THE DAILY LEADER / JUSTIN VICORY / Executive Air Charter has five jets at its disposal. Each one can reach speeds of up to 400 miles per hour and travel 700 miles nonstop.

A new air charter company is in town and open for business to local clients looking to avoid the long lines and hassle of conventional airline travel.

Open since June, Executive Air Charter is offering personalized and efficient travel for clients seeking recreational or professional ends.

In the works for at least three years, Josh Reed, chief pilot of Executive Air Charter, chose Brookhaven as the base of its operations. Its office can be found as part of an airplane hangar at the Brookhaven-Lincoln County Airport.

“We provide high-end service to a diverse group of people,” Reed explains. “Our clients enjoy the fact that they can set their own agenda and do not have to be at the mercy of the airline or airport.”

Before the air charter company could officially take off the ground, Reed had to acquire certification for his company from the Federal Aviation Administration.

THE DAILY LEADER / JUSTIN VICORY / Randy Ferrell and Reade Taylor, both of Executive Air Charter, sit in the cockpit of one of their planes at the Brookhaven-Lincoln County Airport.

This process took close to three years.

“It took a lot of time and resources to get certification as a commercial air company,” said Reed.

Three years later, Reed says business has been great.

“We are still in the startup phase, but business is booming.”

So far, Reed’s company has flown college football fans across the border to Alabama and a couple to New York for a couple days in the city among other trips.

Other clients include businessmen and lawyers who need to travel to cities or towns located far away from major airports. Reed’s service alleviates time spent traveling to and from these airports.

One of the six employees at the company, pilot Michael Bryant says this is his third aviation career. Formerly a 747 captain, Bryant also served 26 years in the Navy.

“We can fly everyday if business calls for it. We try to operate on a two-hour call. In two hours, we can get everything arranged for our clients,” Bryant said.

Privacy and convenience are two of the reasons people appreciate Executive Air Charter’s services, according to Bryant.

Bryant also mentions that flying in and out of smaller airports is easier than dealing with larger airports.

“There isn’t as much security and regulation. It’s not as stringent as the bigger airports. This is another factor that makes traveling with us more convenient,” Bryant said.

The air charter company has five jets at its disposal. Each one can reach speeds of up to 400 miles per hour and travel 700 miles nonstop. Each jet can hold up to six passengers.

The charter company averages 50 hours per month in airtime, according to Reed.

In the next five years, Reed hopes to have anywhere from 10 to 15 planes.

“I have a lot of big projects I want to get into. The sky’s the limit.”