Guernsey Press

Aviation consultant wants a return to a ‘flying bus service’

BUYING and leasing Islander aircraft to Aurigny is the new aim of an aviation consultant who wants to see a return to a ‘flying bus service’ between Guernsey and Alderney.

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Mark Harrisson. (28316326)

Mark Harrisson of Harrisson Aviation had initially spoken of setting up a new airline, but said that in the current climate he has set this idea aside: ‘If you look at things right across the board you would see that it would be madness to set up a new airline,’ he said.

His goal now is to buy Islanders and lease them to Aurigny: ‘That way they would have the operational expenditure and not capital expenditure.’

Speaking to Alderney radio station Quay FM recently, he said: ‘You need to work with what you’ve got, and in any event Aurigny is a fine airline, there’s nothing wrong with Aurigny.’

Long term, he wants to operate a new electric Islander, and he is involved with Project Fresson, a group developing the technology comprising Cranfield Aerospace Solutions, Rolls-Royce and Denis Feranti Group, with Delta Motorsport also involved.

The purchase of the prototype aircraft is nearly completed and after that it will be taken to Cranfield Airport near London where it will be modified and tested over the next four years.

Mr Harrisson told Quay FM that the first stage of his plan would be the introduction of two second-hand Islanders onto the Guernsey-Alderney route.

‘Then, in about year four, the electric Islanders would be coming into service and we would bring them in to be alongside whatever size the piston engine Islander service had grown to,’ he said.

He said he was looking at four aircraft, with the aim being to bring in two initially with the other two being added later on.

As for the Dorniers currently operated by Aurigny, Mr Harrisson can see these being used to benefit other communities, such as Lee-On-Solent and perhaps onwards from there to up to 200 miles away.

Aurigny CEO Mark Darby said: ‘Aurigny have been in contact with a number of possible suppliers of electric aircraft, but we have no relationship with Mr Harrisson or Harrisson Aviation.’

He said there were several possible future technologies including pure electric, hybrid/electric and hydrogen/electric currently being developed by manufacturers: ‘It will be important to identify the most appropriate once these developments have matured further and in the light of an overall green energy strategy for the Bailiwick.

‘We are keeping an open mind with regard to this technology, however it is not a priority for Aurigny in the current climate.'