People with flying experience should dust off their flight log books, with news a start-up airline intends to start operating on December 1.

Island Aviation Ltd. is taking applications for operations officer, senior pilot, and senior pilot. All must have experience flying turbine engine planes.

The charter airline is expected to fly up to 1,000 hours on air ambulance and executive charters to and from Bermuda International Airport.

IAL will be leasing one Israeli Aircraft Industries Westwind which can carry up to nine passengers with two pilots when configured as a commuter plane.

In the air ambulance mode, the Westwind carries one stretcher with two medical personnel, two other passengers and the pilots.

"We chose the Westwind because it has a greater range in its size class than others,'' company director Mark Byrne said last night.

IAL can provide service to as far west as Chicago in the US and as far south as the northernmost South American countries.

The company will fly anywhere within that range to any airport that can handle a jet aircraft.

"We will be available for a charter wherever you want to go -- subject to the limits of the aircraft,'' Glen Griffin, another director, said.

IAL applied to be incorporated in July. It expects to provide Bermudians the ability to charter an aircraft while on the Island which is cheaper and quicker than currently.

Statistics provided by King Edward VII Memorial Hospital show that last year there were 105 air ambulance flights from Bermuda.

IAL believes its service is better because the aircraft will not have to be flown into Bermuda, thereby saving time and potentially life.

Current charters must also be flown from Bermuda -- usually empty -- at an additional cost to the customer.

Westwinds usually charter in the US at around $1,800 an hour.

"Compared to what it's costing now, we expect the cost of our charter to be considerably lower,'' Mr. Byrne said. "We expect it to be about ten percent higher than what it costs in the US. That's just like other businesses in Bermuda.'' Not only will IAL have its Westwind on the Bermuda Aircraft Registry, the company will be applying to get a Bermuda Air Operators Certificate, which will allow it to sell its services.

IAL's directors know there are a handful of qualified jet pilots in Bermuda, but they know their immediate requirements are for pilots with experience during the start up of a company.

"Eventually we will have Bermudian pilots. We'll make them if we have to,'' Mr. Philip said. "Obviously, we will have to hire them with experience during start up.'' Candidates should fax their particulars to the company by next Friday, September 24.

Responsible for all ground based operations including marketing, maintenance, and flight dispatch, the operations officer will also be the liaison with government during certification for a Bermuda Air Operators Certificate.

Pilots will receive a "competitive'' compensation package, bolstered by an company buy-in plan sweeten the deal which involves "unsociable'' hours and time spent abroad.