en.Wedoany.com Reported - Africa's first fully commercialized aircraft fractional ownership program, launched by SoterJets, a subsidiary of CFS Aviation Group, has officially commenced. The program aims to provide cost certainty and operational simplicity for aircraft ownership.
Justin Reeves, CEO of CFS Aviation Group, stated that this marks a significant milestone for business aviation in Southern Africa. He noted that fractional ownership, which had been an underutilized opportunity in the regional business aviation market for years, has now been transformed into a focused, fully operational, and commercially proven program. The rapid full subscription and successful delivery of the first aircraft demonstrate market demand for this model and investor confidence in SoterJets' solution.
The first aircraft is a low-flight-hour pre-owned Pilatus PC-12 NG, a pressurized single-engine turboprop capable of carrying up to nine passengers, carefully selected by the company. From 2028 onward, the company plans to use newly manufactured PC-12 PRO aircraft. Any other pre-owned PC-12 aircraft acquired before then will also undergo rigorous selection. The PC-12 was chosen for its robust performance and versatility, a model that CFS Aviation has operated and supported since 2007. Reeves added that a fractional ownership program requires scale to succeed, and they are able to address this by leveraging the large fleet of PC-12 aircraft managed and operated by CFS Aero.
The first aircraft in the program has been fully subscribed, with four co-owners, each holding a beneficial interest in the aircraft. The second aircraft has already received significant commitments.
SoterJets explained that, unlike traditional ownership structures—where maintenance events and operational variables can lead to unforeseen expenses—this program offers predictability through a fixed monthly management fee, clearly defined operating costs, and billing based solely on occupied flight hours. As the program expands, co-owners will benefit from greater fleet availability, enhanced scheduling flexibility, and the SoterJets Assured Programme, which provides replacement aircraft when needed.
