this issue - European Business Air News

Page01
4/6/08
8:38 am
Page 1
E U R O P E A N
BUSINESS AIR NEWS
ISSUE 182
JUNE 2008
Icelandic
launch as
VLJ business
gathers pace
The launch of an Icelandic air taxi
operation based on the Mustang and
the Eclipse is planned as European
companies report a good initial
response to VLJ availability. AccelJet
ceo Eimar Amarson says that the
Reyjavik headquartered operator has a
Citation Mustang lined up and that
there are also two Eclipse 500s on order
for delivery in 2009 and 2010.
Meanwhile London Executive
Aviation (LEA) says its Mustangs have
swiftly found favour with customers.
“The Mustang’s low acquisition and
operating cost have enabled LEA to
reduce its entry price for jet chartering
by up to 30 per cent,” says George
Galanopoulos, LEA’s md. “We expected
a slower take-up for the Mustang, as it
is a completely new type on the charter
market. However, customers clearly
love it and are entirely comfortable
with the more compact cabin, which
many have said feels more spacious
than expected,” he says.
LEA’s Mustang fleet manager
Graeme Foley says: “The Mustang’s
large-format flight displays and
integrated sensors provide our pilots
with outstanding situational awareness
of weather, traffic and terrain.”
The first five Mustangs are being
based at Luton, Stansted, Biggin Hill
and Farnborough.
Smart Air S.A. has announced a first
fractional ownership program in
Europe for Diamond’s single-engine
four-plus-one place composite D-Jet.
The company has purchased eight
D-Jets. Deliveries are scheduled for
2010, and the company says it has
options for more.
Smart Air plans to operate the fleet
from offices in Finland, UK, France,
Benelux, Germany and Italy.”
Job of the Month
Charter Broker
Air Charter Service
See page 15
Falcon adds more luxury
to helicopter fleet
page 3
Prestige Jet to operate
Lineage 1000
page 4
EBAN
reveals the top
PrivatAir expands
handling
charter
team companies
page 5
Lufthansa
and
DC
Aviation
in Europe –
sport new look fleets
as voted by pages
you 6-7
Executive
Services
See Aviation
pages 10-21
(EAS) adds variety to fleet
page 9
For details of how to enter, see page 3.
SPECIAL FOCUSES
Czech Republic and
Slovakia focus
page 8
Russia inspires long-term
development plan
page 10
For charter
details of how
to enter, see
page 3.
Big
operators
have
even bigger plans pages 11-13
VistaJet goes for
the treble chance
VistaJet is trebling the size of its fleet. The Switzerland-based operator is acquiring Bombardier's Skyjet International and ordering 35 jets with options on 25 more. Celebrating the
announcement are: Bombardier Business Aircraft svp Bob Horner; VistaJet owner and chairman Thomas Flohr; Bombardier Aerospace president Pierre Beaudoin; VistJet ceo Bing
Chen and New Jet International president Valerio Zamboni. The full story is on page 3.
Hawker 900XP heralds designs for
expansion in the Czech Republic
The Czech Republic’s Grossman Jet
Service, which reports strong demand
for its eight-passenger configured
Hawker 900XP, is now negotiating
further fleet additions.
Mrs. Dagmar Grossmann, ceo, says:
“The 900XP was chosen by the owner
but it is one of the ultimate business
aircraft. It will take you anywhere in the
world with high level of efficiency and
productivity.”
She adds: “The Legacy offers
exceptional benefits over its competitors in terms of performance and
cabin size.”
Grossman Jet Service has operated
a Legacy since 2005 but it is a company
that typifies the trend in the Czech
Republic and Slovakia to take on board
new ideas and look for bigger and
better modern aircraft (See Czech
Republic and Slovakia Regional review
on Page 8). The company prefers to
order new.
“We focus mainly on business
clientele
and
serve
all
the
routes worldwide,” says Grossmann.
Expansion has brought company
vacancies for experienced type-rated
pilots, cabin crew and in sales.
Mrs. Dagmar Grossmann: foresaw the
business opportunity.
Grossmann cautions: “While our
business is definitely growing, my
personal guess is that after 2011 the
overall market will dip. However we
will be ordering new aircraft. For the
new generation of rich people
luxurious cars are passé; it is time to
own a business jet. So business is
booming and we will definitely take
advantage of this positive environment
for our further progress. I have many
plans in my mind, including the
acquisition of new aircraft, and I hope
to realize them in the near future.
Grossman
Jet
Service
was
established in 2004 after Grossman
foresaw the business potential of the
private aviation sector in the Czech
Republic and in eastern Europe.
Grossman says: “The main reason for
the launch was the business
opportunity. The company has had a
good run since it was launched and we
have managed to double the turnover
within the past two years.”
She is very focused on aviation
business but it is not an all-consuming
interest. “Apart of my passion for
aviation business I am very active in
the real estate business and interior
design,” says Grossmann. “ I also like to
design my clothes.”
While interior design is a
hobby, Grossman takes a business
interest in real estate acquisition
and reconstruction.
Grossman
appreciates
the
advantages of private jet travel. But
when she visits her family in Vienna,
Austria, at weekends and for holidays,
she tends to travel by car. “Driving is
a form of relaxation for her,” says
Alena Cheinovska who works in sales
and marketing.
For fuel, ground services and all your trip arrangements
CONTACT [email protected]
RayaJet to
boost its long
range options
Jordan’s RayaJet plans to acquire
longer range jets to service rising
demand for flights to the U.K. and
mainland Europe. The Amman-based
operator has brought a Citation
CE650 into service to complement its
Challenger 601.
The company says it is building a
larger fleet to accommodate short,
medium and long range client
preferences. It is examining both the
new and pre-owned market.
RayaJet says: “We have noted
the growing demand for pointto-point services linking with
commercial carriers.”
It reports growing interest from
young Jordanians in a career in
executive aviation. “There have been
enquiries since we were founded in
2005 as a regional operator and
especially since our Jordanian AOC
was obtained in 2006.”
Private aviation has expanded
rapidly in the Arab Gulf countries with
favoured hubs including Saudi Arabia,
Dubai and Abu Dhabi. But RayaJet
confirms demand is spreading
throughout the Middle East.
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JUNE 2008 3
EUROPEAN BUSINESS AIR NEWS
Jetalliance
responds to
lifestyle demand
AIR AMBULANCE NEWS
Operators invest
in new bases,
aircraft and
equipment
European air ambulances are
expanding their services and
modernising equipment. Medic'Air
International has established a
dedicated air ambulance aircraft
based in Paris, available 24-7. “As the
final result of a partnership between
two corporate aircraft companies and
a medical repatriation agency, a Beech
King Air 1900C is registered in France,”
says gm Dr H. Raffin. “It can take off in
two hours with its English and French
speaking medical team, with an
emergency physician and a flying
nurse, and equipped with full
ICU devices.”
The aircraft, based at Paris Le
Bourget, can carry four ICU stretchers
with six sitting passengers that can
include medical crew and relatives and
is focused on Europe and the
Mediterranean region.
Meanwhile the U.K.’s Devon Air
Ambulance Trust expects the delivery
of an EC135 in September. It replaces
the current Bolkow 105DBS.
And the DRF (German Air Rescue)
and its partners in the Team DRF have
ordered 30 new defibrillation and
patient monitoring units for their
air rescue centres. After extensive
tests the air rescuers opted for a
system from the manufacturer
GS Elektromedizinische Geräte G.
Stemple GmbH from Kaufering,
Germany. The modular system
combines several functions and helps
thus to cut costs and weight, according
to Dr. Jörg Braun, director medical
services, DRF.
The latest addition to the FAS fleet was celebrated at EBACE by (left) Francois Taverne, chairman Hermes interior and design; Capt.
Salem Al Kayoumi (centre) and Philippe Harache Senior evp Eurocopter.
FAS adds Hermes luxury to helicopter fleet
Abu Dhabi based Falcon Aviation
Services (FAS), which aims to have at
least six Eurocopters in its fleet by
the end of this year, at EBACE
placed the first order for the EC135
light twin in ‘l’Helicoptere par
Hermes’ luxury style.
FAS chairman Capt. Salem Al
Kayoumi says the attractions include
the luxury finish and the sliding glass
partition between the passenger
compartment and the cockpit. “The
new addition will complement our
three EC130s, EC135 and two AS365
Dauphins,” he adds.
The initial FAS target is to expand
its helicopter fleet to 12. But Capt. Al
Kayoumi, says: “We’re growing fast.
Looking at the growth trend in this
sector, we are aiming to have
expanded our fleet to include another
15 helicopters and corporate jets by
the end of 2011, an investment of
U.S.$192 million.”
FAS says its overall business
development is benefiting from
an exclusive maintenance deal with
Eurocopter. The agreement included
the launch of a Eurocopter
Maintenance Centre at FAS’s Al
Bateen airbase which will service
Eurocopter helicopters in the Arab
Gulf region.
The Jetalliance Group of Vienna
has placed a new order for an ACJ
and two A318 Elites. Jetalliance
Holding ceo Lukas Lichtner-Hoyer
says: “We manage aircraft for many
customers and, for those that want the
best, the Airbus ACJ family is the
natural choice.”
Jetalliance has ordered eight Airbus
jets to date. One ACJ and one Elite
have been delivered to owners and
JetAlliance is looking at meeting
demand for larger aircraft which
might include aircraft in the A330 and
A340 class.
Lichtner-Hoyer says that clients are
looking for turnkey solutions, an
assertion which is borne out by EBAN
research (see page 11). “They don't
want to get involved in all the details,
they just want to enjoy their aircraft
through one contact company that
offers service and economy,” LichtnerHoyer adds. “Clients want their aircraft
to improve their lifestyle and business
efficiency: they do not want to become
bogged down in paperwork.”
Jetalliance Group offers purchase,
finance, operation and maintenance
services. Its subsidiary, Jetalliance
Flugbetrieb, operates dozens of aircraft
with an average age of only three years.
Lichtner-Hoyer predicts that
demand for private aircraft travel
in Russia, the Ukraine, Romania,
Bulgaria and the former CIS countries
will grow in the next ten years.
“One issue will be training
enough pilots and maintenance
technicians which is why we have
expanded our Vienna maintenance
bases in anticipation of demand,”
Lichtner-Hoyer says.
Roger Whyte, Cessna svp sales
and marketing says: “Jetalliance is
opening up markets all over Europe
for Cessna.”
VistaJet has a fleet century in its sights after
confirming huge Bombardier order
DRF has acquired new defibrillation and
patient monitoring units.
Dr. Braun says: “In emergency
rescue the crews have to work quite
often under difficult circumstances.
For example: an injured person is
freed from his destroyed car by fire
fighters. There is little space, heavy
equipment is being used. In this
situation the system offers us the
possibility to leave a little measuring
device with the patient and to clip off
the rest of the system.
Data is transferred via radio. The
emergency physician can monitor the
patient continually without any cables
being in the way of the rescue team.”
European Air Ambulance recently
moved out of its Alert Centre in
Stuttgart to newly renovated,
customised Mission Control Centre
(MCC) at Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden
airport. The new centre belongs to EAA
member DRF and is now complete
with a hangar able to accommodate
the air ambulance aircraft.
Eight staff have so far been
employed at the MCC, with four
vacancies still open as EAA expands its
operational teams to meet growing
demand. The MCC is being run by
DRF’s fixed wing operations manager
Peter Huber and Sven Mertes, who is in
charge of the fixed wing business at
EAA member Luxembourg Air Rescue.
Despite rapid expansion by a number
of other operators, VistaJet believes
agreed acquisitions will make
it the second largest business
aviation company outside of
North America. The Austrian based
charter operator has ordered 35
Bombardier jets, with an option for 25
more, and is acquiring Bombardier
Skyjet International.
The firm aircraft order is
comprised of 11 Challenger 605s, 13
Learjet 60XRs and 11 of the
newly introduced Learjet 85s. “This
is the second largest order of
Bombardier business jets in history,”
says Pierre Beaudoin, Bombardier
president and ceo.
But VistaJet's coming completion
of formalities to acquire Skyjet
International, Bombardier’s charter
programme which has operations in
Farnborough, Dubai and Hong
Kong, could raise concerns (see
Panel) among brokers according to
Ocean Sky ceo Kurosh Tehranchian.
However, at EBACE VistaJet was
focused on highlighting an order
and acquisition designed to triple its
existing fleet to more than 100
aircraft. “The bulk order and the
purchase of Bombardier Skyjet
International are in line with our
plans to be the leader in this
industry and accelerate our global
expansion,” says Thomas Flohr,
chairman. “With Skyjet and VistaJet
joining forces we aim to become the
foremost
business
aviation
company in Europe, Middle East
and Asia, coupling pure luxury with
affordability.”
Bing Chen, ceo, says: “We
offer the advantages of fleet
commonality and Bombardier’s
strong commitment to customer
support. The diversified fleet already
meets the full range of customer
needs and will soon be comprised of
more than 30 medium to ultra-long
range, state of the art jets with an
average age of less than two years.”
The current fleet includes Learjet
40XR and 60XR, Challenger 300,
604/605 and 850 and Global Express
XRS aircraft. Flohr says that there
will more than 100 aircraft available
for charter by 2012. “The 30,000
hours of 2008 will increase to
100,000 hours in 2012,” he adds.
Flohr says that VistaJet and
Skyjet have natural synergy and
fit with European and Asian
operational strengths dovetailing
and
complementary
business
focuses. Chen adds: “Skyjet has
strengths in Dubai and Hong Kong
which VistaJet has not had. The
products and business approaches
also dovetail.”
Beaudoin
stresses
that
Bombardier’s American operations
are excluded from the Skyjet deal.
Launched in March 2002 as
Flexjet Europe and later rebranded,
Skyjet International promised a
“truly global” business jet charter
service. It said that, by consolidating
some of the world’s leading charter
operators into a single network,
Skyjet International could provide a
variety of innovative private jet
travel options, each offering
“unprecedented access” to more
than 920 high performance aircraft.
Tehranchian says that it makes
sense for European operators to
expand into Asia and other emerging
markets. The combined VistaJet and
Skyjet operations suggests a scale
that would mean competing with
NetJets. “Competition will be
tough,” he adds, “It will be
private jet management
•Hangarage, crewing, planning, regulatory
•Turbo props, VLJs, Light Jets, Mid Size
•The very best prices in the industry
•Transparent, accountable, dependable
•Sales and brokerage
•Early VLJ positions available
t +44 (0)1202 670419 | [email protected] | www.grangeaviation.com
interesting to see how it turns out.”
Big and getting bigger on all
fronts: see EBAN's round-up of some
of Europe’s expanding charter
operators on Page 11.
Exciting for
industry but a
worry for brokers,
says Tehranchian
Ocean
Sky
ceo
Kurosh
Tehranchian says that VistaJet's
news is very exciting for the
industry but the takeover of Skyjet
International may not please the
broker fraternity.
"It will seem to the brokers that
VistaJet is getting into the Jet Card
market and looking to establish a
more direct link with more
customers. The challenge will be
to ensure that brokers are
comfortable
with
this."
Tehranchian says brokers who
deal with Ocean Sky have
expressed concerns to him.
Page 04-05
4/6/08
6:10 pm
Page 4
4 JUNE 2008
EUROPEAN BUSINESS AIR NEWS
Prestige Jet regards Lineage 1000
acquisition as a ‘real coup’
Jet Aviation
selects Falcon
900EX
and G-550
Abu Dhabi’s Prestige Jet, which has
signed a letter of intent for five
Gulfstream G650s, plans to operate
the world's first Lineage 1000
aircraft. Faris Deeb, md says the
G650 will add a new dimension to
the company's operations but that
he regarded the ultra-long range
Lineage 1000 as a real coup.
“The developments demonstrate
our unyielding commitment to
building one of the foremost private
air charter companies in the
region comprising a young fleet
with some of the most advanced
aircraft available in the world that
meet virtually all passenger needs,"
Deeb says.
“The G650 is a one-of-a-kind,
high-tech, state-of-the-art airborne
office that features an unmatched
combination of characteristics: the
largest and quietest cabin, the
longest range and fastest speed and
the most technologically advanced
aircraft systems. It will allow us to
carry between 15 and 18 passengers,
non-stop to destinations such North
America or Australia.”
The Lineage 1000 is smaller than
the BBJ and ACJ but bigger than
those currently rated as mid-size
aircraft. Deeb says: “It will provide
Prestige Jet with a competitive
advantage in terms of flexibility in
the number of passengers that can
Switzerland’s Jet Aviation is to add a
Falcon 900EX and a G-550 to its
managed fleet. The company’s Martin
Bernegger said at EBACE that the
900EX, configured for 13 passengers,
will be based in Zurich while the G550, designed for 14 passengers, will
be stationed in Zurich and Tokyo.
“The G-550 will enable us to offer
long range services to charter
customers both in Europe and in
Asia,” says Bernegger. “The Falcon
900EX is a much sought after aircraft
for charter to destinations in the U.S.,
Africa and the Middle East.”
Bernegger says the aircraft are due
to come into service in July.
Separately
NetJets
Europe
announced at EBACE that it had
increased its order of Falcon 2000LX to
30 with 20 new orders. The NetJets
Europe’s fleet will expand to include
the Falcon 2000, Falcon 2000EX, Falcon
900B and Falcon 900EX. “Taking into
account all orders, over the next eight
years, the NetJets Europe fleet will have
a total of more than 80 Dassault
aircraft,” says Mark Booth, chairman
and ceo NetJets Europe.
The 30 new aircraft will be
delivered over the next eight years,
with the first expected in September
2008. Booth says: “With its range and
increased fuel efficiency, we know this
aircraft will be a big hit.”
Prestige Jet is also expanding its fleet.
Tony Gilbert, vp Duncan Aviation, and Faris
Deeb, md Prestige Jet, formalise the
agreement between the two companies.
be carried and the charter rates.”
Prestige Jet plans that its fleet
will grow to ten aircraft by the
end of 2008 and to 26 by 2013
at a cost of around US$1.5 billion.
Deeb also says that Prestige Jet is
investing in a multi-million dollar
investment programme for facilities
and services.
“In April we opened a new
dedicated passenger lounge within
Al Bateen City Airport,” he says. And
Prestige Technique, the recently
formed maintenance division of
Prestige Jet, signed an agreement
with Duncan Aviation of the U.S. for
the provision of a wide range of
maintenance services including
airframe and engines.
“While we might be embarking
on
an
unparalleled
growth
programme, at the heart of our
plans is the safety and reliability of
each and every one of our
growing and diverse range of
aircraft,”
said
Deeb.
“This
association with Duncan Aviation
means we can draw on over 50 years
of experience and the highest
reputation in the industry.”
Prestige Jet, formed in early 2007,
also announced that it was seeking
to acquire a facility at Al Ain
international airport to establish a
dedicated maintenance hangar.
Deeb says that, in the first
quarter of 2008, utilisation of its
then fleet of four dedicated aircraft
was on average running at 30 per
cent above target.
Boutsen
Aviation reports
growing ACJ
demand
Boutsen Aviation of Monaco has
taken delivery of the first of two
ACJs and one A318 Elite ordered on
behalf of undisclosed customers.
The Airbus ACJ has yet to be
outfitted but its cabin, which will be
installed by Jet Aviation in Basle,
Switzerland, will feature a vip
interior based on the Prestige
cabin concept, which comprises
a large sitting and dining
room, private office, bedroom and
en suite bathroom.
Boutsen, three times Formula 1
Grand Prix winner and president of
Boutsen Aviation says the ACJ’s
modern design means that it is well
placed to go on winning clients.
Airbus’ Corporate Jet Centre
(ACJC) in Toulouse has completed a
vip interior for the A320 of a
private customer. The company
says the first cabin outfitting of
its type features a vip lounge,
business class seating and an area
for support staff.
The company reports a growing
demand for customised interiors
from high net worth individuals
across Europe.
Charter operators, including
Austria’s JetAlliance (see page 3) and
Germany's DCA Aviation (page 6)
are expanding their ACJ fleets.
This is not
a King Air 350.
Go ahead, count the windows.
This King Air 200 could easily be mistaken for a King Air 350
thanks to the addition of a new Winglet System by
BLR Aerospace. Winglets have taken the industry by storm,
delivering a range of benefits that include dramatic
increases in climb rate, cruise speed and fuel savings
— plus striking good looks. So keep your airplane.
But change your performance.
Do you have your winglets yet?
BLR Aerospace
Performance Innovation
Now taking pre-certification orders for King Air 90s
800.257.4847 US & Canada
425.353.6591 International
w w w. B L R a e r o s p a c e . c o m
[email protected]
Michimasa Fujino (left) presents Jenson Button with a ceremonial scale model of the
HondaJet at EBACE.
Jensen Button helps
HondaJet sales get off to
racing start in Europe
HondaJet sales have got off to a
racing start in Europe. The first
customer in the region is Formula 1
racing
driver
and
business
entrepreneur Jenson Button. Button
will purchase two HondaJets for a
new air charter company he is
establishing. The US$3.9 million
HondaJet he says “is the fastest, most
fuel efficient, and most spacious jet
of its size and incorporates many
advanced technologies that offer
reduced noise and emissions levels
relative to other similarly sized jets.”
Button, who has just suffered a
frustrating Monaco grand prix, says
that the HondaJet will help him meet
his busy racing itinerary efficiently
and help ensure frustration-free
travel outside the racing arena.
“Unfortunately, I will still need
luck as well as efficiency during
races. Monaco was a messy race for
me,” says Jenson, “and what made it
even more frustrating was that the
pace of the car was good. I should
have come away from here with
points, but unfortunately we have
nothing to show for our efforts.”
The HondaJet, however, will give
him and his charter passengers
predictable and consistent reliability.
Michimasa Fujino, Honda Aircraft
Company president and ceo says that
Honda will establish a new European
network of three HondaJet exclusive
sales and service centres.
Fujino says: “Honda’s decision
to expand sales of its advanced
light jet to the rapidly growing
European market is in response
to strong demand for the aircraft
from customers throughout the
region. We have received a
steady stream of inquiries from
interested customers.”
Page 04-05
3/6/08
9:00 am
Page 5
JUNE 2008 5
EUROPEAN BUSINESS AIR NEWS
VLJ start-up
chooses the
Phenom 100
Monarch Airlines Airbus A320 captain
David Fletcher is changing career to
spearhead the launch of a Phenom 100
based air taxi charter operation
targeting business throughout Europe.
VLJ Consultancy Ltd will be based
at the U.K.’s Oxford Airport and its air
taxi charter operation will cover
mainland Europe plus UK domestic
cities
including
Manchester,
Birmingham, Newquay, other south
west destinations, and cities in
Scotland and Ireland.
“Oxford airport will be the centre of
the wheel and we are looking forward
to adding the spokes,” says Fletcher,
the company’s md. “The air taxi
company, whose name we will
announce at this year’s Farnborough
Air Show, will operate with the first
Phenom 100 from May 2009. We hope
to pick up traffic to a number of interEuropean sporting events and short
leisure breaks.”
Fletcher says: “We are convinced
this is the right time for an operation
like this, but being a small player in the
lucrative business aviation market can
make or break you if you don’t have the
right aircraft, or the right airport base.
We are convinced we have the right
base and will have the right aircraft at
the right time and are very confident of
doing well.”
Albinati orders six of the best
PrivatAir is expanding its charter sales team after reporting a 30 per cent rise in charter revenue in 2007. "The worldwide demand for
charter of both large cabin aircraft and smaller jets shows no sign of abating," says Richard Koe, vp charter and aircraft management.
But he adds: "Improved organisation, new charter products, precise pricing, strong operational support and specific marketing initiatives
have all played their part along with hard work from the team." Members of the expanded team, clockwise from left, are: Marina EninaTexier, Verena Guibaud, Richard Koe, Corinne Kolter, Lucie Kunz-Harris, Dominic Sandell, Nathalie Beuchard and Lille Muniesa.
CEOs on Training
A SERIES
“Owens Corning’s
commitment
to safety is
unconditional.
That’s why
we train at
FlightSafety.”
Ready for launch are David Surley, Oxford
Airport (left); David Fletcher, VLJ
Consultancy (centre) and James Dillon
Godfray, Oxford Airport.
The company will be looking to
recruit personnel, including several
pilots later this year. “Discussions will
also soon commence with chauffeur
car companies, catering organisations
and boutique hotels in the Oxford
area,” Fletcher adds.
He says investors in the start up
business are private professionals who
have committed to one Phenom 100,
plus an additional two on option for
delivery in 2012. The company is also
looking at the larger Phenom 300 or
possibly the Embraer Legacy 500 for
future growth.
CJ2+ and Grand
Caravans appeal
Private Flight GmbH is taking delivery
of a Citation CJ2+, the 101st unit of the
upgraded version. The aircraft will be
based in Bayreuth, Germany, and
Private Flight says it will be used by a
vip for private travel. The Citation CJ2+
seats up to eight passengers, has a
range of 1,613 n.m. and a maximum
cruise speed of 418 knots.
Separately six 208B Grand
Caravans, a 172 Skyhawk and 182
Skylane have been ordered by Air
Alliance GmbH, one of Europe’s most
active Cessna Caravan dealers. Pana
Poulios, Cessna regional sales
manager in Europe says: “We have
increased Caravan production for
2008 based largely on international
orders such as this. Our single-engine
piston sales are also doing very well in
2008.” Based in Burbach’s Flughafen
Siegerland in Germany, Air Alliance is
also an authorised service centre for
Cessna turboprop aircraft.
Albinati Aeronautics, the Genevabased charter, management and
aircraft sales organisation founded in
February 2001, has six aircraft on order.
The company, established in
2001 by Stefano Albinati, an aviation
veteran with over 20 years' flying
experience, brought a CJ2+ into
operation in February followed by
Hawker 900XP in March.
Albinati says: “We have two new
Falcon 2000LX, two new Global XRS
and two new Falcon 7X on order. We
are underpinning our strategy of being
able to offer a range of small, medium
and large aircraft.”
The ordered aircraft will join a fleet
that includes a CJ2+, Hawker 900XP,
Challenger 604, Falcon 2000, Falcon
900EX, and Global 5000. “The aircraft
will be deployed for leisure and
business and both CJ2+ and Hawker
900XP will be operated from our
Geneva base,” Albinati adds. The
aircraft were chosen for their cabin size
and range. Recently the company,
which now employs 42 people, was
looking to recruit three.
DAVID T. BROWN
President and CEO, Owens Corning
Dave Brown, a graduate of Purdue University, joined Owens Corning in 1978.
He was appointed to the board of directors in January 2002 and became president
and chief executive officer three months later. Brown also has served as executive
vice president and chief operating officer, and as president of several company
divisions. He serves on a number of boards, including the Toledo Museum of
Art and the Dean’s Advisory Council for Purdue’s Krannert School of Management.
S
afety is everyone’s responsibility at Owens
Corning, a world leader in building materials
systems and composite solutions. Company
President and CEO David Brown considers safety
a key metric by which to measure success.
Owens Corning’s commitment to safety is
evident in the exceptional record of the corporate
flight department, operating for 60 years without
an accident. For more than 50 of those years,
Owens Corning has relied on FlightSafety for
professional, safety-centered training.
“Safety isn’t just the job of the safety people.
It is the responsibility of every employee throughout
our company. Getting fully involved in all aspects
of the company’s safety performance means
exposing it, owning and acting upon it. We
have one objective: zero injuries,” Brown says.
“Regular training with FlightSafety helps
prepare our flight department for the unexpected.
The value and quality of training provided by
FlightSafety is unequaled and an indispensable
element of meeting that objective.”
For more information, please contact any of our Learning Centers or call
Scott Fera: 636.532.5933. Our headquarters are at the Marine Air Terminal,
LaGuardia Airport, New York 11371-1061. Email: [email protected]
flightsafety.com
Page06-07
3/6/08
12:34 pm
Page 6
6 JUNE 2008
EUROPEAN BUSINESS AIR NEWS
Lufthansa launches ‘phone and fly’ point-to-point private
jet service to dovetail with intercontinental first class
Lufthansa pledges that booking its
private jets could not be made any
easier. “It is very simple, just a ‘phone
call,” says Dr. Gerald Wissel, global
head, Lufthansa Private Jet (LPJ)
which was officially launched on 1
June this year. “The credit card
generates an electronic ticket. This
ticket is the contract between
Lufthansa and client and this
contract is completely valid under
European law. In fact, as a passenger,
you have many more rights with this
“airline’ ticket than with a charter
contract.” Wissel also pledges that
there will be one price for each pointto-point travel within Europe.
Lufthansa showcased a private jet
service aircraft, a CJ3, at EBACE but it
will be one of nine aircraft entering
LPJ service in the coming months.
The airline will also utilise the aircraft
of private charter partners who will
include DC Aviation. Cabin size and
luggage capacity were among the
selection priorities. LPJ says seven
Citations will fly point-to-point in
Europe and Russia will be served by
two Canadair CRJ200s converted to
Challenger 850 configuration.
“The clients are essentially
corporate customers who want
a one-stop shop for their requirements,” Wissel adds. “They want
point-to-point travel coordinated
with first-class scheduled travel.
We will provide everything they
need including limousine transfer
as necessary.”
Lufthansa intends that the private
jet service mentality is found in First
Class as well. Wolfgang Mayrhuber,
chairman of Lufthansa’s executive
board, says: “First Class guests who
spend many days of the month
aboard an aircraft and at airports
expect to be able to decide for
themselves how they spent their time.
We would like to create an
environment similar to that of a
journey by private jet.”
He adds: “Passengers arriving on
long haul flights in Frankfurt, Munich
and Zurich can conveniently take a
private jet to fly on to their final
destination, connecting to more than
LPJ service
is in for the
long haul
An LPJ flight from Munich to
Lugano will costs €4,550 or
€5,650, depending on aircraft
type, and Dublin to Bilund will be
€9,530. Flights can be booked a
few hours before departure or up
to 365 days in advance. However,
LPJ says it recommends that
passengers book two to three days
in advance. LPJ says that almost
any connection is possible.
“Passengers can choose from
more than 1,000 destinations
in Europe and the Russian
Federation,” says Dr. Gerald
Wissel,
global
head,
LPJ.
“Overseas customers used the
service mainly in combination
LPJ clients will be ushered through the formalities and can take a limousine across the tarmac to their private jet.
1,000 airports throughout greater
Europe. The private jet service can
also be used for point-to-point flights
between European airports.”
Mayrhuber claims: “LPJ complements Lufthansa’s worldwide
network by adding up to 1,000
individualised flight options.”
He says that all clients will be
looked after by their own personal
assistant. “In the background an
events manager coordinates the
journey before and during the flight
and also takes care of any of the
clients’ individual requests.”
At Frankfurt, Munich and Zurich,
passengers arriving aboard Lufthansa
long haul flights are taken through
formalities by the personal assistant
and can be directly limousinechauffeured across the tarmac to the
LPJ aircraft. Seamless transit of
Wolfgang Mayrhuber: 1,000 bespoke
flight options.
baggage is part of the deal.
Lufthansa actually began ferrying
first-class passengers from airline
hubs to their final destination but it
says feedback confirms they want a
point-to-point service. This was a
different concept to the service that
was provided by NetJets and
Lufthansa decided to offer its own
operation. DC Aviation, which was
used to meet some of the demand,
and will be among the few selected
partners as Lufthansa responds to
what it says is growing demand.
Lufthansa reports that the
number of private jet flights operated
in 2007 rose by 26 per cent.
“Customer
demand
strongly
outstripped capacity over the year by
an average of around 25 per cent and
in peak months by as much as 60 per
cent,” says Wissel.
Demand for aircraft, especially
mid to large accommodating seven to
12 people, rose disproportionately in
the past year, Wissel adds. “It was
strongest among customers from
Germany, Scandinavia, France and
Italy, who used the LPJ service
primarily for point-to-point flights.”
Lufthansa says that First Class will
also offer service at private jet level.
with long haul flights operated by
Lufthansa and Swiss through the
Frankfurt, Munich and Zurich
hubs.” In the future Lufthansa and
Swiss passengers will be able to
choose four different aircraft
types. These are: Three CJ+ (light,
seating four passengers); two CJ3
(small, six passengers); two XLS
(mid, seven passengers) and
two converted CRJ 200s similar to
the Challenger 850 (large, 12
passengers). Lufthansa envisages
a maximum of three private jet
partners that might be called on
to supply aircraft.
DC Aviation orders ACJs and Learjets as it
builds huge modern charter fleet
MAZ Aviation chairman Mohammed Al-Zeer (centre) finalises the XWB deal with Airbus
evp Eduoard Ullmo (left) and svp Christian Robach.
Saudi Arabian clients confirm
the first Prestige orders
Saudi Arabian private customers
have ordered six A350 XWB Prestiges
through MAZ Aviation. “The kind of
private customer that buys a vip
widebody wants the very best,” says
MAZ Aviation chairman Mohammed
Al Zeer. “The A350 XWB offers more
cabin space, more range and a more
modern design.”
All six XWBs will feature vip
cabins and be powered by RollsRoyce Trent XWB engines but the
choice of cabin outfitters has yet to
be announced. Al Zeer says it is the
first agreement signed for this type
of aircraft in the Middle East. Selling
points included the XWB’s range
enabling it to fly non-stop to the
world as well as the wide cabin and
extra floor space. Other pluses
included the advanced and efficient
aerodynamic design with more
than 50 per cent of the airframe is
made up of weight-saving carbon
fibre composites.
Airbus coo customers, John Leahy
says: “The deal is the largest single
deal ever for Airbus corporate
jetliners, and comprises one A350800 and five A350-900s.”
DC Aviation will expand its Airbus
Corporate Jet fleet to four as it
simultaneously builds its already
sizeable all-round fleet. The Stuttgart
operator, the first confirmed selected
partner for Lufthansa Private Jet,
will become the largest operator
of ACJs in the German business
aviation market, according to ceo
Dieter Heinen.
“Our goal is to become the largest
premium operator of private jets in
Europe. With the purchase of the first
Airbus 319 CJ, We are giving the green
light for further corporate jets on this
scale”, Heinen adds.
The company’s first Airbus 319 CJ
was previously in operation for the
Daimler corporation but is now
being offered exclusively by DC
Aviation for executive charter
market. Three more Airbus of
type 319 CJ fitted to take up to 22 vips
will be added to the fleet over the
next 12 months and will most likely
be operated in Europe and the
Middle East.
Heinen
says:
“Apart
from
comfortable business seating for 48
passengers and generous seat pitch
of 152 cm, the ACJ excels especially
when it comes to long haul flights
with its maximum cruising range of
up to 4,320 n.m. Four additional
tanks make it possible for the
Execuliner to fly nonstop in 9 hours,
for instance from London to Chicago
or from Munich to Bangalore.”
He adds: “Our many years of
transatlantic operational experience
with the A319 CJ and the great
demand for this type of aircraft, is the
key reason for our further expansion
in this market.”
But Heinen says the expansion of
the fleet is not restricted to the A319.
“We are building up our capacities
from the Learjet to the Airbus. In
2008 alone we expect a total of 12
new additions of the types G550,
G450, G150, Challenger 850, Legacy
600, Citation XLS and Learjet 40.”
Stefan Buschle, md, says: “With
our extremely young modern fleet
structure and our unique concept for
service and safety, we are winning
new partners all over the world.”
DC Aviation, a member of the
Cirrus Group, was formed by the
merger of Cirrus Aviation and the
former DaimlerChrysler Aviation.
The company is concentrating on
aircraft management, charter and
maintenance of business jets.
It employs more than 380 and its
fleet includes the A319 CJ, two Global
550s, two Global Express, a Global
5000, a Falcon 900 DX, two
Challenger 604s, five Legacy 600s, a
Challenger 300, a Gulfstream 150, a
Citation X, five Citation XLS, two
Learjet 60s and four Learjet 40s.
Detailed fleet expansion plans
include upgrading the DC Aviation
fleet of Citation XLS to seven with the
immediate addition of two more
aircraft. Marc Ambrosius, cfo, says:
“This will make DC Aviation the
largest operator of the Citation XLS in
Europe.” The company’s plans to
operates more than 30 modern
private jets of various sizes with an
average age that is less than 2.5 years
are well on the way to fruition.
“We place great value on our
young dynamic fleet structure, which
is maintained by experienced experts
in our own state of the art
maintenance facility. Thanks to the
two new additions we will be able to
offer our customers one of the safest
and most modern fleets in Europe”,
asserts director of sales and
marketing Jonas Kraft.
He says businessmen particularly
appreciate the advantages of the XLS
including its non-stop cruising range
of 1,944 n.m, and maximum speed of
almost 800 km/h.
Page06-07
3/6/08
9:14 am
Page 7
JUNE 2008 7
EUROPEAN BUSINESS AIR NEWS
Charter operators tune in to Europe’s big event
music, football and racing extravaganzas
Europe’s big charter operators,
including DC Aviation, are investing
in large private jets as the
growing market in big music
and sporting events complements
buoyant corporate demand.
DC Aviation, together with its
charter brokerage partner, Premier
Aviation, flew Bruce Springsteen and
the E-Street Band aboard DC Aviation’s
Airbus 319 CJ from the U.S. to Europe
for their current tour. Premier
Aviation and its partner Airworks Inc.,
charter brokerage partner companies
specialising in music business clients,
arranged the band’s full tour on an
A319CJ throughout Europe during
June and July. “In the future DC
Aviation and Premier Aviation are
planning
to
strengthen
their
partnership for further engagement,”
Jonas Kraft, DC Aviation’s vp sales and
marketing, says. The aircraft’s 48 seat
configuration is ideal for bands and
sport teams, he says. “The ACJ is
perfectly designed for flights during
the European Football Championship
this summer or for road shows and
concert tours. We are in the tender
process and discussing for some flights
for the European Championship. Due
to the play-off format in the
preliminary round, there will be also
an additional short-notice demand for
flights to the quarter-finals, semi-finals
and of course the final.”
A convertible Boeing 757 ‘Combi’,
created by independent UK-based
airline Astraeus, has completed its
world tour with the rock group Iron
Maiden, whose lead singer Bruce
Dickinson is a pilot for the airline
(EBAN March 2008). For the Iron
Maiden tour it featured 20 business
class seats, 54 premium economy seats
and a cargo area where the last ten
rows of seats would have been in the
rear compartment of the aircraft.
Capt. Bruce says: “It cut days off
the turnaround time between
concerts on the tour, because the
band, crew and essential equipment –
up to 12 tons of it – all travelled
together, meaning a two day road or
Austrian police wanted new helicopters
in time for the policing of the European
football championship.
sea trip was despatched in hours or
even minutes.” The tour visited India,
the Far East, Australasia, the Americas
and Europe in February and March
2008. “But the conversion is not
something that’s going to be Iron
Maiden-only. It is designed such that
we can convert the aircraft one
way or the other from Combi to
100 per cent passenger aircraft in
three days,” says Shaun Monnery of
Astraeus. “That opens up a whole new
area of opportunity for other touring
bands, as well as orchestras, for
product launches, company events
and conferences.”
However, big events also bring in
business for smaller aircraft including
helicopters. Paris and French Rivierabased Aviaxess has built up a raft of
private aviation services dedicated to
the international circuit of Formula 1.
“Over the years Aviaxess has
successfully developed solutions to
meet the exacting demands of the
Formula 1 business world,” says Steve
Whittell, organiser of the Motor Sports
Business Forum in Monte Carlo.
“Aviaxess looks after all the details that
drivers, team principals, sponsors and
VIP guests are so sensitive about.
Aviaxess removes the stress of travel
where time is at an absolute
premium.” Aviaxess is working with
the organisers of the Motor Sport
Business Forum to offer its services to
the executives and vips attending this
year’s event in December in Monaco.
Formula 1 also provides business for
airports. A Dassault Falcon 7X owned
and operated by the Formula 1
Management Team, touched down at
London Ashford (Lydd). The aircraft’s
pilot and crew carried out ‘touch and
go’ flight training, completing six
circuits before returning the aircraft to
its base at Biggin Hill.
Meanwhile Eurocopter has fulfilled
its pledge to deliver EC135s in time
for the UEFA European Football
Championship (Euro 2008). Austria’s
minister of the interior, Gunther
Platter inaugurated the first three of
four new EC135 helicopters destined
for the country's air police at the flight
operations base in Innsbruck on 5
May. The new EC135s were also
publicly presented in Salzburg, Vienna
and Klagenfurt: each city is an
important venue for Euro 2008.
The sheer volume of vip and official
travel needs will ensure heavy business
for charter operators. Around 120,000
guests including vips and sponsors will
be welcomed, fed and entertained by
the hospitality team. And every day
about
2,700
journalists
and
photographers will be reporting via TV,
Internet, radio, e-mail and telephone.
Some 5,000 Euro 2008 volunteers have
already attended events in the host
cities. Almost two-thirds come from
Austria and Switzerland, while over 75
nations are represented in all, with
many from Germany, some from Italy
and France and a few from as far away
as Costa Rica, Togo, Uganda, Indonesia
and Nepal.
Air Charter Service (ACS) organised
a ‘fleet’ of private aircraft to fly to
Moscow for the Champions League
final between Manchester United
and Chelsea. To save on hotel
accommodation,
Chelsea
fans
chartered a 148 seat B737-300 from
ACS to fly to Moscow, wait at the
airport and return post match. Four
Chelsea and eight Manchester United
fans together chartered a 14 seater G4
to get to the match.
But ACS reported: “The Russian
location made this event a logistical
nightmare. Landing and parking
permissions as well as traffic rights
were difficult to obtain, aircraft
parking slots at Moscow airport were
restricted and the actions of the
authorities and local hoteliers were
seen by some as ‘an excuse to
make money’.” The volume of calls
received by ACS for quotes to fly to
Moscow was extremely high for over
three weeks.
Charters operators and brokers
reported that the Heineken Cup in
Cardiff brought so many enquiries and
bookings in for all aircraft types that
Cardiff and Bristol airports were
virtually full. But the UEFA Cup Final
in Manchester had a lesser impact
because of Glasgow’s proximity to
Manchester although scheduled travel
options sold out fast and private
charter operators benefited.
Music and sport events, says
analysts, will continue to be big
business for small as well as large
private aircraft operators.
Double boost
for Multiflight
operations
Multiflight, based at Leeds Bradford
International Airport, has added an
AS355 F2 single pilot IFR, to its fleet
and is awaiting the arrival of a
second nine-seater Dauphin AS365
helicopter. The new charter aircraft
join Multiflight’s existing fleet,
which includes an AS365, AS350 and
an R44.
Steve Borrowdale, md, says: “The
investment in the fleet goes in
tandem with the investment in
facilities. Multi-million pound
investment has totally transformed
the south side of the airport. It
offers a one-stop shop for flying
enthusiasts, professionals and
charter customers, with its own
FTC and specialist engineering,
charter, aircraft management and
sales and executive aircraft
handling departments.”
Multiflight's fleet is expanding.
Multiflight says facilities cater for
all sizes of aircraft, and features a
dedicated taxiway from the apron
and hangar space totalling 10,000
sq. m., including two barrel-vaulted
hangars able to house four Boeing
737-800 sized aircraft.
EBAN JULY 2008
The July EBAN will enjoy bonus
distribution at the Farnborough
Airshow. In-depth focuses will
include a fleet review of the
Netherlands.
Essential reading
wherever you are
0809
HANDbook of
business aviation
in Europe
EUROPEAN BUSINESS AIR NEWS
reinforce our position as a leading long
haul charter services provider in
Europe, central Asia and the Middle
East and will complement our Airbus
corporate jet fleet.” Comlux is
establishing Comlux KZ, a new
operation in Almaty, Kazakhstan, to
complement existing offices in Zurich,
Monaco, Moscow and Malta. It has also
set up a new division, Comlux
Creatives to offer aircraft design
covering activities such as exterior and
interior design and decoration, art
concepts, completion management
and supervision. It will be able to call
on the newly-established Bahrain
Comlux Creatives. Comlux Creatives, it
says, will be led by Isabelle Bevilacqua.
The reference book for fixed wing and rotary business aircraft
owners and operators in Europe and the Middle East.
2008/09 edition available now!
Comlux Aviation expands its
network and adds two XRS
Comlux Aviation has ordered two
Global Express XRS. The deal was
finalised at EBACE (above). Ettore
Rodaro, coo and head of the vip charter
division says: “The aircraft will increase
Comlux Aviation’s young and modern
fleet to a total of nine Bombardier
business jets.”
The current fleet also includes two
widebody Challenger 605, two
Challenger 850 and a Global 5000. “The
new XRS is the definitive business jet
offering superior comfort, advanced
technology and efficient layout of the
new flight deck,” says Rodaro. “There
has also been particular attention to
detail. These new aircraft are part of
our strategic development plan to
Handbook of Business
Aviation in Europe
www.handbook.aero
0809
HANDbook of
business aviation
in ASIA PACIFIC
Handbook of Business
Aviation in Asia Pacific
The reference book for fixed wing and rotary business
aircraft owners and operators in the Asia Pacific region.
Available June 2008.
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Global Business Jet Yearbook
The reference book for long range business jet
global business jet
YEARBOOK
owners and operators worldwide.
www.gbjyearbook.com
Page08-09
4/6/08
4:11 pm
Page 8
8 JUNE 2008
EUROPEAN BUSINESS AIR NEWS
CZECH
REPUBLIC/
SLOVAKIA
REVIEW
Czech Republic and Slovakia look to new ideas
and better aircraft to keep the business fresh
When EBAN last interviewed charter
operators in the Czech Republic for
the regional review many were
uncertain about what would happen
over the coming years and some were
unsure that joining the European
Union had even had a positive effect
on business levels. Many were
predicting that either they or some of
their competitors might not be
around for much longer.
Four years on, and the business
aviation sector is looking much more
promising. Operators are continuing
to add aircraft to their fleets and many
are busy developing the service they
provide at the base for a more ‘allround’ business offering.
The Czech Republic’s main exports
comprise
car
and
transport
equipment, manufactured goods and
beverages and thousands of tourists
flock to its capital Prague every year to
experience its famous architecture
and art history, something that charter
operator VIP Helicopter Czech has
been wise to exploit.
“We provide regular Prague
sightseeing tours and are working with
companies in the Czech Republic
marketplace,” says managing director
Marek Kratky.
Last year, VIP Helicopter Czech
added useful revenue to its private
charter income with additional
services to tourists provided by a
managed Bell 206. Its managed fleet of
helicopters has grown since the
company launched in 2004, with
good demand for its BO 105 and
Robinson 44. Its fleet also comprises a
Schweizer 300, R22, R44, Bell 206 and
AS355. Furthermore, the company
leases a number of Cessna aircraft
including a Citation X and a light twin
Cessna 340.
Demand for its aircraft is split
50/50 between business missions and
tourism. Kratky says: “Business has
been OK for us. We’ve increased sales
by 35 per cent and we’re expecting
growth to continue at the same pace at
around 30 per cent a year.
“Real estate is a key business sector
for us. There are a lot of houses being
built here at the moment. Flying by
helicopter is a great opportunity to
check your acquisition before putting
your money on the table. Eighteen
months ago we took the president of
0809
HANDbook of
business aviation
in Europe
EUROPEAN BUSINESS AIR NEWS
The new edition is out now.
Czech Republic and
Slovakian charter,
handling and
maintenance
The 2008/09 EBAN Handbook of
Business Aviation in Europe, now
available, covers the Czech Republic
and Slovakia, and contains useful
details about charter operators. It also
details business aviation facilities and
services including airports, FBOs and
maintenance centres. The details can
be accessed through a search of
aircraft operated or the airport bases.
For more information please visit
www.handbook.aero.
Cessna 421: PonyExpres’s latest aircraft.
situation with the emergency medical
market. We’d like six bases and we
want to have a 24-hour operation
instead of 12-hour so for that we may
need an additional five pilots,
perhaps.”
As well as increasing the number of
bases Air Transport Europe would also
like to acquire additional aircraft.
“Our Agusta has accrued more than
3,000 hours total flight time so perhaps
we will acquire more aircraft in the
future. Once again it depends on the
market and the economy. We’d like
more aircraft but it's hard to say when
that will be and which aircraft we
would choose.”
A necessary change
VIP Helicopter Czech provides regular sightseeing tours of Prague.
Hyundai out in one of our aircraft. The
company wanted to survey the prime
spot in which to locate a new
automotive factory. More and more
people are counting time as money
and people are trying to like more
luxury and freedom.”
New ideas, new horizons
As well as operating a healthy charter
business, VIP Helicopter Czech has
also been working on another project
to develop a new way of extinguishing
fires using helicopters. The company
has already patented the technology
and has exhibited the product on a
number of occasions.
“We’re working on a new way of
extinguishing fires that would work
well in cities which have a lot of high
buildings and which will need
helicopters to extinguish the fires.
We’re still at the testing stage but we’ve
had a positive response and we’re
waiting to sign contracts with
potential clients that include the
mayor of New York,” Kratky explains.
Aerotaxi operates a range of Piper
aircraft including a Seneca and a
Cheyenne III, with plans to acquire
more aircraft later this year if business
continues to fare well. The company
confirmed that its first year of
operations was not as busy as
expected but over the coming year it is
determined to increase the number of
flight hours from 300 to 400 hours for
the Cheyenne and 250 to 350 hours for
the Seneca.
Acquiring an AOC for operating a
single-engine aircraft has not been
easy however, a spokesman explains.
“It’s something that the Czech
authorities are not familiar with so it
has caused us a few problems but we
have been working with them to sort it
out. We’re hoping that operating such
an aircraft will be cheaper and will
help us to attract new clients.”
Silesia Air operates a Citation 560,
560 XL and a CitationJet 525 for
charter and air ambulance missions.
Its most recent acquisition is a
luxuriously outfitted Citation Excel.
The aircraft are solely owned
and operated by Silesia, which
allows total operational control and
continuous availability for charter.
This latest addition is performing
extremely well and is a favourite
All Seagle Jet aircraft have moved to
VIP Air.
amongst industry brokers for both
business and private missions.
ABS Jets operates out of both the
Czech Republic and Slovakia, with
bases in Prague and more recently
Bratislava. In business since 2004, ABS
provides handling and hangarage at
Prague Ruzyne airport. Its fleet
consists of four Legacy 600s, two
Citation 550/551s and a Learjet 60XR.
Commercial director Jan Vana says:
“Prague Ruzyne airport is very wellequipped for business and general
aviation. ABS Jets is building its own
FBO capability at the airport, which
we expect to open in 2009.”
On the move
PonyExpres is currently located at
Prague Kbely airport but at the request
of its customers the company is
planning to reposition its aircraft at
Prague Ruzyne airport. PonyExpres
performs a number of services
including aerial works, freight and
passenger charter. Most recently, the
company acquired a Cessna 421
Golden Eagle. Says flight operations
manager Michal Bures: “It fits all our
requirements – it is fast, reliable and
spacious enough for passengers and
cargo and the big positive is that its
very economical.”
So how busy is the charter market
for the company at present?
“The charter market is still in the
phase of development and grows by
tens of per cent every year. We have
special marketing activities on the
basis of the work with selected
companies and regular customers, but
we are also working on projects to
increase the overall awareness of the
public and respective clients about
business aviation. One of the most
memorable flights recently was to
Europe's highest airport in Samedan,
Switzerland. This airport not only
offers unusual visual procedures in the
deep alpine valley, but provides
passengers with unbeatable views on
approach and departure.”
According to Bures, there are plans
to develop Kbely airport further and
despite the company's planned
repositioning, he is supportive of the
plans. “For the future, there are
development plans for Kbely airport,
which has the ideal position to
become the secondary business
aviation airport for Prague. Its unique
position and development plans
promise to serve industrial zones on
the eastern part of Prague, but it can
also be used as a cargo airport for the
close production plants,” he says.
At the heart of Europe and with a
history strongly-linked with that of its
closest neighbours, Slovakia also
joined the European Union in 2004. Its
modest size and close proximity to
other European countries means that
operators must compete for business
within
Slovakia
and
abroad.
Fortunately there are few competitors
compared with other parts of Europe
and some tend to use older, well-used
aircraft rather than brand new jets.
Air Transport Europe operates five
Agusta K2s and an AS355N Ecureuil
helicopter. With five bases spread
across the country including its main
site in the capital, Bratislava, the
company performs a range of services
from emergency medical services and
repatriation to aerial work and
sightseeing, mostly within Slovakia.
Emergency medical services fly for
around 1,000 hours per year. It also
performs a few sightseeing trips,
though this is mostly seasonal, and
conducts occasional repatriation
missions in Hungary, Poland and the
Czech Republic.
Twelve pilots currently work for the
company, eight full-time and four
part-time but every pilot works only
for Air Transport Europe, according to
chief pilot Wiliam Kriwak. As part of
the company’s plans to acquire
another base, taking their offering to
six, and ultimately a 24-hour
operation, Kriwak said the firm may
have to recruit more staff. At this stage
however, he is not sure when that
might be.
“Yes, of course we would like to hire
more people. It depends on the
Staying competitive in any market is
difficult and Slovakia is no exception.
Seagle Jet recently merged with VIP Air
to form a new, independent company.
From 1 May, all aircraft and some of its
personnel and pilots will be operating
former Seagle Jet aircraft under VIP
Air’s AOC.
Dusan Blascak left his post as sales
manager at Seagle Jet when the
company was sold, along with most of
the former Seagle Jet management
team. He began a new role one month
ago as commercial director of a
different company called Seagle Air.
According to Blascak the company
recently acquired a B737 aircraft and
has plans to acquire four more similar
aircraft over the coming two years. He
explains: “Lots of people at Seagle Air
are former employees of Slovak
Airlines and have great experience
flying with 737s so we have the know-
Business and tourism demand split
50/50, says Kratky.
how to operate them effectively. We
might consider operating other
aircraft in the future but for now our
type rating is with 737s and that’s what
we know best.”
Arpad Agocs is sales executive with
the revised VIP Air. According to
Agocs, all aircraft listed in the Seagle
Jet fleet have moved to VIP Air. It now
consists of three Citation jets, three
King Air aircraft and a Piper
Cheyenne. At the end of June, the
company is also hoping for a Hawker
800XP to join the fleet.
“There are also plans for additional
aircraft deliveries, however no exact
decision was made if the Cessna or
Raytheon Hawker types would be
preferred. Just this year we delivered
three brand new aircraft and are
hoping to purchase new types in the
future. With the mixed fleet of
turboprops and jets we will have no
limits to our operations.”
Agocs also confirmed plans to
develop a rebranding and marketing
action, that may include a name
change, to mark the last step of this
fusion of companies.
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JUNE 2008 9
EUROPEAN BUSINESS AIR NEWS
EAS extends charter scope with fleet additions
that bring shorter runways within reach
Executive Aviation Services (EAS) has
recently added a Citation Bravo, a
Super King Air 350 and a BrittenNorman Islander to its management
and charter fleet.
“With the addition of the King Air
350, one of only two available for
charter in the U.K., we can offer our
charter clients an eight seat
configuration in a larger cabin as well
as access to airfields with shorter
runways,
increasing
flexibility
while enabling them to make the
most of their time at their
destination. For those really out of the
way airfields the Islander is a
tremendous alternative for up to
eight passengers,” says Capt. Peter
Turner, ceo.
The EAS fleet also includes two
Citation Bravos and a Citation II
based at the U.K.’s Gloucestershire
airport. These are complemented by
two King Air 200s based at Cardiff
airport and a further King Air 200
deployed from Retford/Gamston.
The latest additions, based in
Gloucestershire, are available for
charter within western and near
eastern Europe, Scandinavia and
North Africa.
Capt. Turner says: “We are
currently sourcing a further Bravo for
a regular charter customer. As an
aircraft management company the
decision whether to order new or
pre-owned aircraft is fully dictated by
the requirements of the owner in
respect to utilisation, range, capacity
and price.”
Kirstie Turner, operations director,
says: “The majority of our charter
requests are through charter brokers,
increasingly through Avinode.com,
but we are experiencing increasing
levels of enquiries from direct
clients through our new website,
www.exas.co.uk.”
Capt. Jason Bishop, Capt. Peter Turner and Capt Ken Wilson are enjoying flying new
aircraft.
She adds: “As we are only 30
minutes flying time from all the
major London airports a large part of
our charter work is for the business
sector with all aircraft having London
City approval.
“Over the last year we have
noticed an increase in the number of
charter requests from Birmingham,
Manchester, East Midlands and
Leeds Bradford, all within 40
minutes of our main Gloucestershire
base. In the case of charter clients
in the north of England our King
Air 200 based at Gamston is a
useful option.”
Capt. Ken Wilson, EAS’s chief pilot,
says: “The Citation Bravo is one of the
most popular and reliable business
jets presently operating at present
with the ability to comfortably
reach all major European capitals.”
EAS is a Cessna Citation Type Rating
Training Organisation.
The King Air 350 has a spacious
interior with an accessible baggage
allowance of up to 550 lbs carrying, as
an example, eight passengers from
London Luton to the Côte d’Azur in
two hours and 20 minutes.
“The aircraft’s ability to utilise
shorter runways than those for a
similar size jet allows access to a great
number of airfields offering increased
flexibility to the customer,” Capt.
Wilson adds.
EAS recruits all staff through
open application derived from
advertisements in trade publications.
The company currently employs five
administrative
personnel
and
operates with a pool of 22 pilots.
“Our recruitment situation is
currently under review in light of
the new additions to our fleet,” says
Capt. Wilson.
The main revenue stream is
through charter but there is a major
focus
on
providing
aircraft
management and consultancy to
owner clients.
Capt. Wilson says: “Our utilisation
of aircraft is growing by demand. We
look for a minimum of 400 hours
annual utilisation per aircraft.”
Formed in 1982, EAS, a family
owned and run aircraft management,
consultancy and charter company,
has grown over the years to operate
eight aircraft on its AOC.
Keith McMann: Plans for more aircraft.
Twinjet broadens
business thrust
in Middle East
Twinjet Aviation Group, in keeping
with its change of name from
Twinjet Aircraft, is broadening its
range of activities in the Middle
East. “We plan to base a second
aircraft in the region from later this
year and are also intending to open
a sales office in a major city in the
next six months,” says Keith
McMann, ceo.
The company, which operates a
Challenger 604 from Bahrain, was
established in 1982 and has a client
base that includes Royal families,
heads of state and sports and
entertainment personalities.
McMann says: “The next 12
months will be an exciting time for
Twinjet as we extend our operations
and activities. We continue to see a
growing demand for our services
and plan to introduce further
aircraft by the end of this year.”
Twinjet also plans to expand its
programme of executive jet cabin
crew training courses to include
safety and emergency procedures,
first aid and crew resource
management in addition to cabin
protocol, handling vip clients and
menu planning.
Hemus Air and First Kuwait in the vanguard
of growing demand for corporate RJ70s
Celebrating successful corporate conversions are (left to right): Steve Buckingham, md
of Inflite Engineering Services, Andy Whelan, sales, BAE Systems Regional Aircraft and
Gary Doy, director, Design Q.
Bulgaria’s Hemus Air has acquired an
RJ70 for conversion into a full
corporate interior for use by its parent
company, the Varna-based diversified
industrial group TIM. The group has
extensive business interests across
banking, insurance, pension funds
and oil and gas prospecting.
“It is one of at least six Avro
business jets that will enter service this
year with five vip operators,” says
Andy Whelan, sales executive for BAE
Systems Regional Aircraft. “There are
around 23 BAe 146/Avro RJs that are in
service or being converted for a variety
of corporate roles - some six per cent
of total production of the aircraft. BAE
Systems is working on several other
potential ABJ deals.”
There is interest from vip operators
of aging converted jet airliners,
high net worth individuals and
entrepreneurs, large corporations with
a demanding travel profile, charter
companies and airlines that require
executive operations. “The upsurge in
demand looks likely to continue for
the forseeable future,” Whelan says.
TIM says that the interior has been
designed by Design Q of the U.K.
There is a dining and divan area with
separate 12-seat business class seating
cabin for company support staff.
Inflite Engineering Services, based at
London Stansted, believes it will
complete the conversion by the third
quarter of this year.
First Kuwait Trading & Contracting
has acquired a BAe 146-200 which will
be used as a corporate shuttle for
company
personnel
servicing
construction projects in the Middle
East and Asia. The company says that
pluses include the operational
performance, large cabin and
competitive pricing. Whelan says: “A
European operator has also purchased
an RJ70 for charter.”
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10 JUNE 2008
EUROPEAN BUSINESS AIR NEWS
RUSSIA BUSINESS REVIEW
Mustangs ride hard to catch buoyant Moscow air taxi
demand as western manufacturers target Russia
Russia is a country where private
aviation can equate to business
survival. Nobody sees an easing off
in demand for either air taxis or long
haul service in the foreseeable
future. There is a favourite story,
apparently true and unvarnished by
legend, about a businessman in the
far east of Russia who needed to fly
just 400 kilometres north. Because
there was no direct flight available
his route lay over thousands
of kilometres via Moscow and
back with the frustrations of
delays, cancellations and an
overnight stopover. And, when the
businessman’s scheduled flight
finally approached the destination
days later, weather conditions were
so bad the aircraft was diverted back
to his starting point.
That’s why Eugene Andrachnikov,
ceo of Dexter Air Taxis, says with
quiet understatement and absolute
certainty: “There is rapid expansion
of business aviation in Russia. We
expect that to continue.”
There is a telling transport price
comparison. Andrachnikov says:
“We charge 140 rubles per km per
aircraft regardless of the number of
passengers on board. If we assume
that a group of eight people decides
to pay for the trip jointly it means
17.5 rubles per km per each
passenger which is lower than 20
to 25 rubles per km for a ground taxi
in Moscow.”
Dexter Air Taxis already operates
PC-12s, is expanding that fleet to
more than a dozen, and has signed
a fleet management programme
with Pratt & Whitney to cover
maintenance for eight engines.
Significantly Dexter has ordered 20
Citation Mustangs for 2011 delivery.
It already operates its PC-12 air taxis
on routes ranging up to around 1,000
kilometres and is expanding services
Dexter's PC-12s are already veterans
in the Russian air taxi arena.
Rising demand
brings training
and development
opportunities
Eugene Andrachnikov, ceo of Dexter Air Taxis (right) with Roger Whyte, svp sales and marketing of Cessna celebrate Dexter's order of
20 Mustangs, which will be used to provide air taxi services.
into Scandinavia, the Baltic region,
Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, the
north Caucases and the former
Soviet republics. But Andrachnikov
says: “All 20 Mustangs will be
allocated across Russia to support
the nationwide network we are
building. This is still a virgin market
but three or four years from now it
will be very different.” Key base
locations will include St. Petersburg,
Rostov and Vladivostock.
He adds: “Air-taxi is ideal for
point-to-point logistics within
Russia, where 90% of air traffic
generates through Moscow and
St.Petersburg,” says Andrachnikov.
Executives with plans to feed the hunger for private aviation in Russia. From left to
right: Sergey Reus (Oboronprom general director); Giuseppi Orsi, AgustaWestland ceo;
and Aaron Frenkel, Loyd's Investments president.
“Dexter is a hassle-free and
affordable tool for optimising
corporate travel budgets.”
Says Roger Whyte, svp, sales and
marketing for Cessna: “Dexter’s
order is a sign of the strength of the
business jet market in Eastern
Europe, particularly within Russia.
We designed the Mustang to be every
bit as reliable and robust as any
other Citation in the stable, and
that makes it quite suitable for the
high utilisation operations it will see
at Dexter.”
Manufacturers are getting ready
to produce their aircraft in Russia as
well as export to the country in large
numbers as soon as permissions and
production schedules and order
backlogs allow.
Cessna expects certification for
the Citation Mustang by Russian
authorities in early 2010. Eclipse
Aviation has received the U.S.
government’s go-ahead to export the
Eclipse 500 and its components to
Russia. Pratt & Whitney also have
Canada’s permission to export the
PW610F engine to Russia. “These
significant milestones are major
steps towards establishing an
assembly facility in Ulyanovsk,
Russia,” Eclipse says. On the
helicopter front, Oboronprom
Corporation and Agusta Westland
envisage a joint production
agreement. Andrey Reus, general
director, Oboronprom, says: “A joint
team of experts is working in order to
define how to best implement this
project and will select a production
site in the European part of Russia.
The helicopters produced will be
Oleg Shougaley: targeting a market boom.
marked both within Russia and CIS
area, and, through Agusta Westland,
all over the world."
Giuseppe Orsi, ceo Agusta
Westland, says: “We see the
Russian and CIS markets as very
important with the potential to
generate significant future business
opportunities. Already, prior to this
agreement, we have won orders for
14 AgustWestland vip-configured
helicopters from various Russian
customers.” The orders are for five
AW119 Ke, five AW109 Power and
four Grands.
There is also a business
opportunity to train pilots for the
pent-up demand for private aviation
services. Oxford Aviation Academy
(OAA) has appointed Oleg Shougaley
as regional sales manager for
the Baltic and Russia and other
CIS countries. Based in Moscow
and Stockholm, Oleg’s initial
responsibilities include setting up
OAA as a registered business entity
in Russia as well as representing
OAA’s sales efforts within the
region. Shougaley confirms: “Today
Russia, CIS and Baltic is a booming
aviation market.”
FACTS Training, a division of
AirCare Solutions Group, recently
completed its first emergency
procedures training exercise in
Russia. “Our goal is to be
the frontrunner in providing
new and challenging training
experiences
for
corporate
crewmembers,” says Doug
Mykol, ceo, of the AirCare
Solutions Group.
Corporate and vip transport
demand is also generating
orders. Five AW119 Kes have been
ordered by Russian customers.
One will feature a Versace-style
interior and be outfitted with a
six-seat cabin.
But, for now, Dexter, funded
by two Russian private equity
groups, Industrial Investors and
Kaskol, both with strong
expertise in the transportation
sector, seems to have a head start
on most potential business rivals.
“Since our first flight in
2006,
our
Moscow-based
operation is the first air
taxi in the country offering
the
intelligent
alternative
for business travelers,” says
Andrachnikov. “The company
created
an
entirely
new
‘low cost business aviation’
mode of transportation that
complements travel by car, train
and traditional air carriers
in Russia.”
Dexter executives conducted
extensive research involving
visits to VLJ sites in both North
and South America before
selecting the Mustang. “We
are very happy with our
decision,” says Andrachnikov,
“and so are the customers
who also had an input. There
was also the consideration
that infrastructure is relatively
under-developed and the aircraft
needed to be robust.”
Russian investors back the Eclipse
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Roel Piper's European Technology
and Investment Research Center
(ERITC) says it has recently
invested more than US$100
million, mainly from Russian
investors, in the Eclipse. Piper says
the ‘sky cab fleet model’ is well
suited to Europe.
ETIRC plans to open Eclipse
service centres in southwest, east
and northern Europe. Both Russia
and Turkey are seen as key markets.
However, Russia will also be central
to production plans. A Russian
assembly
plant
is
planned
convenient to the UlyanovskVostochny airport. Ulyanovsk's
aviation complex builds the
Antonov An-124 Ruslan and
Tupolev Tu-204. There are also
engineering schools in relatively
close proximity. Piper says: “We
evaluated potential manufacturing
sites based on aviation history,
tradition, engineering schools and
manufacturing.”
Vern Raburn, founder and
president of Eclipse Aviation, says
the cash hungry start-up is
adequately financed and poised to
meet the challenge of becoming an
internationally-focused company
with a global order book.
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9:25 am
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EUROPEAN BUSINESS AIR NEWS
JUNE 2008 11
S P E C I A L F O C U S : P R I VAT E A I R C R A F T S E R V I C E S
Large charter operators mount big ‘one stop shop’
challenge on the FBO and maintenance fronts
There are concerns that the
slowdown in the U.S. market will
feed through to orders for jets and
helicopters and that this will affect
the growth of business aviation
services. But there are no such
worries in Europe and the Middle
East where the emphasis is on rapid
expansion with the “one-stop shop”
approach favoured by many
companies and private charter
operators among those expanding
their own maintenance and
handling services.
Avitat, which is celebrating its
40th anniversary, believes that the
European part of its global network
of independent FBOs will expand
from nine to 14 or 15 in the next
18 months to two years. Members
must meet strict standards for
safety, service, training and facility
amenities to become part of the
ExxonMobil Aviation Avitat network
which has more than 600 aviation
locations worldwide. However that
has not discouraged interest and the
network’s current growth reflects
the continuing high demand for
business aviation services in Europe,
the Middle East and Russia. Avitats
in Dublin, Istanbul, Naples and Nice
are among the most recent additions
while others in Cologne and Rome
are also coming on stream.
But as traditional FBO players
such as Avitat seek new business, they
are facing strong competition from
private charter operations that are
fast expanding their own FBO
facilities and networks as well as their
own maintenance operations. The
increasing ‘one stop shop’ challenge
is being mounted by companies
including Gestair, FlyingGroup, AeroDienst and Ocean Sky.
Gestair expects to start operating
its first FBO outside Spain in the near
future. Jose Ramon Barriocanal, gm
private aviation, says that the
company is also setting up a 50:50
joint venture with Iberia to supply
executive jet maintenance at
Madrid. The company, Gestair
Maintenance Support (GMAS) will
operate from a new hangar.
Gestair’s recently announced
joint venture with Assistair at El Prat
airport in Barcelona, based at the
new corporate aviation terminal,
Service providers such as Universal
Weather and Aviation are focusing more
closely on private aviation according to
Pete Lewis.
covers two years but may be
extended to 2010. “Madrid and
Barcelona account for about 80 per
cent of business aviation activity in
Spain so these agreements are very
important,” says Barriocanal. “We
only moved into the new facility in
March but the company has serviced
more than 300 operations and
expects to serve more than 60 per
cent of the business aviation traffic
there this year.”
Phil Maltby: setting tough targets.
New charter management
team reflects business boom
PremiAir has big plans based on fixed-wing aircraft maintenance at Oxford airport. Pictured are (left) Steve Jones, md, Oxford airport
and David McRobert, group md, PremiAir.
Barriocanal is assessing potential
FBO acquisitions in Europe. Gestair,
opening within weeks at Valencia,
expects to acquire its first FBO
outside Spain in the near future. “We
have the largest number of FBOs on
the Iberian peninsular and it makes
sense to add an international
dimension,” says Barriocanal.
FlyingGroup of Belgium has
acted to bring certainty into its
handling operations. Flying Service,
one of its companies, has signed an
agreement with AviaPartner Belgium
which means that FlyingGroup will
perform all third party ground
handling services at Antwerp until 30
September 2010 when AviaPartner’s
handling license expires. Ben
Paindavin, marketing director,
says: “The agreement enables
FlyingGroup to reinforce staff, know
how and experience in business
aircraft handling. We have good
experience as self handler for its fleet
of about 20 business aircraft. We
expected that FlyingGroup will
handle at least 800 third party flights
per year at Antwerp.”
FlyingGroup will also offer
aircraft cleaning, hangarage, EASA
Part 145 maintenance and Part-M
engineering services on Citations,
Falcons and Challengers plus JAROPS/EU-OPS compliant flight
support services to third parties.
Paindavin says: “Antwerp airport is
the second base, after Paris Le
Bourget, where FlyingGroup provides
third party handling activities.”
Ocean Sky says its engineers
currently service up to 400 aircraft a
year. Its ceo Kurosh Tehranchian
says: “It is anticipated that this
number will increase rapidly by as
much as 300 per cent now that our
Manchester maintenance facility has
become a Bombardier authorised
service facility. The facility employs
65 people and is the airport’s only
FAL Aviation: reports rising fuel demand.
high-end
private
aviation
maintenance
operation.”
The
company’s two hangars cover more
than 3,000 square meters and can
accommodate four long range jets.
Ocean Sky also has a jet
maintenance centre at Glasgow
Prestwick, a base in London and
offices in Manchester, Salzburg,
Zurich and Moscow.
Phil Maltby, group md for
engineering at Ocean Sky, says
obtaining the additional aircraft
types for our Aircraft Service
Facility (ASF) with Bombardier will
see a doubling of the 26-strong
engineering workforce at the
Manchester facility “within the next
six to twelve months.”
Maltby promised some tough
targets for his team. “Many facilities
could take three days or more to
undertake a scheduled 400 hour
check on a Challenger aircraft, we’re
aiming to cut that down to less than
24 hours. Because we also operate our
own fleet, we know that a jet on the
ground isn’t earning any money, so a
fast maintenance turnaround is vital.
We’d expect to see at least a 50 per
cent increase in the throughput of
aircraft for maintenance as a result of
our enhanced relationship with
Bombardier.”
Aero-Dienst, one of the largest
service providers for business
aviation in Europe, is expanding
aircraft maintenance, operations,
sales and management. It has been
appointed as an authorised service
centre for the Falcon 900EX and
900EX EASy and its new 3a hangar
starts operations in July.
The company operates nine
aircraft including the recently added
Falcon 900EX trijet and Learjet 45 XR
were registered in the AOC and it is
commissioning a new third hangar
to take its total operations area at
Nuremberg airport to over some
5,500 square metres. Its 50th
anniversary was marked with the
‘Safety of Flight Award Gold’ from
the European Business Aviation
Association (EBAA).
Service providers are also focusing
strongly on increasing business from
private aviation.
Universal Weather and Aviation
has created a new charter
management team dedicated to
providing bespoke services. Pete
Lewis, vp trip support services, says:
“Anticipating client needs from the
charter management industry,
and taking into account feedback
from clients, we determined that
the best way for Universal to
meet the evolving needs of our
charter management clients was
to create a specialised group
composed of teams dedicated
exclusively to them.”
He points out: “Charter management is unique in how it operates and
has a high demand for rapid
turnaround on aspects including
trip cost estimates. Our new
CMT integrates key trip support
functionality into one team,
centralising all trip-critical aspects
and related personnel which
translates
into
even
greater
personalised services and attention.”
Preston
Hesselgesser,
CMT
manager, says: “The CMT model has
given us a more intimate knowledge
of each charter management client's
unique preference, and improved
the accuracy of data generated as
well as our responsiveness and
communication with clients.”
Some organisations are focusing
on developing reputations for
regional expertise.
“Planning a trip into the Middle
East or Africa has always been a
difficult experience,” says Mazher
Hussain, gm Fliteport.
Fliteport, based in Dubai has
been established to assist flight
operations departments around the
world in planning their trips into
the Middle East, Asia and Africa
region. “We are witnessing an
increasing demand for trip planning
services,” Hussain adds. “Operations
departments are experiencing
increasing workloads, and we can
assist them in utilising their current
resources more effectively. By taking
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12 JUNE 2008
EUROPEAN BUSINESS AIR NEWS
the burden off the operator for
flight planning, flight permission
applications, handling and fueling
requests, they are able to focus on
the aircraft, crews and passengers.”
Fliteport, he says, intends to
capture significant market share of
the trip support industry in line with
the continued growth in business
aviation around the world and in
particular in the Middle East. Key
markets will include the UAE, Saudi
Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kenya,
Sudan, Ghana, Libya, Syria, Iran,
India and China.
Palm Aviation is another provider
that recognises the potential growth
of on-demand flight support in the
Middle East. “The company has set
itself the goal of achieving 35 per
cent growth per annum through
extending its services to air traffic
inbound to the Middle East and
Africa originating in Europe and the
CIS states,” says Samer Dabbagh,
executive vp and ceo. “Palm Aviation
is internationally certified to obtain
global over-flight and landing
permits, in addition to global
fuelling and ground handling,
weather forecasts, computerised
flight plans, and ATC flight plans.”
Palm Aviation has already
announced a series of service
contracts, covering ground handling
services and logistical support with
Middle East regional operators,
including the Empire Aviation
Group. “We will operate the first FBO
at Dubai World Central (DWC)
Aviation City, which is home to the
world’s largest maintenance repair
operation (MRO) centre. The FBO
investment will total around US$ 12
million,” Dabbagh adds.
According to DWC Aviation City,
the aviation sector is expected to
grow at more than 30 per cent
annually for the next five years,
with growth of more than nine per
Fliteport has big Middle East ambitions. Pictured (left to right) are: Mazher Hussain, gm; Ghizlane Khalif and Asser Ahmed, flight operations;
Maria Fe Ty, customer service; Oliver Hewson, business development; Alice Brendel, marketing; and Irfan Javed, flight operations.
cent for the Middle East MRO market
expected to continue over the
same period.
Palm Aviation, he points out,
entered the aviation market to offer
clients a ‘one stop shop’ and a high
level of customised service provision
for all clients’ flights and ground
handling needs.
AMAC, founded in the autumn
of
2007
by
a
group
of
aviation specialists, is launching
maintenance, refurbishment and
completion services for corporate
and private aircraft from its base in
Basel. Heinz Köhli, ceo of AMAC
Aerospace Switzerland says: “The first
aircraft will be in the new hangar at
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Airports expand business
aviation facilities
Preston Hesselgesser: anticipating needs.
EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg
for maintenance, refurbishment and
completion work in September this
year.” He adds: “The business aviation
market has seen annual growth of 5.8
per cent over the last 30 years.
Forecasts indicate that this growth is
set to accelerate. The positive outlook
means there is room for a new
company offering high quality
services to enter this attractive market
alongside the established players.”
AMAC is building a 4,200 square
metre double hangar. Operational
work will begin in the aircraft halls,
workshops and offices in September
2008. During the first phase,
maintenance will be offered on
Gulfstream, Boeing and Airbus
aircraft. The second phase of
construction will see the erection of
a wide-body hangar with a floor
space of around 8,200 square
metres. “This will be big enough for
wide-bodied aircraft such as a
Boeing B747-400 or two Airbus
A320. From 2009 services will
also be offered for aircraft made by
Dassault, Bombardier and other
manufacturers,” says Köhli.
Skilled
technicians
and
managers have been appointed
Airports also confirm the rise in
demand for private aircraft services.
Oxford Airport says Oxfordjet, a new
private aviation terminal is on
schedule for its July opening. Steve
Jones, md, says: “The facility will
cater for private jet traffic crew and
passengers and will have triple the
space of the existing general aviation
terminal, with a fresh, modern
design and amenities akin to a smart
boutique hotel.” The new terminal
represents the first phase of a major
investment by Oxford Airport’s joint
owners, international property
developers the Reuben Brothers and
Dawnay Day, who purchased it last
summer from BBA Aviation.
Business aviation at the airport, says
newly appointed customer services
manager David Surley, who joins
from Air Mauritius, has doubled over
the past three years.
Oxford Airport has already built a
new 3,500 square metre high bearing
strength apron suitable for larger
business aircraft up to the size and
weight of the Boeing Business Jet
and Airbus A318 Elite. “We are able
to accommodate heavier business
jets such as the Global Express and
Gulfstream V (550), together with
regional aircraft such as the BAe 146
family and the Bombardier Q400,”
says Jones. “The new high
bearing strength apron will allow us
to accommodate aircraft with
maximum weights in excess of 77
tonnes.” he said. “Throughout 2008,
there will be further enhancements
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A
Gulfstream IVs are regular visitors at Newquay airport.
at the airport, specifically for the
business aviation sector, including
more hangar facilities to add to the
170,000 sq.ft. already established.”
PremiAir says Oxford will be the
new home of its fixed wing
maintenance operations. Work on
Hawker
Beechcraft
business
aircraft, for which PremiAir is an
Authorised Service Centre, will move
from PremiAir’s headquarters at
Blackbushe, Surrey, from September
this year, making Blackbushe a
dedicated base for rotary wing
maintenance, says md David
McRobert. “PremiAir no longer
had
sufficient
capacity
to
grow its maintenance any further
at Blackbushe. The airport’s
comparatively short runway length
and lack of ILS always constrained
fixed wing operations. It was
therefore logical to find a new base
for our fixed wing business
and thereby create much needed
space for further helicopter
maintenance activity.”
St. Gallen-Altenrhein executives
says that discretion, privacy and
efficiency is why royals, celebrities
and executives use the airport
as a gateway to Switzerland
and Liechtenstein. “The airport is
experiencing a tremendous upward
trend
in
business
aviation
movements,” they add.
Newquay Cornwall airport and
its FBO Midwest Executive report
that, during 2007, business jet
movements were up 11 per cent to a
total of 903 aircraft. In 2008, it is
forecast to grow 10 per cent, which
will push movements up to the 1,000
a year mark, says md Nick Weston.
“Because of the airport’s westerly
and coastal position and its long
runway it is increasingly popular as
a technical stop for transatlantic
flights,” he adds. “Fuel prices
at Newquay are very competitive
too and we saw a 28% increase
in fuel sales last year.” Midwest
Executive Aviation opened its
executive/business aviation facility
at Newquay in 2003. With additional
U.K. FBO locations at Birmingham
International Airport and Durham
Tees Valley Airport, Midwest
Executive Aviation is now the second
largest FBO chain in the UK in terms
of locations.
Newquay points out that it can
accommodate a range of jets from
VLJs to the heavier jets such as the
Airbus ACJ/A319, Boeing
BBJ,
Embraer Legacy and Bombardier
Challenger Series.
London Biggin Hill markets itself
as London's only non-slot-restricted
airport. Airport director, Peter
Lonergan and business development
manager, Robert Walters, says there
is huge potential. FAL Aviation, an
FBO based at London Ashford
(Lydd), Kent, reports a record
number of movements and fuel sales
since its opening in September 2005.
Jet fuel sales, it says, almost doubled.
The rapid expansion has led
operators to focus on maintaining
standards, an issue that led to a lively
debate during the EBACE forum for
FBOs and business airports. The
forum's panel included Kerry
Besgrove, gm Harrods Aviation,
London Luton, Kim Dimetro,
customer relations manager, Avitat
FBOs, U.S., Brandon O’Reilly, ceo
TAG Farnborough, London U.K. and
Graham Stephenson, group FBO
manager, ExecuJet, Zurich. The
narrowing of differences between
FBOs in the U.S. and Europe were
among discussion highlights.
Construction group Balfour
Beatty has agreed to buy Blackpool
airport for £14 million from MAR
Properties, a Northern Ireland-based
property developer. Analysts say
there is scope to add business
aviation facilities to diversify
activities currently undertaken by
low cost carriers Ryanair and
Jet2.com.
Page11-14?
3/6/08
12:28 pm
Page 13
JUNE 2008 13
EUROPEAN BUSINESS AIR NEWS
Lonely Beech Baron era is far from
forgotten as Gama goes global
Gama Aviation, which began
commercial operations with one
Beech Baron in 1983, is finalising the
launch of an operation based at the
heart of the booming Middle East
private aviation market. “The first
step was to fulfill our commitment
to develop a UAE-based company,”
says gm Dave Edwards. “We are
ready to push the whole project
forward and I will be flying out this
month to finalise the details.”
Marwan Khalek, ceo, adds:
“Expansion within the GCC region
is an exciting step in Gama’s
development but it will be
done in tandem with our growth in
our other markets. We are looking at
more acquisition opportunities
throughout Europe.”
The UAE is among the most
favoured locations for private
aviation bases to target business in
the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council)
countries which also include Saudi
Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain and
Qatar. Gama will be operating
from Dubai and Sharjah in the
UAE where it has already built
business contacts.
Khalek says: “We should have our
own UAE AOC within months. The
plan is to develop a full FBO and
maintenance operation in the
emirates. However, we currently
manage a UK registered business
jet which is semi-permanently
based in Dubai, and we have built
up a knowledge of the region.
Therefore, we are well-placed
to recognise a good business
opportunity should it arise.”
In the U.S. Gama has acquired
PrivatAir Inc., the U.S. arm of the
Swiss-based PrivatAir Group. Now
branded as Gama Aviation Inc., the
company remains based in Stratford
with operating bases at Teterboro,
New Jersey; West Palm Beach,
Florida; Norwich, New York and at
15 other satellite bases.
But Khalek recalls: “It was in 1983
that Gama Aviation first saw the
light of day at Fairoaks airport, a
small aerodrome with an 800 metre
runway 30 miles from central
London.” Co-founders Khalek, and
Steve Wright, now operations
director, shared responsibility for
everything from finding the
customers to flying the aircraft.
“What a 25 years it has been,”
says Khalek. “We come from a lowly
Baron at Fairoaks to a fleet of more
than 65 aircraft based around the
world, a team of nearly 300 pilots,
and a round-the-clock operation
Marwan Khalek: founder of a small company that became a global player.
that is borne of relentless growth.”
Now
headquartered
at
Farnborough, Gama has bases in
Moscow, Geneva, Zurich, Aberdeen
and Glagow. Khalek says: “As a
fundamentally British company our
traditions are European. However,
the time is right for us now to branch
out into the Middle East and
American marketplaces and these
are opportunities that excite us.”
Gama is a prime example of a
charter operation expanding into a
multi-service provider or a one-stop
shop for private aviation services
(see focus on Pages 12 and 13).
Organic growth and strategic
acquisitions
have
broadened
Gama’s services to include Gama
Support Services, its aircraft
engineering division; Gama Leasing
Ltd., which specialises in the
acquisition, sales and leasing of
aircraft; Gama Aviation, its Swissregistered aviation services provider
and Gama Aviation Inc. that covers
the U.S. market and an FBO is now
in the offing. An agreement with a
private equity group has enabled
Gama, a name chosen and formed
by putting together the initials of
names of four of Khalek’s immediate
family, to accelerate its expansion
programme. The group has acquired
a 33 per cent stake but Khalek
retains overall control.
From Europe, Gama now
operates a BBJ, Global Express,
Global 5000, Gulfstreams including
the G550, Challengers, Hawkers
including the 4000 and Learjet 45s
and 60s. These are complemented
by the Beechcraft 1900, 200C,
Sikorsky S76C++ and a range of
Eurocopters. But: “We intend to add
to the quality of our fleet where
necessary,” says Khalek.
And the hard-working early days
in 1983 when Gama survived by
taking contracts to ferry orphan
animals to surrogate mothers, are
far from forgotten. “We are still
hungry for business and focused on
service,” says Khalek.
European Aviation Air Charter (EAAC), based at the U.K.'s Bournemouth airport, kept a few key parts and features before it arranged
the demolition of a Boeing 747-236B. The aircraft was scrapped after the removal of the airliner’s cockpit and tail and the salvage of
the wheel assemblies.General Demolition was engaged by GJD Services, a specialist aircraft decommissioning and asset recovery
company, to assist in the demolition. European Aviation was founded in 1989 by Australian entrepreneur Paul Stoddart, former owner
of the Minardi Formula One racing team, and specialises in charter services and vip flights.
Royal Jet seeks five-fold
revenue increase within
the next five years
Abu Dhabi headquartered Royal Jet,
chaired by HE Sheikh Hamdan Bin
Mubarak Al Nahyan, has taken
delivery of a Learjet 60.
President and ceo Shane O’Hare
says it will join Royal Jet’s managed
aircraft programme. “The addition
of the Lear 60 supports the
company's second five year plan
which sees the amount of aircraft
in our fleet expanding to around 24,”
he adds.
The plan calls for Royal Jet to
achieve a five-fold revenue increase
by 2013.
The Lear 60 has seats for a
maximum of seven and there is an
option, depending on the number of
passengers, for a full hot catering
service. Capt. Chris Norgill, who will
be in charge of the aircraft, says:
“The Learjet 60 has a greater range
capability than its predecessors
allowing it to fly for up to five hours
without refuelling.”
Royal Jet’s growing fleet includes
five BBJs, which makes Royal Jet
the world’s largest single BBJ
operator; two G-300s and a G-IVSP,
Avro RJ85 premier short-haul jet, a
medevac Lear 55 and two twinengined Lear 35s.
Royal Jet held a special ceremony
to celebrated its fifth birthday and
made the announcement that it had
captured 16 per cent of the region’s
charter market. “Our client portfolio
includes government officials,
decision makers, the business and
corporate community, sporting
and show business celebrities,
major event organisers, high
end bespoke travel providers,
insurance companies, the health
care sector and so on,” Sheikh
Hamdan says. “Abu Dhabi is
showing rapid growth and settling
its position as a prime business
and tourism hub, which will have
a major impact on the fortunes
of the international aviation
market,” he adds.
O’Hare says: “Last year, the
number of aircraft handled at Royal
Jet’s Abu Dhabi terminal grew by
some 90 per cent. And in the
last financial year, we contracted
over 30 new charter customers. We
believe we can keep progressing in
the same vein.”
HE Sheikh Hamdan: reports progress in
the international aviation sector.
He adds: “Royal Jet’s FBO
currently receives around 150
aircraft per month, offering a fast
turnaround service, as well as
allowing clients a technical stopover on their way from Asia to
America or vice-versa.”
Page14-15
4/6/08
6:48 pm
Page 14
14 JUNE 2008
EUROPEAN BUSINESS AIR NEWS
Training
Marketplace
EBAN’s Marketplace section has been broadened to include
advertisements from companies offering training for business
aircraft operators. Companies can advertise here at the rate of
£39 per single column centimetre. The minimum space is five
centimetres. To find out more, email Mark Ranger
[email protected] or call +44 (0) 1279 714509
Contact Mark Ranger on: +44 (0)1279 714509 [email protected]
Aircraft for sale
Stop press
Individual pre-owned aircraft may be advertised for sale here with up to 40
words and a colour photograph for a discounted price of UK£50 Sterling.
Full details and picture are also included on the EBAN magazine web site.
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system, audio with Ipod docks,
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CESSNA
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S/N 3022, 15,208 hours TT, Eng
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AW139 Executive
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S/N 3020, 15,181 TT, Eng TSMPI
500/868, APU TSHSI 912, 15,000
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aft lav. Tel: +1 403 637 2250 John
Hopkinson & Associates Ltd.. Web:
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Learjet 40XR
CRJ-200ER
S/N 7508: Convert to 14 pax VVIP.
TT 3,791, 100% GE Engine Program,
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2008, 3rd quarter. Guaranteed European
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spacing/FM immunity, RVSM/JAR
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GULFSTREAM
File Photo
Learjet 45XR
Global Express
S/N 9120: TT 1910. Smart Parts, Heads
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2008, 3rd quarter. Guaranteed European
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G150
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start date of June 2007. Paperless cockpit
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configuration. Tel: +1 713 681 0075 or +1
201 445 5660 Par Avion Ltd. Web:
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PIPER
Grand
2007, S/N 22043: 100 hours TT. Factory
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Challenger 604
S/N 5309. TT 5,385 engines & APU on
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Global Express XRS
S/N 9254: Brand new, HUD, EVS, Triple
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2008, 3rd quarter. Guaranteed European
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Page14-15
4/6/08
6:55 pm
Page 15
JUNE 2008 15
EUROPEAN BUSINESS AIR NEWS
hours. Chelton Flight Logic system Glass
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leather interior. Avionics include
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E U R O P E A N
BUSINESS AIR NEWS
TBM 700C2
2004, S/N 304: TTSN 1,095 2-Tube
EFIS-40, Dual Garmin 530’s, WAAS
Enabled, Garmin GMX-200 (w/TAS &
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Publisher/Editor: ......................David Wright
Advertising Sales Manager: .... Mark Ranger
Sub editor ................................Kate Woods
Subscriptions/Circulation: .......... Janet Bell
Reporter: ................................. Rod Smith
............................................... Tricia Taylor
Technical Editor: ................. Malcolm Wright
Administrator: .......................... Hilary Tyler
Designer: .................................. Chris Carr
Photographer: ........................ Robin Harritt
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BUSINE
E U
R O
P E A
N
Registration __________________________________________
Type ________________________________________________
SS AIR
Sloane
proves
one Bell that
beat
two halve s
s
ISSUE
117
July 2002
NEWS
Sloane
206B Helicopter
helicopter s has
after
to its added a Bell
what
AOC in
director
operationa
the UK
Paul Forster
“very
l services
long,
registration laborious described
and painfulas a
.”
The
repotentialcompany
additionfirst spotted
months
in Greece the
ago.
on a
“We
trip
were
12
company and noticed over
there
two aircrafthad started
a charter
to cannibalis
to
flying.
We thenkeep one of
e
both
machines put a silly their fleet
on it,”
he said. and they bid in for
took us
The project
up
out
to make
of
one aircraft
designatedthe parts
was
for any
Sloane’s
initially
spare-time
engineers
But after
had.
that
a particularl
it was
y busy
workers decided
should that a coupleyear
the completio
be
point
n. “Fromdedicated of
to
the builders’
smoothly,of view
any real particularl it went
y as there very
urgency.
“It was
wasn’t
only
finished
after
around
the work
that it
four
became
months had
Greek
a nightmare
ago
bureacrac
documenta
y regardingdue to
tion. In
thought
fact we
An EBACE
the
it wouldn’t
miraculou
eventually
press
Toulon-Hyere
happen,
conference
explained sly it
s Airport.
but then
provides
Forster. came through,”
(L-r) Jonathan the
The
setting
Soper
for Signature
flight Bell will mainly
(Signature),
training
be used
came
BernardFlight Support
and charter.
on the
for
Lecat,
to
only
Bernard join forces
“It just
done fleet 10 days
Stouff
with the
some
some
(both
French
of
self-fly ago, so it’s
CCI),
Chamber
they’ve the members
Louis
hire with
Demarque
of Commerce
all reacted
down
said Forster.
and Peter
and
positivelyhere but
Whitehead Industry
The
to it,”
(both in establishing
One of
promote company
Signature).
a handling
Europe’s
the aircraftdidn’t
Full story,
developer
work
facility
start
was completed
page
until
at
to
s has largest real
with
14.
time
the paper
Embraer
estate
placed
to start:
, so now
Spain’s
there’s
an order
“It’s a
us to
for a
was the
a brand
nice machine
start
ment Fadesa made Legacy aircraft.
been
airplanes
selling
completely new interior
at
and delivering
–
that the this year’s the announce
delivering in Europe.
“It charters resprayed. and
EBACE,
aircraft
it’s
company’s
fills the
our first
Europe
We’re
at £480
adding
marketpla
would
also
next
replace
September existing
down niche for those per hour
we’re
month airplane
airplanes ce. We’re
to
the
Hawker
into
unable
of this
wanting and
and although
Grand the races
customer’s
The Legacy
700 in
may not into Europe delivering
year.
(Ascot,
to go
to disclose
two
Coruña,
having Prix and
name,
Epson),
seem
this
GV Executive
will be
it’s a beginning
an
the operator
like much year which
floats
where
the
the
based
headquart
Battersea,”
is that advantage
of Zurich.”
the company
to grow
but
in La
and
TAG Aviation
will be
it can
substantia we think for us,
corporate ers, and
also go of
This is he added.
has
to showcase used
it's going
“At the
to
lly.
Sloane’s
Portugal,
missionswill carry its
compleme
this year’s
the largest current
only Bell
office
out
its
time,
Romania
nts its
EBACE
to Spain,
where
109s.
facilities new handling
the US
America, market,
“After
Fadesa
The FBO
range 206B and
and
at Geneva
this
Squirrel
is currently
of
Morocco,
and
“We
where followed by is still
sales
its old moved just
on the I’d like to put Agusta
in Brazil.”
South
Airport.
we’ve
aircraft,” were looking
active.
could
fleet
had
a
considere premises, ten metres
find some
Twin
An extra
(which
some
for a
financial said Jose
and also
from
I know
in Europe incentive
good
increase d too small which
director. Luis Macia, larger
an EC-120,”
business
I
were
for
to buy
in traffic
to handle was
the announce
reliability, “Our main Fadesa
The company
said Forster. for)
Legacy operators
value.
passing
the
criteria
cabin
Legacy
aircraft
metres-squ
ment
through.
moved
volume
became The Legacy
Care
is
of the
programm
into the
Pilatus
1,500-met ared handling
(TLC)
and
the best,
very
Total
only choice.”
300maintenan
makes
quickly
scheduled e. The programm
that is
administra res-square
facility
complai
to say
ce
and
Speaking
d
maintenanand unschedul
a month tive headquart
the
e covers
European
nt to
to
at
EBAN's
the show,
after
ce during
JAA
period
ed airframe
JAA certification
Handling completion ers in April,
Sam
Embraer Richard
after
the five-year
customer’s
Evans
Hill
for Embraer’s
.
Christian
the
Swedes
Page 4
is expected
supervisor
missions said: “Mostvice chairman
delivery
said:
Legacy.
it’s important
When aircraft.
imminently
“We moved
of a
of Fadesa's
2,000nm will fall
John
selecting
for air launch website
the customer
Embraer
in the
facilities
because
to have
the TLC
charter
category
occasionaor under
certificatio is now
pays
although
or operator
program,
brand
Aviation in Geneva.
of
a
They’ve lly need
n, whichwaiting
new
PrivatAir
expects
were
airframe fixed hourly
of a Legacy
for JAA
here,
to fly they will
also
and Jet
planned already
Hill
so
maintenan
3,000nm.
order next month.
rate
going
hours
says
got several
Portugu
businessit was important
Page 5
brings
for
to
to move
he
the Legacy the totalWhile the Fadesa
“We’re the US.
parameterflown andce based on the
ese delighte
centre.”
trips
to be
include
order
with Citation
and see delighted
in this
the
to 74
options,
s. Said
The
operationa
covers
firm ordersbook for
a larger a quick departure
it as a
with
d
facilities
virtually a spokesman
the order
real breakthrou
Legacy’s we asked
l
base
X addition
and
refrigeratoprivate lounge lounge
all the
: “This
and
and
Europe. popularity Hill about 94
operations
gh for
heavy airframe
internet r, coffee
with
specificall the
line,
making He said: “We’ve
maintenan
Plus:
leaving
machines DVD,
to concentrat
Page 9
another access. Along
y in
Where
inroads
the customer ce
and
spacious
of his
with
into thejust started
same
and
charter
Legacy.”e on the best
this is
free
equipmen lounge
European
utilisation
in Ireland who to
accommod
TLC is
with
t, which
based
the
ate
crew
on a minimum
lounge a group of
twenty. can
passenger has a
Pages
of 400
Continued
direct
The
12-13
maximise s arrival
view
on page
of the
16
in
time
efficiency. order
to
“We
Continued
are
All fo
r on
Registration __________________________________________
Captain
Type ________________________________________________
Irish based business jet operator wishes to recruit
one Captain for a new position.
How is your aircraft used?
Candidates must meet the following:
❑ Corporate
❑ Scheduled
• JAA ATPL
• Class 1 Medical
• 4,000 hours as Pilot in Command of a
Jet aircraft
❑ Charter / Air Taxi
❑ Other, please specify
_____________________________________
Also the role demands as a minimum the
following skills:
at Toulo e
Spanis
deploy h developer
n
Europe
ready to
’s second
Legacy to TAG reacts
competiti
at Gene on
va
www.eb
anmag
azine.
com
on page
10
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BUSINE
E U
R O
P E A
N
Air Entre
offers longprise
flights with haul
Falcon its
900
SS AIR
ISSUE
108
SEPTEM
BER
2001
Adamantis
NEWS
has purchased
900,
which
by charter is currently a Falcon
Air Entreprise. and
managed
sales
Vice
broker
president
said:
“The
Arnaud
because
owner
Poisson
aircraft he wanted chose the
900
with
also
a large a long range
keen
available to have cabin. We
were
such
of our in our charter
an aircraft
fleet,
charter customers
as many
a long
were
asking
range
So far
aircraft.”
to
the
have
included Falcon’s
destinatio
and the
Africa,
US.
the West
ns
Air Entreprise
Indies
Falcon
also
50 and
manages
Aerospatia
owns
a
le Corvette. a twin
added:
jet
for our “The Falcon
Poisson
private image. We 900 is very
have
good
presidents individual a mixture
of
and show s,
so obviously
company
business
attract
such
stars,
aircraft a great deal an aircraft
of interest.” will
existing is an
addition
The
fleet.
Air
to the
hangar Entreprise
and a
has
its
a large
private
Le
Leeds-Bradfo
terminal
combined Bourget,
rd based
at
Paris
maintenan with
Multiflight
handling base,
will be
Poisson ce departmen
the first
and
ts.
said:
UK owner
working
”We are
on expansion
of a BBJ2
yet to
currently
when
decide
plans,
the green
to put
what
but have
level of
aircraft
in.
is handed
investmen
“The
over at
t
strong French charter
the end
and not
of September.
by economic
particularl market
See full
feel
variables, y affectedis
story
that
on page
More
the
so we
affected
than
12
don’t
by the investmen
two and
elapsed
t will
US slow
The
a
since
be
a VFW-614
Muk Air half years
market company has down.”
have
has remained found
aircraft started
register.
explained:
With
that the
With TCAS on the putting
stable,
the aircraft
“The
very
Werjefeldregard to
Danish
Poisson
private
special,
the vip
is now recently installed,
and passenger
says
jet market
small
main
available
number as it only
strengths one of the market,
Ruben
for freight
charter
Conseque
land on
of people concerns is
and if
aircraft’s
lies
Werjefeldt
but
you
tried
a
world
“In an short runways.in its ability
introduce ntly it’s
the plane, consider
in
, he’d says owner
the square
to
He told
how longthe first place never
difficult wide.
although new ideas
loaded, 18-seat configurat
and ACJ.” it’s only
have
EBAN:
it
area
onto the
beaten
to
fractional
appears
CitationI can land at
He said: was going if he’d known
ion fully
by the of
market,
Air Taxi
Asked
to take.
any airport
to be
II can
BBJ
somewhat “It’s
has purchased
down
succeeding ownership
customers whether
The company
been
from
that a
as short land at.
potential
a long
problems political
Regourd
.”
We
market
may
a King
as 800
an old
operations
has
to be
metres can get
Air 200
Aviation.
aircraft, fret over the charter
included which we fight. Early and
and believes
relativelyfound the
aircraft
if we are
Florent
manager
had to
Werjefeld safety
on,
Ground
maintenan both
buoyant sales
said: “The
of
overcome
“The
it will
same has been
Jean
said:
King
support
price
continue
also,
maintaine
"The
company
way
Pierre
Air
of
being
“It took ce issues.
as the
Flight;
to grow.
perfectly. because
and
d in the
chose
pushed aircraft
it
convince me a year
is currently
the
US market,
down
normal everything British Queen’s
around The range suits our
and a
Airbus
by the
needs
life-cycle.” has been
since
which
Europe
half
deflated
to
then,
cabin 1,500 nauticalof the aircraft
In
has knocked
terms
halfover the cooperate to
holds
half, they
he said. and increased
confident of economics
passenger between miles and is
but
last year
onto
have been
the
seven
“During
demand,”
the 614 that for
, Muk
and a
configurati s, depending
very supportive
and nine
the
Air
an educated the certificatio
Werjefeldcould present right customer,is
upon
Air Taxi on.”
Squirre
crew
the loss
n process,.
our
explained: a huge
it with
is based
and operates
of revenuewent elsewhere
An example
Greek l hops betwee
business
digit
“If you saving.
in Tours,
similar
numbers.
concentra
by MukAir of the
went
compare
and
as a charter
islands
France
capability aircraft which
VFW-614,
going
into
n
for charter.
If I’d
ting
want
to take
client
company
now offered
solely
and space,
known sevento
offer
base.
go
tried
this
light
somewher
on a
of the
long,
it
Geneva
The company
made
to
–
I’d never was
French
runway
attractive do it.
Page 4
e where and you
a
46,000 which is
the price
There
might
internationumber
has already
have
604 to manage
unheard
the size
pound
things
be an
of
is half
Muk
aircraft.”
you can are more
roster rs add
ask. A
The incentive
of for
issue,
cross-channal flights,domestic
Air’s
what
Global
then
do.”
configured
a
and
614 aircraft
614,
Falcon
particular
Express, others would
Inverness nel, including:
for
says
900 would
passenger to accommod
Werjefeld, vips to
PC12
Gulfstream
there.
ly
can be
getting
Customers
fly in
and
Page 6
“It
all
Oxford,
s or
does
freight.
a
or
he said. has a fully
grows fractional
for the ate 18 or
Farnborou
are
Tropez. down on have a challenge
from
stand-upnot end
scheme
Helmut
purposes 44
corporategenerally
La Maule
apace
hopes It is the latter
gh.
614 a
I’m half I don’t have
vips, ranging
individual
cabin,”
Kohl
to pursue
lot more
of
which
executives
any problemin St
the
Werjefeldt
Muk Air
s and
“You have before preferred the
French
“Converseprice.
to private
Venerab
the Challenger
: “There’s the most.
and
celebrities
freight.
have
an internatioly, if
strong charter market
Said
a hot a big first class
If you’re
less
you’re
. “The
operato le helicopt Page 8
s.
have
at the
stand-up oven, refrigerato
compare
delayed, trouble in
seat, you
to
nal trip, considerin
know
moment. is not
er
passengerbook hotel
toilet
what
three r clocks
you
tables
we couldn’tg
with
three
I don’t very
rs, large
climate
has led
and
up
where
million
rooms don’t
s; if
aircraft.
any
really
one
you wanted. you couldbig mahogany
to the
miles,
for
vomits; it is a little
of these
of the but it is possibly
With
present
play roulette
US market,”
turboprop,
bumpy, 44
1,300
we’re
and
for
the influence
“In the
When
German
nautical
no
way
interconti
no one if you fly
explained
if
business
Page
asked
people
for intra-Euro nental too
wants
chosen
in
why the
Cheyen broker offers 10
who want jet market,
Florent.
short
a refund.” a
more
range
very competitiv pean
purchasea particular company
ne II for
the extra
it’s for
than you
but
trips,
had
JET, it’s
an aircraft, ly slow
space.
have
sale
“If a
e.”
Muk
we’d
in a Dornier It’s
larger
be
company
Plus our
Florent time to
been Air has another
than
sufficient
Page 14
replied:
328
the Gulfstream
on a
614
Danish full
years
number cannot offer
charter
and will US register which has
review
of aircraft
a
Danish
elsewherethen customers
soon
for two
register.
be added
for
. We
despite
will look
bought
to the
Page 16
the aircraft
we are market conditions
- 18
hoping
in demand
and expecting, because
in the
foreseeable for a rise
future.”
Leed
UK’s firs awaits
st BB
‘Supre
J2
me
finally ly-maintained’
joins Dan
VFW
ish reg -614 Air Taxi starts
ister
fleet build
-up
with
King Air
200
Why not purchase your subscription and
www
.b iz je
t. co m
a copy of the Handbook of Business Aviation in
/e ba n
Europe 2007/08 at the same time? Order both now and save
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