HALSTED’S AVIATION CORPORATION: THE SOLUTION FOR LEISURE, BUSINESS AND AIR RESCUE CHARTER FLIGHTS

Led by James Robert Halsted, (CEO) Halsted’s Aviation Corporation
(HAC), is one of the largest private air charter operators in southern Africa, having started in 2007 in Zimbabwe.

The luxury private air charter service company provides tailor-made leisure and business charter flights to these international destinations – Angola, Botswana, DRC, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zambia. Domestically, they service all the major cities and tourism areas.

Air Medical Evacuation (medivac) and Remote Rescue Services are offered through some of their fleet equipped to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) level as per EURAMI (European Aero-Medical Institute) certification. EURAMI is an organisation that regulates standards for excellence, quality and safety in global aero-medical transportation.

The HAC fleet of small to medium aeroplanes and helicopters is all professionally handled by highly skilled and experienced pilots.

The key requirement for pilots is a minimum number of flying hours. The requirements are 500 hours (Cessna C206), 1000 hours, (Cessna Grand Caravan C208), 1000 hours (Beechcraft Baron), 1500 hours
(Beechcraft King Air 200), 1500 hours (Beechcraft King Air 350), and 1000 hours (Bell Longranger Helicopter 206). Safety and compliance are top priorities and this is reflected in the highly skilled and trained professional pilots and crew who operate their fleet.

“The entire HAC flight crew have over 47,000 combined flying hours and impeccable flying records that rival any private air charter company. We are committed to the highest international standards of quality, safety and integrity in every aspect of the industry,” says Halsted.

Complementing their air charter service are VIP Services and the HAC Customer Lounge at Robert Mugabe Airport Domestic Terminal, Harare, which is run by their Hospitality Division. Entry to the HAC Customer lounge is open to any passenger that can produce a valid and current boarding pass on all domestic airlines for a fee, inclusive of unlimited Wi-Fi and free coffee or bottled water. HAC clients enjoy these amenities for free! Halsted’s Hospitality provides a bespoke meet-and-greet service that is designed to be the best in its class in southern Africa. They aim to create a seamless service that ensures a smooth and hassle-free journey.

HAC currently has a private charter fleet that comprises three Cessna 208 Grand Caravans, two Beechcraft King Airs, a Beechcraft Baron, a Piper Navajo, three Cessna 206s and two Bell 206 Longranger helicopters.

Their medivac division is well-equipped with two helicopters (both Bell 206 Longrangers), supported by the fixed-wing fleet of Beechcraft and King Air 350 and Beechcraft King Air 200 (fitted with Blackhawk conversions to meet challenges of short fields and non-paved runways.)

The air charter business has not been spared by the Covid 19 pandemic which continues to be felt across industries, though things are looking up.

“The Covid-19 pandemic was certainly a challenging time for HAC, as it was for every operator across the globe. We are confident about the future and have seen a distinct upswing in air charter travel in the last 18 months. Looking ahead, HAC will continue to expand our client base and we anticipate a period of positive growth in the upcoming 2023 season,” says the CEO.

Growth for the air charter company has been experienced through a strong brand proposition and it appears the future looks bright.

Says the founder of the company, “Halsted’s Aviation Corporation is the largest luxury air charter brand in Zimbabwe, and we set ourselves apart by offering private travel solutions while placing top value on quality, safety and the highest standards. Our aircraft and pilots are geared to go where others cannot. This is also a major part of how we have structured our fleet: to access remote areas that are not serviced by normal circuits.

“HAC stands steadfastly by our safety policy, values, and our culture. Our commitment is to ensure our entire crew is of the highest standard and qualification. To this end, we utilise Centrik, an industry-leading management and reporting system, as endorsed by hundreds of international organisations. Through Centrik, Halsted’s Aviation Corporation maintains rigorous standards in compliance with regulations and standards set forth by the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe.”

The air charter company is the first and only air charter service to be approved for Electronic Flight Bags in Zimbabwe, enabling business-wide efficiencies with controlled, remote, all-hours access for uninterrupted operations.

It prides itself in an affinity for conservation and corporate social responsibility, establishing Devil’s Gorge, a thriving nature conservancy in the remote Binga district of Zimbabwe.

Text by Martin Chemhere
Images supplied by Halsted’s Aviation
Corporation

From DESTINATION ZW EDITION 2