Bermuda?s regulatory body for flights yesterday issued Longtail Aviation Ltd. a licence to operate domestic flights.

The net effect of the development is Longtail Aviation is now approved for world-wide, commercial passenger-carrying operations.

The company ? which was originally named Island Aviation when it set up in 1999 but rebranded earlier this year ? intends to initially focus on providing on-demand business jet charters for companies and individuals, but did not yesterday rule out expanding that service to eventually include scheduled domestic flights.

To begin with Longtail Aviation will use its ?Bermuda Air Operator Certificate? (No. BDA/AOC/0104) from the Bermuda Department of Civil Aviation for the operation of their first aircraft, a Dassault Falcon 900B, described as a large business jet powered by three jet engines and having a 3,500 mile range. Longtail said it plans to boost its fleet in short order with the addition of a second jet.

The last Air Operator Certificate granted by the Bermuda Government was issued several years ago to a helicopter operator, and before that the last licence given to an airline operation was about 20 years ago.

In a Press statement yesterday, the company said the development ?ushered into existence Bermuda?s first fixed-wing domestic airline in 20 years?.

The certificate was handed over to Longtail?s head of flight operations Martin Amick by acting director Horace Tucker.

The company was given the green light from regulators after what Mr. Amick described as year-long application process.

Longtail Aviation?s head of ground operations Roger Brydon said plans are to add a Westwind II jet, which will be available both for passenger-carrying operations and air ambulance. The company also operates a King Air 200, which is used primarily for company logistics missions.

?We are very pleased by the certification of Longtail Aviation as an Air Carrier, and are eager to get down to the business of providing Bermuda with world class jet transportation services,? Mr. Amick said, concluding: ?This is a very positive development for Bermuda.?

Meanwhile, local businessman Leopold Kuchler has been trying to get a domestic airline off the ground ? after incorporating a company named Bermuda Star Ltd. ? for several years now but has yet to meet regulatory requirements for plans that he said included flights to both the US and Europe.

Longtail Aviation offices are located in the former NATO hangar at Kindley Field. It also uses the hangar to store and perform maintenance on its aircraft.

Owners and directors of the company are Mark Byrne, who owns West End Capital and is the son of insurance legend Jack Byrne, and Anthony Philip.

Information on booking flights can be obtained via the company?s website: www.longtailaviation.bm.