After almost two years of planning, a group of local pilots have seen their dream of operating their own plane in Bermuda finally take flight.

Following on from an idea hatched during a Christmas Eve lunch in 2004, the 16 pilots formed a company called Vector Ltd in order to lease a US registered four-seater plane.

Each person owns an equal share in the three-month lease, which will enable them to conduct non-commercial flights. Describing emotions when the Cessna 172 plane arrived from Florida on Thursday, September 28, Vector President Lester Nelson said: ?For some of our members it was like an early Christmas.?

Mr. Nelson, 41, a former Operations Manager at Bermuda Airport who has been a pilot for 20 years, believes Vector is the first enterprise in recent times to successfully bring an aircraft of this type to Bermuda.

Previously, pilots have had to take expensive commercial flights off-Island in order to fly planes for pleasure in countries such as Britain, America, Australia and New Zealand.

Their new success came about thanks to Vector being able to find an unusual type of small plane that runs on jet fuel, which is the only kind available at the airport. ?Jet fuel is not commonly used in general aviation aircraft like ours. That was a huge hurdle. We were lucky to take advantage of new technology,? he said.

The plane will generally be used for shorter trips to admire the local scenery and has already been taken on around 13 such outings.

?It?s wonderful to be able to fly around the Island. There are some really beautiful vistas,? said Mr. Nelson. ?It is exciting and fun, permits people to see the land and ocean from a unique perspective and permits viewing that most beautiful of Bermuda?s assets, our barrier reef.

?It can also provide eyes in the sky to assist in locating boats that have broken down. Considerately flown this Cessna will be unobtrusive, quieter than most road vehicles and a good neighbour.?

He hopes the new initiative will assist local pilots in maintaining their own skills and prepare them for flying in more challenging environments overseas.

Although he did not wish to disclose how much it has cost Vector to bring the plane to Bermuda, he remarked: ?It?s not that expensive. It?s comparable with what other people spend on marine craft here on the Island.?

Mr. Nelson, who currently works as a ?relationships manager? in business banking at the Bank of Bermuda, said the shareholders come from many walks of life. Aged from 19 to 63, they include insurance workers, a lawyer and an electrician. Around 60 percent are Bermudian.

The reaction from commercial pilots to the new initiative has been positive according to him: ?They?re not used to seeing a lot of light aircraft out in the Atlantic and have been saying ?well done guys?.?

The initial three month lease for the plane may be extended if the venture proves successful.