Thomson said:

“Air Charter Scotland recognises the importance of developing the next generation of industry professionals, which is why we continually seek opportunities to support future aviation talent. It is a privilege to have the capacity to do this not just here at our headquarters in Scotland, but also from our European base ideally placed in Malta to service the continent. Everyone at Air Charter Scotland is proud to have been able to be the first stepping stone for Laura and Caterina in their careers. We’d also like to thank the team at Safeer for their collaboration in this scheme.”

Looking for a career in aviation? Get in touch with Air Charter Scotland and see how we can support you.

Flying to Save Lives: Air Charter Scotland Explores Support for Lia’s Wings

23 September 2025

Air Charter Scotland was delighted to catch up with so many inspiring people last week at the Air Charter Association’s Air Charter Expo event at London Biggin Hill Airport.

A real highlight for us was meeting Rebecca Wilson (Head of Engagement) and Chris Massarella (Head of Fundraising) from Lia’s Wings. Lia’s Wings are an incredible charity that provides lifesaving air transfers for children in need. In times where every second counts, Lia’s Wings ensures children can access the specialist care they need – sometimes hundreds of miles away.

They are the only UK air ambulance charity that delivers life-saving services both in the UK and internationally. They use aeroplanes to provide urgent medical transfers, ensuring that babies and children receive the vital treatment they need, no matter where they are. They also provide a tailored support service for families to help them through crises, creating improved outcomes and lasting change.

Our Head of Client Services, Michelle McMullan, catch-up with the team at Lia’s Wings, exploring opportunities for Air Charter Scotland to support the incredible work they do. We’re proud to connect with organisations making such a positive impact and look forward to finding ways we can collaborate.

Michelle McMullan commented:

“It was a privilege to meet with the Lia’s Wings team and learn more about the incredible difference they make for children and families across the UK. At Air Charter Scotland, we are committed to supporting organisations that deliver essential services and we look forward to developing ways in which we can assist.

To find out more about this brilliant organisation, head over to their website and see where you can support them. lias-wings.org.uk

Pilot Nicola Flies High into Senior First Officer Rank

19 September 2025

Air Charter Scotland is thrilled to announce the promotion of Nicola Saunders to Senior First Officer rank. Nicola – who is a popular member of the team and has been with the company since 2021 – currently operates both the Embraer Legacy 500 and Embraer Praetor 600 known collectively as EMB550. 

These flagship models within our fleet are world-renowned for comfort and performance within luxury air travel. Conveniently, both are DEFRA-approved to allow our favourite four-legged friends on board.

As the Embraer private jets are capable of a much greater range, they are the ideal choice for not only to destinations within Europe but to favoured cities such as New York on the USA East Coast. One of Nicola’s first trips on the EMB550 was to the famous St Maarten in the Caribbean. Both models are stalwarts of our fleet given both their long and short range proficiencies and are firm favourites in our empty leg flights.


Having previously been a First Officer on the Citation CJ fleet, Nicola transitioned onto the EMB550 in December 2023. Nicola has now operated the EMB550 for just over 20 months, gaining valuable experience which has allowed the progression to Senior First Officer, giving her additional seniority on the fleet.

Nicola Saunders, Senior First Officer (Right), said, “I feel very grateful for the opportunities and support I have had from the company and excited to see what the future holds!”

Derek Thomson, COO at Air Charter Scotland said, “We all send Nicola our most sincere congratulations, her commitment and drive have been enviable and we wish her the very best of luck with whatever she chooses to take on next. The world literally is her oyster!”




Air Charter Scotland Add Bombardier Challenger 350

1 August 2024

Following the addition of a Cessna Citation CJ2+, we are thrilled to welcome our latest fleet member, the Bombardier Challenger 350. 

The Maltese registered Challenger 350 will operate under our European AOC and will be based in the Norwegian capital of Oslo. It becomes the second aircraft manufactured by Bombardier under Air Charter Scotland management and the 14th in total – with number 15 in the pipeline. 

Chief Operating Officer and Accountable Manager Derek Thomson says it’s an exciting time for all involved with the company. 

“We’re incredibly proud and very happy to welcome this beautiful Challenger 350 to our fleet. Bombardier has a reputation for manufacturing excellent business jets and we’ve seen that with our existing Challenger 350.”

Thomson continued:

“It’s a time of growth for us and being able to add aircraft such as the Challenger to our already fantastic list of jets is a testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone at Air Charter Scotland.”

An outstanding dispatch reliability, low direct operating costs and increased efficiency alongside sleek interior styling and flat floor deliver high style make the Bombardier Challenger 350 one of the best-selling business jets in the world.

With a range of 5926km (3200nm), a cruising speed of 889km/hn(552mp/h) at a maximum altitude of 45,000ft, the Canadian made Challenger promises comfort, luxury and exclusivity for those looking to charter the nine-seater business jet. 

The Bombardier Challenger 350 is available for charter in August. 

Sustainability – Reducing Paper Use with Electronic Flight Bags

3 July 2024

At Air Charter Scotland, we have always placed sustainability at the heart of our business. As part of our partnership with South Pole for example, we have made significant investments towards global sustainability projects around the world. These have seen us offset almost 13,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions through 2024 alone.

Despite this, we understand that change has to come from within. For us it’s just as important to build an environmentally conscious culture from the inside out. A key aspect of that is reducing our reliance on paper – starting with our use of Electronic Flight Bags.

What is an Electronic Flight Bag?

An Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) is a digital system used by flight crews to manage and access flight-related information and documentation. EFBs can be hardware devices (like tablets or laptops) or software applications that replace traditional paper-based reference materials and flight documents. By using EFB across all of our charters, Air Charter Scotland can replace up to 50 pounds or more of paper documents per flight, translating to significant annual savings in paper use and more importantly, a positive environmental impact.

What Information is in an EFB?

EFBs contains electronic charts and maps, including navigational charts, approach plates, and airport diagrams; flight plans and logs, with itineraries, routing, and historical data; real-time weather updates and forecasts; aircraft performance data, such as performance charts, fuel calculations, weight, and balance; operational manuals and documentation.

They have become a key communication tool for messaging between flight crews and dispatch,
as well as a one stop shop for regulatory documents including compliance materials, safety information, and certification documents.

What are the benefits of EFB’s?

For an airline operating multiple flights daily, the use of EFBs could mean saving thousands of pounds of paper annually. The use of EFBs can also drastically aid weight reduction on flights. By keeping weight to the minimum possible, fuel savings can be made.

EFBs efficiency and convenience to pilots and staff, allowing for quicker communications and a greater level of safety in an emergency situation. Utilising EFBs across the entirety of the Air Charter Scotland fleet is part of a company wide mission to reduce paper-use where possible and to create an environmentally conscious culture throughout the business – both in the air and on the ground.

Click here to to see more on our sustainability efforts

Air Charter Scotland’s Sustainability Mission Report

1 March 2024

Through 2023 we continued to place sustainability at the core of our business and are continuously investing in programs to optimise operations and digitise processes throughout our organisation. To further demonstrate our commitment, the company has made a significant financial investment to global sustainability projects working with our sustainability partner SouthPole.


Throughout the past decade we have invested and supported a range of projects across the world, including:

● A biogas project in Banga, Thailand;
● A solar energy project in Vietnam;
● Cookstoves and clean energy projects in Haiti;
● The installation of a new hydropower dam in the Du River in the Hubei Province of China.

This commitment to sustainability is something we take seriously at Air Charter Scotland, so much so that it is written into our Environmental Policy. This communicates our commitment to comprehensive environmental management, defines the scope and key areas for address and is subject to annual review.


Our commitment has so far seen us:

  • Utilising low emission transport
  • Reducing paper use where possible & moving toward digital operations
  • using a sustainable supply chain
  • Maximise recycling where possible

It’s a sustainability journey that we are excited to continue into 2024 and beyond. And with the assistance and support of South Pole, we look forward to updating you on the projects we support.