US businessmen launch charter business aircraft service OzAir

05 September 2007

Three businessmen from Springfield, Missouri's third-largest city, are taking business aviation to the skies. Bob Noble, Mark Burgess and Patrick McKee launched charter air service OzAir on 10 August, offering flights on a Beechcraft King Air 90 twin-turboprop and a Cessna Citation I jet.

The idea for OzAir was born when Noble, CEO of advertising agency Noble and Associates, wanted to buy a corporate airplane. About a year ago, he contacted "old friend" Burgess, a pilot with over 30 years experience. Burgess suggested forming a partnership and launching a charter company to reduce the cost of owning a plane.

Both Burgess and Noble then contacted McKee, owner of Holloway Machine Co, and all three agreed to be base investors. Burgess is the front man of this unique endeavour, serving as pilot and managing partner.

OzAir now operates under the banner of Burgess Aircraft Management, offering the only Springfield-based jet charter service. Aviation Enterprises and Springfield Aircraft Charter and Sales are the other two companies in the local charter business.

"The lack of qualified charter services in the whole Ozarks area created the need," said Noble, whose company uses charter flights several times a month. The three competing charter outfits all operate from the Springfield-Branson National Airport's general aviation terminal.

Aviation Enterprises owner Melvin Humpreys operates a Cessna 172 single-prop. Humpreys flies clients mostly within a 500-mile radius, but he can broker a connection with a charter service based in Kansas City, St Louis or another regional city if a jet or larger aircraft is needed for longer flights.