Africa’s first fully commercial aircraft fractional ownership programme has been launched by a company specially created to provide this service, SoterJets, which is a subsidiary of South Africa’s CFS Aviation Group. This service provides aircraft ownership with cost certainty and operational simplicity.

“This marks a significant milestone not only for SoterJets, but for business aviation in Southern Africa,” highlighted CFS Aviation Group CEO Justin Reeves. “For many years, fractional ownership has been an underserved opportunity in the regional business aviation market. We have transformed that opportunity into a focused, fully operational, and commercially proven programme. The speed at which we fully subscribed and successfully delivered our first aircraft demonstrates both the demand for this model and the confidence that investors have placed in the SoterJets proposition.”

This first aircraft is an up-to-nine-seat, pressurised, single turboprop engined, Pilatus PC-12 NG. This is a low-flying-hours previously owned aircraft and was carefully selected by the company. From 2028, the company intends to use new-built PC-12 PRO aircraft. Any further pre-owned PC-12s obtained before these new aircraft become available will be as carefully chosen as the first one was.

The PC-12 was chosen because it is capable and versatile, and CFS Aviation has operated and supported the type since 2007. “Fractional ownership programmes require scale to be successful, and we’re able to address this by leveraging our large fleet of PC-12s, which are managed and operated by CFS Aero,” he added.

The first aircraft in the programme has already been fully subscribed, with four co-owners. “Significant” commitments have been obtained for a second aircraft. Each of the co-owners acquires a beneficial interest in one aircraft.

“Unlike traditional ownership structures, where maintenance events and operational variables can result in unforeseen expenditure, the programme provides predictability through fixed monthly management fees, clearly defined operating costs, and billing only for occupied flight hours,” explains the company. “As the programme expands, co-owners will benefit from increased fleet availability, enhanced scheduling flexibility, and access to the SoterJets Assured Programme, which provides substitute aircraft when required.”