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PUBLICATIONS Wednesday, 4.16.14 SHANGHAI
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获取亚太地区商务航空新闻的首选渠道 trekking the tarmac With a total of 38 display aircraft in the ABACE static parking area, there is more to see here, by far, than at any previous edition of the show. In addition, the total number of exhibitors reached 187 this year, another big boost from years past. All the signs point to a growing influence for business aviation in China, and the entire region.
民生金融 租赁公司 扩大机队 作者：Curt Epstein 亚洲最大的商务机租赁公司 民生金融租赁股份有限公司（简 称MSFL）正在迅速壮大其机队。 在昨天的亚洲商务航空会议及展 览（简称ABACE）上，MSFL宣布 并确认了该公司在2013年第四季 度分别与湾流公司及巴西航空公 司签订了飞机购买合同。 根据购买合同，MSFL将从位于佐 治亚州萨凡纳的湾流公司购买60 架商务喷气机（包括已确定的及 待定的购买数量） ，这 见下页 u
DAVID McINTOSH
Minsheng’s jet fleet blossoms
AsBAA board sets out new goals
Virgin Islands, for better proximity to the local governments in this region. Now we have an organization that is transparent. And we set about to upgrade the brand image, launched an updated website and added forum capabilities.” A key issue for Asia-based business aircraft operators is the new mandates for equipment installations, the most pressing being requirements for ADS-B out
by Matt Thurber The new board of directors of the Asian Business Aviation Association (AsBAA, Booth H527), elected last year, is focusing on reinvigorating the organization to better serve its members and business aviation participants in Asia. “When we took over in April
we decided on core themes,” said David Best, president of Asia Pacific for BBA Aviation and vice-chairman of AsBAA. “We’re working through the issues, how to support the members and working with our sister organizations. This led to a number of projects to be pursued.”
One of those projects is rewriting the AsBAA bylaws. “Previously we didn’t have effective bylaws, so we rewrote them and sent them to the members,” he said. “We also changed the registered office to be a Hong Kong company instead of [being registered in] the British
Continued on page 4 u
by Curt Epstein Minsheng Financial Leasing Co. (MSFL), Asia’s largest business jet leasing firm, is climbing steeply to increase the size of it inventory even more. On perhaps one of the clearest days in ABACE memory, Minsheng confirmed yesterday that it had placed orders with both Gulfstream and Bombardier in the fourth quarter of last year.
Continued on page 4 u
Flight Support
Airports and FBOs
New Business Jet
Bizav in India
Cabin Interiors
Expert Flight Planning
UK Facility Model of Success
Cessna’s Latitude Aces First Tests
Industry Hopes for Reforms
Luxury VIP Cabins Gain Popularity
Operating business aircraft in Asia is not for the faint of heart. Flight support companies keep operators out of trouble. Page 6
Many Chinese delegations have visited TAG Farnborough in recent years to learn how the airport and the FBO are able to serve their business aviation clients so well. Page 10
After making its first flight on February 18, the Citation Latitude has achieved its full performance envelope on its way to FAA certification in the second quarter of 2015. Page 12
General aviation hit “rock bottom” after India’s economic downturn, but hopes are high that a change in the country’s political leadership will result in more favorable regulations. Page 16
Business jets serve as flying offices, airborne homes and luxury retreats. Completion companies here at ABACE are showing their best work. Page 22
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ABACE 2014 Opening Session
亚洲商务航空会议及展览开幕式 中国民用航空总局（CAAC） 承诺保持商务航空改革的势头
DAVID McINTOSH
在2014年亚洲商务航空会议及展览（简称ABACE）的开幕 式上，亚洲和美国航空界的重要官员们热烈欢迎来自各界的 人们参加这个被上海机场集团（简称SAA）董事长李德润先 生称为商务航空业“必须参加的盛会”。今年有187家公司在 ABACE展出，其中有73家公司总部设在亚洲，静态区展示的 38架飞机包括公务机、涡轮螺旋桨式飞机、直升飞机以及第 一次在ABACE露面的活塞式驱动飞机。“这意味着在今年的 ABACE上我们展示了代表通用航空所有种类的飞机，”美国 公务航空协会的总裁兼首席执行官Ed Bolen先生说。 中国民航总局（简称CAAC）副局长王志清说，截止2013 年 底 为 止 ， 中 国 的 通 用 航 空 企 业 达 到 了 189家 ， 机 队 规 模 1,654架。然而，在通用航空快速增长三年之后，“发展势头 有所放缓，”王副局长介绍。他承诺，CAAC将努力保持通用 航空业的快速发展，并且说，“公务航空的精髓是快捷高效 而非奢侈。” 美国联合航空管理局（简称FAA）局长Michael Huerta先生 说，中国“为通用航空工业的巨大发展做好了准备。” 日本航空局副局长Masaaki Kai先生说，日本政府已经放松 了有关包机飞行的135法规限制，并对日本中部的成田机场、 关西国际机场以及神户和名古屋的机场进行了改善，以利于 商务航空的发展。 上海机场集团的总裁景逸鸣先生主持了ABACE开幕式。
NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen (at lectern) addresses the opening session of this year’s ABACE show. Sharing the stage were (left to right) Jiang HuaiYu, director of the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) central and southern regions; Michael Huerta, administrator, U.S. Federal Aviation Administration; Wang Zhiqing, deputy administrator CAAC; Masaaki Kai, senior deputy director general of the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau; and Li Derun, president of the Shanghai Airport Authority (SAA). Not pictured, master of cermonies Jing Yiming, vice-president SAA.
Leaders say ‘bizav poised for growth’ by James Wynbrandt down,” Wang said, and he vowed CAAC will work to keep the industry expanding swiftly. “The essence of business aviation is fast and efficient transportation. It is not a luxury,” he said. After being welcomed to the podium by Jing Yiming, SAA vice-president and master of ceremonies, Michael Huerta, U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) administrator, noted that
while general aviation in China is relatively young, it is “poised for tremendous growth.” He called for “complimentary relationship and effective partnerships in order to ensure” the sector’s safe expansion. Huerta noted recent FAA initiatives to improve both safety and efficiency, such as Advisory Circulars addressing fatigue-risk management and the acceleration
of the implementation of the NextGen air traffic control system, aimed at allowing air traffic to “move more efficiently while improving flight times and reducing emissions.” Masaaki Kai, senior deputy director general, Japan Civil Aviation Bureau, pointed to changes his government is taking to make Japan more business-aviation friendly. These measures include
easing rules for Part 135 charter flights, and improvements for business aviation at Narita Haneda, central Japan and Kansai International airports, as well as the airports at Kobe and Nagoya. “I have to admit the scale of business aviation in Japan is still very small,” Kai said, but he emphasized the country sees support for business aviation “as part of a national growth strategy.” o
RotoRs oveR shanghai Civil helicopters are among the aircraft types not commonly seen in the skies over China. That’s why it is significant to see so many rotary-wing aircraft on display here at ABACE. As airspace restrictions slowly ease, it is hoped helicopters will play a growing role in serving the general aviation community here.
2 ABACE Convention News • April 16, 2014 • www.ainonline.com
DAVID McINTOSH
A roster of leading aviation officials from the Asia and the United States took the stage yesterday for the opening session of ABACE 2014, welcoming attendees and exhibitors to what Li Derun, president, Shanghai Airport Authority (SAA), called “the must-attend event” for the business aviation industry. This third edition of the three-day exposition features displays by 187 exhibitors–73 of them Asia-based–and static displays of 38 business jets, turboprops, helicopters and for the first time, piston-powered airplanes. “That means we have the full spectrum of general aviation represented here,” said Ed Bolen, president and CEO of NBAA. The U.S. Association stages the event in partnership with SAA, with the Asian Business Aviation Association as cohost. Highlighting the strong growth of business aviation in the Republic, Wang Zhiqing, deputy administrator, Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), said that as of the end of 2013, China had 189 general aviation companies, a 41-percent increase over the previous year’s figure, while the fleet had increased 23.4 percent to 1,654 aircraft, with total general aviation flight time increasing 10 percent, to 569,000 hours. However, after the past three years of rapid growth for general aviation, “momentum is slowing
ABACE 2014: Preparations
Setting the Stage Prior to opening ABACE, a small army of experts ensures that all the aircraft are in place, clean and ready for their close-ups.
Set-up chores take time and expertise. Here at ABACE, the work to prepare the static aircraft display began several days before the show opened. Arriving aircraft include the Piaggio Avanti II, top, and a Chinese-produced example of the Diamond DA40, above. Receiving attention from the cleaners are a Challenger 300, left, and a Bombardier Global, below. The man on the scaffold, lower left, clearly has his elbows into his work. Photos: David McIntosh
www.ainonline.com • April 16, 2014 • ABACE Convention News 3
ABACE
DAVID McINTOSH
意味着MSFL将拥有湾流公司除 了中型G150飞机之外的所有机 型，包括超中型G280飞机、超 远程G550机型和G650机型。双 方签订于2011年的备忘录预测 MSFL向湾流公司购买飞机订单 的总金额有望达到26亿美元。
Scott Neal, Gulfstream’s senior vice president for sales and marketing (right) presents Johnny Lau, head of Minsheng’s aircraft leasing division with a model of the airframer’s flagship G650 in celebration of a blockbuster order for 40 business jets with options for 20 more. Since 2008, Minsheng has purchased more than 200 aircraft.
据认为，MSFL此次与湾流公司 签订的飞机购买合同正是对 2011年备忘录的落实。 这是湾流公司有史以来签 订的数额最大的订单之一，计 划从2015年开始,几年内交付 完毕。“MSFL迅速成为了中国 拥有最大机队的公司，从而成 为了商务航空市场上领先的远 见者。 ”湾流公司的总裁Larry Flynn先生说。“我们为MSFL 对湾流的信心感到无比兴奋， 并期待着在整个交付期间及未
战者350喷气机，我们感到无 比荣幸， ”巴西航空公司商务飞 机总裁Eric Martel先生说。“ 巴西航空公司最畅销的挑战者 家族对世界上领先的商务喷气 机队来说至关重要。我们对本 公司的飞机又一次在中国得到 这样的认可感到非常高兴。 ” 民生金融租赁股份有限公 司成立于2008年，由民生银 行股份有限公司和天津港自 由贸易区投资有限公司共同 成立。 o
Minsheng blossoms
to commence in 2015. “Minsheng has quickly become the largest fleet owner in China and has been a leading visionary in the business aviation market,” said Gulfstream president Larry Flynn. “We are thrilled with Minsheng’s confidence in Gulfstream and look forward to working with the company throughout the delivery process and beyond.” Minsheng’s order with Bombardier saw it sign for 10 supermid-size Challenger 350s worth approximately $259 million. The first aircraft, an upgrade of the Challenger 300 with a wider wingspan and increased range, is expected to enter service in the second half of the year. “We are honored that Minsheng Financial Leasing has placed its trust in our new Challenger 350 jet,” said Michael Han, regional vice president sales, China for Bombardier Business Aircraft.
uContinued from page 1
The Gulfstream order for 60 business jets (both firm and options), spans the Savannah, Georgia company’s product line from the super mid-size G280 to the ultra-long range G550 and G650. Only the midsize G150 was left out. It is believed to firm up an MoU agreed in 2011 said at the time to be worth around $2.6 billion. “This order is one of the largest in our history, and it affirms the valued partnership between our two companies.” said Scott Neal, Gulfstream’s senior vice president of sales and marketing. “Together we are committed to growing business aviation throughout China.” The order spans several years with deliveries expected
AsBAA sets new goals uContinued from page 1
avionics. Many Asian countries already require ADS-B out above 29,000 feet in certain areas and on certain routes. At a general members meeting on Monday, AsBAA outlined plans for a roadshow to help explain to operators current and upcoming equipage needs between now and 2020. This will also include teaching operators about how the ICAO process works. Other issues are the lack of parking space at Hong Kong International Airport and block permits that will allow operators to make multiple flights without applying for a single permit for each flight. “We were pleased to get strong operator participation,” Best said. AsBAA has also formed new working groups to address the challenges of operating in Asia. “We’re creating action items to approach the regulators and airport [operators],” said Charlie Mularski, Universal Weather & Aviation regional vice president, Asia Pacific and also AsBAA vice-chairman. “We’re connecting with IBAC and NBAA where the rubber meets the road,” he said. “This is a good conduit to escalate issues to IBAC or push down best practices to operators. Both NBAA and IBAC recognize the value of AsBAA and we are working a lot more together. “We’re representing the value of business aviation to “Bombardier’s best-selling Challenger aircraft family is key to leading business jet fleets around the world, and we are delighted to get, once again, such strong endorsement for Bombardier products in China.” MSFL was founded in 2008 by China Minsheng Banking Corporation and Tianjin Port Free Trade Zone Investment Co. o
the authorities,” he added. “Business aviation creates jobs and moves commerce, and we want to tear down the stigma common in Asia that it’s only for the rich and famous. We’re advocating with the authorities and regulators and the market that business aviation’s value is more than what they think.” During the past year, 20 new companies joined AsBAA. There are now 95 members, most based in Asia and some from outside the region. “It’s important that we’re a voice for business aviation in the region; to have a voice is important for our members,” Best said. “AsBAA is making progress and Bombardier is supportive of the way it’s developing,” said Leo Knappen, Bombardier’s manager of industry relations, who represents Bombardier’s membership as a platinum founding member of AsBAA. “There is a need for AsBAA here in this vast region. The organization is growing properly and identifying priorities for 2014 and beyond. It is serving AsBAA’s membership well.” o
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来与他们合作。 ” 根据MSFL与巴西航空公司 签订的采购合同，前者将从后 者购买10架超中型挑战者350 飞机，总金额为2.59亿美元。 该型号的飞机是挑战者300飞 机的改进机型，与挑战者300 相比，它的翼幅更宽，航程更 远。第一架挑战者350飞机将 于2014年下半年投入使用。 “MSFL如此信任我们的新型挑
MATT THURBER
民生金融租赁股份 有限公司扩大机队
至尊风范
强劲实力 选择与赛斯纳同行，您获得的不仅是一架飞机，还有最全面周到的航空 产品和服务，包括最完整的产品线、最丰富的飞行员培训资源、最强大 的全球服务网络和85年久盛不衰的历史传承。这就是航空领域的权威。
大篷车EX 拥有867马力的引擎使其成为 同级别中爬升速度最快的飞机。
敬请光临赛斯纳的贵宾厅及飞机静展区: 13号
单发活塞 热情
涡轮螺旋桨 性能
奖状公务机 领袖
服务 专长
Flight-support experts back up Asia operators by Charles Alcock Operating conditions for business aircraft in China are improving, but are still complex enough that both Chinese and foreign operators largely depend on expert flight-planning and support companies. Among the exhibitors at this year’s ABACE show are several leading service providers who have been making significant investments in China and other parts of Asia to allow their clients to deliver to their passengers as much flexibility as possible. UAS International Trip Support (Booth H214) has representatives in Beijing, Shanghai and Zhengzhou (in the northern province of Henan). This is part of a support network for clients across Asia that also includes representatives in Hong Kong, India, Sri Lanka and Bishek, the Kyrgyzstan capital. According to UAS co-owner and executive president Mohammed Husary, the Dubai-based company plans to have comprehensive operations centers in various Asian locations by the end of 2014. This is part of an expansion strategy that has seen the company establish new regional headquarters worldwide in locations such as Houston in the U.S. and Johannesburg, South Africa. The main issues being addressed by UAS’s China team are applications for overflight and landing permits, which are still subject to delays. “It requires technical expertise to get these permits in time and for this you need agents who understand the regulations and know how to handle the process from a Chinese perspective,” Husary told AIN, adding that the recent relaxation of military control of China’s airspace has seen a limited improvement in the time taken to get permits. “Overall [in Asia] the biggest [tripsupport] challenges are in India and China because of the [large-scale] geography and airspace and because of the complex regulations there,” said Husary. “In countries like Myanmar, Vietnam and Cambodia it can be hard to reach the right people at short notice [to get
permits approved]. We have been able to overcome all these hurdles because we have experience serving more than 10,000 flights per year. We have developed a good relationship with officials based on trust and professionalism. Some developing countries have been abused in the past so they want to work with someone trustworthy to be sure of getting fees paid on time. With customers, we believe in being completely transparent about what is happening [with their flight-support requests].” World Fuel Services (Booth P118) and its flight-support subsidiary Baseops have offices in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore. The U.S.-based company recently appointed Fastransit Aviation Services Ltd. as its official agent in Mainland China, with offices in 19 cities and a staff of 40. This has significantly boosted Baseops’s ability to provide trip support and ground handling for operators at airports throughout China. Further afield in Asia Pacific region, the group also has offices in South Korea, Japan, India and Australia, as well as representatives in Russia and Kyrgyzstan to serve central Asia. Over the past 12 months, the company has doubled the size of its tripsupport teams in response to significant growth in international flight activity. According to Dion Xavier, World Fuel Service’s business aviation manager for the Asia Pacific region, securing landing slots remains one of the main operational challenges, especially for the main international gateways in Beijing
From its headquarters in Dubai, UAS’s trip support specialists help operators to overcome the many hurdles that can prevent a flight going smoothly, but the company also has local representatives available for in-country assistance in many Asian locations, including China.
6 ABACE Convention News • April 16, 2014 • www.ainonline.com
and Shanghai. “The procedure is heavily regulated by the CAAC [Civil Aviation Administration of China] and rarely are revisions [to flight times] permitted, which, given the irregularity of business aircraft operations in general, can prove a challenge unless you are working with a team like Baseops, which utilizes our local expertise and network to overcome such obstacles,” he told AIN. Baseops also arranges ground handling for clients at airports throughout China, ensuring that they are always served by multilingual staff, which eases the concerns of non-Chinese-speaking flight crew. “This is particularly important when operating to the more remote parts of China,” said Dion. The company warns international clients not to assume that procedures and requirements that are commonplace in the West will also be in place for flights throughout Asia. “For example, providing a general declaration for crew entry will not suffice in parts of Asia as it would in the West, and visas are required by crew before entry into some countries,” advised Dion. Overflight permits can be another challenging process and Baseops always aims to have an alternative plan for a client in the event that they cannot be secured in a tight time frame. “Infrastructure to support business aircraft operators can be delicate and lacking in parts of Asia, so it’s important to know the right people to work with on the ground to ensure not only the safe arrival of your aircraft, but its safe handling and parking as well,” added Dion. “We consider our flight-support services to be similar to those of a concierge, where the operators’ requirements and preferences are of utmost importance and a solution is tailored around them.” Jetex (Booth H706) established an office in Beijing in 2010 from which it sends representatives to help clients at any airport in China. The Dubai-based flight-support group has 10 staff based in the Chinese capital and expects that number to double by the end of this year. “Our Beijing office is one of the largest [of Jetex’s] regional offices and it offers us the ability to fan out and cover the entire mainland of China and the Far East,” a Jetex spokesperson told AIN. “Additionally, Jetex has
There are plenty of challenges for business aviation operators in Asia, but expert help is available. local representatives permanently based throughout Asia based on the frequency of our customers’ visits and/or the challenges unique to some airports.” For instance, the company currently has representatives stationed at Manila in the Philippines and in Ashkhabad, the Turkmenistan capital. Jetex identified the same key operational challenges in Asia as did other flight-support specialists, and pointed out that they are the result of a vicious cycle in which relatively low volume of business aviation traffic outside the West does not create enough impetus for improvements to be made. “Without a healthy number of business aircraft and aircraft movements there’s no business case to invest in adequate infrastructure, and the [inadequate] infrastructure does not support the growth of business and private aviation,” said the spokesperson. “Why would a regional airport in China invest in dedicated business aviation infrastructure for the odd business jet visit?” Other key tasks include ensuring that international flight crews get all the key operational information they need, such as local Notams and communications from air traffic management officials. At the same time, arranging credit is vital, too, since payment terms for local fees and services provided during a trip can be far from straightforward. Collectively, these challenges have created a strong business opportunity for Jetex and other specialists who are willing to focus on providing workable solutions in difficult circumstances. The flight-support firms present at ABACE this week all agree that there is no substitute for ensuring the availability of local expertise to support operators in Asia. o
SOUTH SUDAN
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Your Local Partner with global reach
As a tech stop for private aircraft heading from Asia to the U.S., Castle & Cooke’s Hawaii facility allows international flights to clear customs and immigration before reaching the mainland.
Castle & Cooke FBO chain is U.S gateway for Asia flights by Curt Epstein U.S. aviation services provider Castle & Cooke has been an ABACE exhibitor since 2012, explaining the role of a fixedbase operator (FBO) to show attendees who might not be familiar with the fueling and ground-handling services such a company provides to private aviation. As the company returns to the Shanghai show for the third time, it is providing a translator (Booth H431) to more fully answer attendee questions. Castle & Cooke operates three aviation service locations: in Hawaii, at Honolulu International Airport, and on the West Coast of the U.S. mainland in Van Nuys, California, and Everett, Washington. According to Tony Marlow, general manager of Castle & Cooke Honolulu and
the company’s director of marketing, in response to its efforts at the past two shows, the company has seen a rise in traffic heading to and from the Asia Pacific region. “Our whole concept of ABACE was to help build it,” Marlow said. “Over the course of the two years that I’ve been here, we have definitely seen an increase. It’s still small numbers and obviously we’d like to see more, but every year I come away from ABACE with at least a couple of new customers and additional traffic.” Due to a steady increase in business over the past year, the location has increased its staffing by 20 percent. For private aircraft traveling between Asia and the U.S., the company’s Hawaii location (one of three such companies at the airport) makes a good destination for
Pre-owned aircraft deals flourishing across Asia by Charles Alcock Having established an office in Hong Kong just under two years ago, aircraft broker Jetcraft is well positioned to exploit the burgeoning opportunities in the Greater China market for business and private aviation. But, in practice, the U.S.-based group’s regional headquarters is actively making aircraft deals happen across a far wider segment of the Asia Pacific market. Jetcraft Asia president David Dixon told AIN that his team’s territory spans an area from Mongolia in the north, to Melbourne in the south, and from Rangoon to Guam. “Generally speaking, the world market is still coming out of a deep recession,” he commented. “But in Asia the
bigger the airplane, the smaller the problem because the appeal here is for larger cabins and longer range. Smaller aircraft such as Hawkers, Cessnas and Learjets still struggle here but there are niche requirements for them in places like the Philippines, Malaysia and Australia.” A quick glance at the geography of the vast Asia Pacific region makes it evident why range and cabin comfort would be at a premium in this part of the world. “Flying across Indonesia, for instance, is just about the same as flying from New York to San Francisco,” said Dixon. Put together, the markets for pre-owned aircraft in Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines and Australia are of just about
“tech stops,” where the aircraft is refueled, cleaned and serviced after a long flight. In addition, Honolulu offers the benefit of U.S. Customs service, allowing flights to bypass crowded mainland airports such as Los Angeles International and land instead at airports that may not specifically accept international traffic. “Honolulu is the perfect place to clear [customs] and then go on to the mainland,” said Marlow. “With Gulfstream G650s and other airplanes with long range, we’ve got customers who leave here and their next stop is Florida or Teterboro [New Jersey].” The location specializes in “quick turns” and, according to Marlow, a flight can land, clear customs, be refueled and be back in the air in approximately 45 minutes. For those planning a longer stay, the location has an 18,000-sq-ft hangar capable of sheltering G650-size aircraft. With its location in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, there are rarely any unexpected aircraft arrivals, and the facility has staff available to greet incoming flights 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with
an equal magnitude to that of Greater China. But it is China’s singular demand potential from such a low base that has set it apart in the industry’s aspirations. Meanwhile, Jetcraft’s team of brokers spread across four continents has been busy moving aircraft between owners on a truly global scale. For instance, recently it sold a jet registered in Indonesia to a new owner in South America and it has also helped to export aircraft from Malaysia to Kazakhstan, from the U.S. to Malaysia, from Macau to Mexico and from China into Russia. “We are trying to give confidence to people in the West that buying aircraft from here [Asia] is not a risk,” explained Dixon. “There have been concerns over issues such as maintenance, but we’ve helped customers to see that exporting [from Asia] can, in fact, be more complicated than importing [to Asia]. Some of the exporting processes are fairly new because until now
8 ABACE Convention News • April 16, 2014 • www.ainonline.com
no additional callout fees. In December, the location switched its fuel provider to Epic, a company that has a large presence in Asia, to try to leverage some of those existing relationships with customers. For Castle & Cooke, attending ABACE is viewed as a strategic move since the company can direct international customers, once they clear customs and immigration at its Hawaii location, to its mainland FBOs such as the one at Van Nuys Airport, located at the Los Angeles-area, which does not have customs service. “The link between Van Nuys and Honolulu has increased many fold,” Marlow told AIN. “We did indeed see a lot of traffic over the past 12 months.” At Van Nuys, the company recently completed a new 1,500-sq-ft transient passenger lounge and added an additional 38,000-sq-ft hangar, which brings its aircraft storage space up to 187,000 sq ft. “It really has enhanced our service capability over there because we have a much larger facility to accept and handle transient aircraft now,” noted Marlow. o
The aircraft brokering team led by Jetcraft Asia president David Dixon is facilitating deals throughout the Asia Pacific region.
aircraft have only been inbound and [exporting] hasn’t been common or necessary. A lack of knowledge [of the rules] is the main factor. Jetcraft has added value in this respect and we have a broader reach than most with offices in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, the U.S. and Europe.” According to Dixon, the process for getting aircraft into
China has become more straightforward over the past decade. He said that officials from the Civil Aviation Administration of China now have a greater understanding of business aviation and regulations have to some degree been adapted to take into account its different circumstances. Another welcome development in China has been the marked increase in the number of operators who can manage aircraft on behalf of their owners. “The need [for aircraft management operators] is being met slowly,” said Dixon. “The [Chinese regulatory] system is having to move very quickly in its terms [to authorize the new operators] and, in some cases, the change has been slower than expected [by the industry].” In February, Jetcraft (Booth 712) completed the absorption of ExecuJet Aviation’s aircraft trading division. This acquisition has significantly expanded the scope of its international sales activity. o
Jet Aviation ramps up its Gulfstream activity
Jet Aviation’s Hong Kong maintenance facility has been approved for warranty service on the Gulfstream G650, as well as the G450 and G550.
Switzerland-based Jet Aviation Management (Booth P326) announced here at ABACE 2014 in Shanghai that it is adding two Gulfstream G450s and a new Gulfstream G550 to its managed fleet in Asia, bringing to 30 the number of aircraft it operates in the region. The G550 and one of the G450s will be based in Hong Kong and maintained by the company’s Hong Kong maintenance facility, a Gulfstream Authorized Warranty Service
Center for G450/G550/G650 aircraft. Delivery of the aircraft is expected by the end of next month. “We strive to uphold the highest service standards while ensuring a positive customer experience,” said Iris Riesen, managing director of Jet Aviation’s Hong Kong aircraft management and charter division. “Our customers trust in the ability and professionalism of our team, and we are very pleased to expand our fleet.”
DAVID McINTOSH
by James Wynbrandt
Jet Aviation said it is quickly expanding its aircraft management and charter division in Asia in response to growing demand for services in the
area. The company has been operating in Asia since opening a maintenance facility and FBO in Singapore in 1995, and established Jet Aviation Hong
Kong in 2008 to provide scheduled and unscheduled line maintenance, inspection and defects rectifications, and AOG (aircraft on ground) support. o
iPad front and center
DAVID LAU
VistaJet first officer Matthew Tulip cross-references data between his iPad and the cockpit avionics of the company Global 6000 here at ABACE. VistaJet keeps Jeppesen charts, aircraft documents, quick-reference materials and the company operations manual on the iPad, which is part of the aircraft minimum equipment list (MEL). In addition, Captain Claude Savin uses his personal iPad Mini. n
Emteq casts a new light on bizjet cabin interiors by Charles Alcock
Emteq’s LED lighting will illuminate the interiors of two Boeing 787 aircraft being equipped with VIP cabins for private owners by Greenpoint Technologies.
Cabin electronics specialist Emteq has invested heavily in developing sophisticated lighting systems for both airliners and private aircraft. The U.S. company, which is exhibiting here at ABACE 2014 in Shanghai with its partner Talco Aviation (Booth H619), is also a pioneer in producing advanced cabin management systems (CMS). Last month, completions center Greenpoint Technologies awarded Emteq a contract to provide LED interior lighting for a pair of Boeing 787 widebodies that are to be equipped for a VIP customer. The white wash and dome lights feature the company’s latest technology that allows them to be powered directly from a variable-frequency (wild) 115-volt AC system, saving the cost and weight of having to
use a transformer rectifier. The lights can interface directly with the aircraft’s CMS. Emteq last month introduced its new 3X Series of white wash lighting for private aircraft cabin upgrades. According to the company, which is based in New Berlin, Wisconsin, the new product provides operators with an easier way to upgrade to LED lighting, thanks to its own “bypass” installation option that allows the system to be fitted either as part of a major cabin refit or as a minor modification. It can use the same wiring as the fluorescent lights that it replaces. According to the company, the 3X Series uses the latest LED and lens technology to deliver a high standard of color consistency and color blending. The lens used for the lights ensures
a more consistent light output without diminishing the intensity of the lighting. The wider beam spread is intended to give the cabin a fuller appearance. Emteq also offers its Quasar II full-spectrum, mood-lighting system, which it specifically introduced for business aircraft in 2012. The company says that the lower cost of installing these lights has made mood lighting a more cost effective option for private aircraft cabins. According to chief marketing officer Rachel Bahr, Emteq is a very innovative systems integrator for cabin technology and loves the challenge of trying to meet the complex requirements of completions centers and their clients. For instance, Emteq’s eConnect router box provides a cost-effective way to control inflight entertainment systems in smaller aircraft that can be controlled from any web-enabled portable electronic device, such as an iPad. The system has been selected for the cabin of the new HondaJet, as well as for the Pilatus PC-12. o
www.ainonline.com • April 16, 2014 • ABACE Convention News 9
China studying success of TAG Farnborough by Ian Sheppard Trying to get business aviation to take root in China is no easy task, but many Chinese delegations have made their way in recent years to see TAG Farnborough Airport, according to CEO Brandon O’Reilly. The airport is unique in the UK in being dedicated to business aviation and focusing on quality, to the extent it sticks to one FBO, also run by TAG Aviation. It also has a distinctive, futuristic look with its wave hangars and matching, futuristic-looking control tower. The airport has a long and illustrious history as a center for UK aerospace excellence. One of the country’s first airfields, it hosted the first British powered flight in 1908, made by Samuel Cody. Later it became home to the Royal Aircraft Establishment, and is now well known as the home of the UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch, and the biennial Farnborough International Airshow. Swiss group TAG took over the airfield, which is some 35 miles southwest of London and 15 miles from Heathrow along excellent motorway links, in 2003 on a 99-year lease and acquired the freehold in 2007. Planning
permission had been granted in October 2000 for a new terminal, hangars and control tower in what would be an investment of more than £100 million ($160 million), after the British government designated the airport as its preferred location for business aviation in the 1990s. O’Reilly told AIN, “This is an airport that’s unique in and around London, as it’s just for business aviation–all the rest are hybrids.” This is true of airports such as Luton and Stansted and even Oxford, but not so true of London Biggin Hill, although the latter does allow flying schools and other FBOs to operate there unlike Farnborough. “We are the sole FBO [operator] and control it to the quality we think our customers expect,” said O’Reilly. “Everything is very responsive here.” Recounting the recent history, he said, “The buildings, runway extension, taxiway improvements and 240,000-sq-ft, wave-shaped hangars and terminal building were all mostly completed by 2007, with more hangar and ramp space being added just before the 2012 Olympics.” One thing Farnborough can boast is “a significant number of the over 50 [metric] ton type of aircraft, airliner sized.” Growth in movements was “45 percent 2012 over 2011–helped specifically by the Olympics–and we increased Swiss business aviation company TAG Aviation has a 99-year lease to operate Farnborough Airport, and TAG Farnborough CEO Brandon O’Reilly oversees a modernized and efficient facility, including the TAG-operated FBO.
With its rich history of innovation, Farnborough Airport has also forged a pathway to the future as a dedicated business aviation hub. “All the rest are hybrids,” said TAG Farnborough CEO Brandon O’Reilly, referring to other UK airports serving the London market.
another 8 percent over that in 2013,” said O’Reilly. “And the first quarter of this year outstripped the first quarter of 2013…so 2014 has kicked off very well.” He said the airport noted in particular “an increase in movements from Hong Kong, Shanghai, Singapore and Beijing…we have seen more Chinese coming in. I believe they particularly appreciate the speed, discretion and no-fuss approach.” Asia Connection
At ABACE last year O’Reilly stressed the importance of links with Asia. “With Asia’s economic significance continuing to grow on the global stage, business aviation has an increasingly important role to play in providing point-topoint connections between business centers in Asia and Europe, particularly where commercial aviation does not provide timely and direct service,” he said, adding that in 2012 TAG Farnborough Airport handled flights to and from 835 destinations worldwide, which was “more than three times the number of destinations served by scheduled airlines from other London airports.” The airport is not particularly busy for its size and so life proceeds at a civilized pace, ideal for business aviation operations. It means that for arrivals and departures, passengers have hassle-free access between the terminal and their aircraft. However, to improve the passenger experience even further, the airport is investing in more infrastructure changes that will see a new entrance created to the airfield, O’Reilly told AIN. It is also hoping that annual movements will double over the next few years, so having a dedicated entrance “for customers and crew” will help accommodate that increase in activity. Growth in movements “is permitted on a sliding scale up to 50,000 by 2019, and we’re operating at around 25,000 movements
10 ABACE Convention News • April 16, 2014 • www.ainonline.com
now,” said O’Reilly, who admitted, “That’s been static for a couple of years, but the mix of aircraft has changed–we have seen larger aircraft taking a larger amount of the capacity.” Although TAG has failed to lift the movement cap completely, this is certainly not an issue just yet. There are no problems with slots and the airport is open 0700 to 2200 on weekdays, and 0800 to 2000 at weekends and on Bank Holidays. For passengers and aircraft owners/operators alike, the focus is on quality of service, and the time it takes to embark and disembark and be on your way. “You can drive your car out to the aircraft…and the immigration officer meets you on arrival. Customers tell us they like the swift service,” commented O’Reilly. Operators meanwhile can take advantage of TAG Farnborough Engineering, or companies such as GAMA Aviation, which can also offer MRO services. In addition TAG has built the Aviator Hotel for those wishing to stay at the airport. Expansion
As another part of the new development plan, the airport has acquired a building that it is bringing into the airport boundary, so that its operations will be based there–leaving “just the front line employees in the terminal.” This will free up space in the terminal building, which is to be “re-profiled and refurbished for the next generation of travellers,” said O’Reilly. The airport is also aiming to streamline operations with an application for a larger region of controlled airspace, which will allow for better-defined arrival
and departure routes. “The public consultation is open until May 2,” said O’Reilly. “It would enable environmental improvements, such as allowing aircraft to climb out more quickly, and to remain higher on the approach, which will also improve safety.” While aircraft owners at local light aviation and gliding airfields, such as Fairoaks Airport and Lasham Airfield, are likely to resist the formal Airspace Change Proposal, it is believed that with the projected increase in movements at Farnborough the UK CAA will allow it in some form, even if only to improve separation from light aircraft on a safety case. It is little surprise then that TAG Farnborough Airport has been named “International FBO of the Year” by AIN for seven consecutive years, based on reader polls (O’Reilly has been running the airport for eight years). At ABACE, the company is exhibiting at Booth H218 with its sister TAG Group company, TAG Aviation Asia, which manages 44 aircraft out of Hong Kong, said O’Reilly. “We’re the biggest out there, especially of larger aircraft,” he added while speaking to AIN from Farnborough before the show. So will the Farnborough airport model be recreated in China? O’Reilly pointed to the large amount of interest it received at the last two ABACE events, and at events before that. “Each time we’ve been to ABACE I’ve had representatives from local government from various parts of China and they all ask about the costs and benefits of building something like Farnborough. They’re quite aware of Farnborough.” o
The BBJ Max 8 (shown here) and BBJ Max 9 are based respectively on the Boeing 737 Max 8 and Max 9, which are re-engined upgrades of 737-800 and 737-900. The first Max aircraft are expected to enter service by 2017.
Avjet negotiates first BBJ Max purchase by R. Randall Padfield Boeing Business Jets (Chalet 7) announced last week the first sale of its new BBJ Max 8 executive airliner. Burbank, Calif.-based Avjet Corporation negotiated the deal on behalf of the purchaser, a current BBJ operator. “Our VIP customers are always demanding new improvements in comfort, speed and range,” said Steve Taylor, president of BBJ Aircraft Division, which is based in Seattle, Wash. “The BBJ Max will extend our lead in this segment and ensures our customers getting the best of both worlds.” According to Boeing, the BBJ Max 8 is planned to have a range of more than 6,300 nautical miles, in large part due to its new CFM Leap engines, which will provide a 14-percent
reduction in fuel burn over the BBJ’s current CFM56-7 turbofans. A combined total of more than 150 BBJs, BBJ2s and BBJ3’s are in service. In addition to charter operations, Avjet buys and sells BBJs and manages interior completions of the model. “Avjet’s long relationship with Boeing has helped fuel our company’s international growth over the past decade,” said Marc Foulkrod, Avjet chairman and CEO. “We are especially proud to be Boeing’s launch customer for the BBJ Max.” According to Avjet, it has sold more BBJs over the past six years than any other aviation firm. Its charter fleet includes not only BBJs, but also jets manufactured by Gulfstream, Bombardier, Dassault Falcon,
Hawker and Cessna. A prime example of Avjet’s charter capabilities occurred in 2009, when the company worked with the U.S. Department of State, FAA, White House and other international bodies to obtain entry into North Korea’s restricted air space. Avjet pilots
flew former U.S. President Bill Clinton and his staff in an FAA Part 135-certified BBJ on a mission to help win the release of two American reporters, who were being held captive in the country. The BBJ Max 8 and BBJ Max 9 are based respectively on the Boeing 737 Max 8 and Max
9, which are upgrades of 737-800 and 737-900. The first Max aircraft are expected to enter service by 2017. A BBJ Max upgrade of the BBJ (based on the 737-700), which would require an increase in max gross weight, is still being studied, according to Boeing Business Jets. o
JetNet inks data alliance with CBA The China Business Aviation Group (CBA) and JetNet of Utica, New York, will develop a program to provide JetNet’s aviation database and information services to business aviation users throughout greater China. The two companies signed an agreement to form the strategic alliance at ABACE 2014 on Monday.
JetNet’s 47 research analysts constantly update the JetNet database with current information on airframes, engines, avionics and cabin amenities plus details on aircraft owners, operators, lessors, lessees, share owners in fractional programs and transaction histories dating back more than 25 years. JetNet
China Gives approval For sikorsky s-76D heliCopter The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) has issued a validation type certificate for Sikorsky Aircraft’s S-76D helicopter, allowing the U.S. manufacturer to begin deliveries to Chinese customers. The move, announced on Monday at ABACE 2014 in Shanghai, follows the earlier CAAC validation of the S-76A and S-76C models. More than 30 of the twin-engine Sikorsky S-76 aircraft currently operate in China. Yunnan Jingcheng Group will be the first company in China to take delivery of an S-76D, scheduled for delivery this month. The company currently operates a larger S-92 and has also purchased a second S-92, scheduled for delivery in November 2015. The S-76D helicopter has a current worldwide backlog exceeding $650 million, according to Sikorsky, which is part of the United Technologies group. The S-76D is powered by a pair of Pratt & Whitney Canada PW210S engines. It is also equipped with the Thales TopDeck avionics suite, a four-axis autopilot, a health usage and monitoring system, active vibration control, and all-composite, flaw-tolerant main rotor blades. A rotor protection system for all-weather capability is available as an option. In September 2013, Sikorsky signed an agreement with China’s Changhe Aircraft Industries Corp calling for local production of S-76D cabins. Changhe serves as a second source of the cabins and is due to start deliveries in 2016. –J.L.E.
also provides monthly aircraft market summary reports and tools to access information on the global business aircraft fleet and market data. One of the benefits of the CBA-JetNet alliance will be for CBA to help China-based business aircraft operators provide more information to improve JetNet’s database. To that end, JetNet also employs Mandarin speakers to help Chinese users interact with JetNet. “This has helped us penetrate the China market and build trust with them,” said Rolland Vincent, creator/director of the JetNet IQ (Intelligence Quarterly) forecasting and advisory service for business aviation. “We’re trying to democratize general aviation, and show that it’s not just for the super wealthy. The accuracy of the JetNet database is enhanced by having relationships like this,” Vincent added. “This shows us in partnership with one of the best brands in the business,” said Chuck Woods, president of CBA. “It opens a door that [JetNet] can’t open themselves.” JetNet president Vincent Esposito added, “We are already involved in China as we collect real-time aircraft data from
MATT THURBER
by Matt Thurber
Celebrating their data deal are (left to right) Zong Sunning, deputy editor of the Time Machine–World Business Aircraft Guide (2nd Edition) and editor-in-chief of Business & General Aviation Magazine; Jason Liao, chairman and CEO CBA; Chen Kai, vice president of China Aviation Publishing & Media Co., publisher of the Time Machine book.
owners and operators, but as our alliance with CBA develops, we are certain that our market intelligence will make a significant contribution to China’s business aviation growth.” “We have always believed that JetNet’s information and services are an important building block for business aviation in China,” said CBA chairman and CEO Jason Liao. “The Chinese aviation industry has big potential, especially on the general aviation side, but to develop this into an industry, I think that the key is to develop a deep popular aviation culture. Without the Asian culture, without
broad-based support for the industry, it will not happen.” During the signing ceremony, CBA also unveiled the newest edition of its business aviation book, Time Machine– World Business Aircraft Guide (2nd Edition). Edited by Liao, the book includes information to help Chinese aircraft buyers learn about business aviation. o
www.ainonline.com • April 16, 2014 • ABACE Convention News 11
winning by a nose
DAVID McINTOSH
The ramp and blue Shanghai sky is reflected in the polished spinner of this Pilatus PC-12 turboprop single in the ABACE static display. The view can be perceived as a mirror into the future, when all manner of business aircraft may fill the skies of China. ABACE is a chance for everyone in the region to see the value of general aviation, not just as a bonus for those who have the financial means, but also as an engine for growth, jobs n and prosperity for all.
Cessna’s Citation Latitude aces its first round of tests
(all models, 1999 to 2013)
30 25
by Chad Trautvetter Cessna Aircraft’s Citation Latitude prototype has logged more than 65 hours over some 30 flights since making its maiden jaunt on February 18, Chris Hearne, Textron Aviation senior vice president of business jets, told AIN yesterday here at ABACE 2014. The twinjet has already achieved its full performance envelope, reaching its maximum speed of 440 ktas/Mach 0.80 and altitude of 45,000 feet, and has recently completed ground vibration and flutter testing, he added. “From an engineering perspective, I am very proud our team has designed an aircraft that is proceeding in a very predictable, reliable manner and displaying characteristics of a very mature system in its first few flights,” said Michael Thacker, Cessna senior vice president of engineering. Upcoming tests for the Latitude will
Boeing and Airbus Bizliner Deliveries
focus on low-speed performance. Meanwhile, a second Latitude is being prepped for its first flight “in the coming weeks,” according to Hearne. The first prototype has also been fully painted recently to ensure proper uninterrupted airflow for RVSM approval, he noted. The twinjet fuses a new, larger fuselage with the wings, tail and systems of the Citation Sovereign+. With the new fuselage, the Latitude has the widest cabin of any Citation, and it is the only Cessna jet with a flat floor. It also features Garmin G5000 avionics, an electrically operated door and autothrottles. Cessna expects FAA certification of the Latitude, which will fill a niche between the Citation XLS+ and Sovereign+, in the second quarter of 2015. The company launched the $14.9 million jet at the 2011 NBAA Convention. o
With high-speed tests and max altitude trials complete, Cessna’s Citation Latitude is moving toward expected certification next year.
12 ABACE Convention News • April 16, 2014 • www.ainonline.com
20 15 10 5 0
1999
2000
2001
Boeing
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
Airbus
Source: “Worldwide Business Jet Shipments by Manufacturer,” 2013 GAMA Statistical Databook & Industry Outlook, General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA)
who’s DelivereD More bizliners–boeing or airbus? Boeing holds a strong lead over Airbus in total deliveries of all models of VIP and VVIP “bizliner” aircraft, having delivered 155 BBJs from 1999 (the year Boeing began delivering BBJs) through 2013. Airbus, which delivered its first ACJ in 2001, has delivered 104 ACJs from that year through 2013, according to the shipment numbers that both OEMs have reported to the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA). [Note that GAMA’s shipment numbers often differ from numbers reported elsewhere, and even by Boeing and Airbus themselves. AIN believes that GAMA provides the most reliable apples-to-apples comparison.–Ed.] After getting off to a late start in the business-jets-converted-from-airliners market, Airbus narrowed Boeing’s lead substantially over the last 10 years (2004-2013), delivering 97 business jets to Boeing’s 78. However, Boeing holds the lead in shipments of wide-body VVIP bizliners, having delivered 13 versus Airbus’s 11, all since 2006, when Airbus delivered the first VVIP bizliner, an A340. Boeing did not deliver its first widebody bizliner, a 777, until 2009. Summing up the last five years, BBJ delivered six aircraft in 2009, 12 in 2010, eight in 2011, 12 in 2012 and seven in 2013, for a total of 45. Of the seven aircraft Boeing delivered in 2013, five were BBJ (700 series), one was a BBJ 2, and one was the first BBJ 787 delivered. By comparison, Airbus reported to GAMA that it had delivered 13 ACJs in 2009, 15 in 2010, 10 in 2011, nine in 2012 and six in 2013, for a total of 53. Of the six ACJs Airbus delivered in 2013, one was an ACJ318, four were ACJ319s, and one an ACJ320. –R.R.P.
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Airbus Helicopters presses on with updates to two models by Mark Huber
空中客车正在研制225的升级版225e，该机配备 Turbomeca Makila 2B发动机，主要针 对离岸运输任务。它的航程更长、有效载重量更大、油量也更多。
Airbus Helicopters is making its public debut in China this week for the first time since the company formerly known as Eurocopter was renamed as part of a wider restructuring that has seen other parts of its EADS parent group channel the marketing power of the Airbus brand. Airbus airliners have sold well here in the People’s Republic, but then so have the “Eurocopter” rotorcraft, which still lay a strong claim to being the market leader in China. The company unveiled plans for two new variants of existing aircraft–the 225e and the AS332C1e–in February and gave an update of
While in 2013 Airbus booked orders for only five of its new EC175 medium helicopter, a model aimed primarily at the red-hot offshore energy market, Airbus Helicopters CEO Guillaume Faury said he expects sales prospects for that helicopter to improve now that European certification has been received and with U.S. FAA approval anticipated “within the next few months.” Faury said Airbus has a “full support package” in place to support EC175 customer operations. Overall, Airbus posted revenues of $8.33 billion in 2013, delivering 497 helicopters worldwide, up slightly from 475 in 2012.
Airbus Helicopters’ updated Model 225–the 225e–powered by Turbomeca Makila 2B engines, will be designed primarily for offshore missions, offering extended-range, increased payload and fuel capacity.
空中客车直升机紧锣密 鼓推进两款机型的升级 作者：Mark Huber 空中客车直升机公司本周在中国公开亮相，该公司前身为欧洲直升机公 司，这是它更名后在中国的首次亮相。欧洲宇航防务集团（EADS）在经过大 刀阔斧的重组后，除了旗下的欧洲直升机公司更名为客中客车直升机，其它 子公司也都引入了空中客车品牌的市场力量。空中客车的大型客机在中国的 销路一直很火爆，但是“欧直公司”的旋翼飞机在中国却还远远没有获得市 场领军地位。 2月空中客车直升机公司宣布了两款飞机升级版的研发计划，它们分别是 225e 和 AS322 C1e，而且该公司还发布了X4中型款的研发进度，该机计划于 2015年首次试飞。225e是重型直升机，航程较旧款更远，主要针对离岸作业 设计。它配备了新型Turbomeca Makila 2B发动机，客舱设施更完善，载重量 更大，油量也更多。 225e的航程可达555公里，可载10名乘客，有望于2015年获取运营证 书。AS332C1e是Super Puma的通用款，其设计针对高空/高热环境作业。它配 备了EC225的四轴自动领航系统和飞行自动控制系统。
针对高热/高空环境，空中客车直升机正在研制明星产品Super Puma的AS332C1e通用款，它将配备四轴自 动领航系统和飞行自动控制系统。 The AS332C1e utility version of Airbus Helicopters’ stalwart Super Puma is designed for hot/high environments and will be equipped with a four-axis autopilot and automatic flight control systems.
安静科技X4 迄今为止，X4的研发进展包括采取了新的安静科技、增加了主旋翼燃油效 率使用时间增加150小时，配备加拿大普惠公司（Pratt & Whitney Canada） 发动机或透博梅卡公司（Turbomeca）发动机，客户可以如135机型一样自由 选择发动机。并且该机拥有首个全复合材料机身。该机预计将于2015年实现 首次飞行。 2013年空中客户仅接到5架新款EC175中型直升机的订单，这款机型主要针 对高热环境的离岸作业。空中客车直升机的CEO Guillaume Faury预计该机 的销量即将上涨，因为该机已经获得欧洲运营证书，未来几个月内也将获得 美国FAA的运营许可。Faury说空中客车针对EC175的客户运营有一整套的支 持方案。 2013年空中客车直升机公司的年收入达83.3亿美元，全球直升机销量达497 架，较之2012年的475架稍有上涨。在中国市场上，该集团与中国航空工业集 团公司有制造伙伴关系，因为欧直中国与中国航空工业集团有合资企业。 重视客户支持 在2月召开的一个新闻发布会上，Faury说空中客车直升机准备发布新的 战略，以提升客户支持标准。他承认现行客户支持标准并不尽如人意。“ 我们迅速做出决定，将投入几千万美元……以增加零部件供应， ”Faury说。 他还告诉记者，公司将努力提升针对客户诉求的反应速度。空中客车也在努 力使客服网站更易于使用。他还说客服提升战略是产品质量和安全提升战 略的一部分。空中客户全面提升产品质量和安全的努力包括为小型直升机 安装标配的飞行数据记录仪和录像机，还包括为中型和重型直升机安装驾 驶舱语音记录仪等等。 o
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development efforts on the X4 medium twin, now slated for first flight in 2015. The 225e is an extended-range heavy helicopter variant designed primarily for the offshore market. It features new Turbomeca Makila 2B engines, an improved passenger cabin and increased payload and fuel capacity. The 225e will have a range of 300 nm (555 km) with 10 passengers. Certification is anticipated in 2015. The AS332C1e is a utility variant of the Super Puma designed for missions in high/ hot environments. It features the four-axis autopilot and automatic flight control systems from the EC225. Quiet-Technology X4
X4 development work to date includes running the new quiet technology, increased fuel efficiency main rotor blades for 150 hours, qualifying the Pratt & Whitney Canada and Turbomeca engines–customers will have a choice as they currently do on the Model 135– and fabricating the first all-composite fuselage structure. First flight is expected in 2015.
Here in China, the group has a manufacturing partnership through its Eurocopter China joint venture with Aviation Industries of China. Emphasis on Customer Support
At a press conference in February Faury said that Airbus Helicopters is launching a new campaign to boost its customer support standards, which he admitted have not been acceptable. “We decided very quickly to spend tens of millions of dollars…to increase our supply of parts” and to focus on reducing response times to customer requests, Faury told journalists. Airbus is also focusing on making webbased customer service portals easier to use. Faury added that the renewed focus on customer service is part of a larger strategy to increase product quality and safety across the board, beginning with initiatives to install flight data and video recorders in its smaller helicopters as standard equipment and to fit cockpit voice recorders in its medium and heavy helicopters. o
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BIZAV in India
Business aviation hopes for reforms under new leadership
商务航空在印度
by Neelam Mathews
公务航空期待新领导、 新变革 作者：Neelam Mathews 印度过去几年的经济不景气导致了通用航空业的负增长，据印度公务机运营商协会 （BAOA）主席Rohit Kapur说，行业已低迷至谷底。但该协会仍对未来持乐观态度，他们希 望即将到来的5月大选可以产生更果决的政府领导人，为行业的监管环境带来大众期待已 久的变化。许多人认为现今的监管环境扼制了他们所在行业的增长，也给印度的总体经济 带来了负面影响。 “通用航空与经济的健康水平有直接联系，一旦（印度公司）订单开始上涨，我相信监管 必能到位，” Kapur对AIN说。“如果经济持续低迷，董事会很难相信购置新机的必要性。” 在过去两年里，印度向国外出售了近30架直升机和15架左右喷气机。它们中的大多数 都是包机公司出售的小型飞机，与此同时，大型公务机运营商也在一直削减机队规模。 这些公司包括：Larsen & Toubro、Essar Group、Jindal Steel & Power、Reliance Infrastructure、Grasim Industries。比如说，Reliance出售了一架比奇空中国王和一架 豪客飞机，近日还出售了一架之前一直服役中的贝尔直升机。去年Essar关闭了一个内部 工程部，被裁雇员达8-10人。BAOA声称其它公司也在寻求退出公务航空的相似途径。 “裁员对行业增长是不利的，越来越多的人失业，”Kapur说。“我们需要团结起来， 共同谋求效益的增长。这项工作在印度尚未展开，但BAOA已经迈出了第一步，我们与监管 部门，也就是印度民用航空总局（DGCA）多次协商，他们正在考虑许可飞机管理公司 的存 在，使它们为飞机业主提供全面的资产管理服务。” 现在DGCA的监管网络仍然十分复杂，这让公务机运营商的生存十分艰难。BAOA建议允 许私人公司或飞机运营证持有者接手飞机的管理，“这样即便是某架飞机的业主不使用飞 机，它也能为业主带来收入，” 早在2012年4月，国际民航组织（ICAO）领导的一个小组 就在一份向印度政府提交的通用航空政策草案上写下了如上建议。但印度官员还未在这方 面出台任何相应规章。 Kapur近日建议当局要求拥有飞机数目少于三架的业主使用飞机管理公司的服务。他说 该要求可以帮助这些公司提升安全标准、增进成本效益。“DGCA曾提起过，管理164家不 定期航空运营许可证持有者，是相当困难的，”Kapur说。“这样一来，它们的总数就可 以降到35个左右，监管部门的工作量会大大减少。而且DGCA还得满足ICAO对安全与质量 的要求，于是飞机业主身上的担子会相应加重。即便是那些只有一架飞机的业主也必须雇 佣至少五个人手（以维持飞机的运营），”他说。但是这些雇员的训练水准并不尽如人 美捷 u Business jets such as Cessna’s Citations and Dassault’s Falcons have flocked to recent Indian air shows such as last year’s Aero India event in Bangalore. 赛斯纳奖状和达索猎鹰等公务机近年 云集于印度各大航展，比如说去年2 月的班加罗尔航展（两年一度）。
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India’s economic downturn over the past couple of years has resulted in negative growth for general aviation there, which has “hit rock bottom,” according to Rohit Kapur, president of the country’s Business Aviation Operators Association (BAOA). But, on a more optimistic note, the Indian bizav community hopes that this coming May’s general election will result in more decisive political leadership that could yield long-awaited changes to a regulatory environment that many agree has held back growth in their own industry and the wider Indian economy.
印度公务机运营商协会主席Rohit Kapur呼吁大 家齐心合力，创造 更纯净的监管环境和更完 善的基础设施。 Rohit Kapur, president of India’s Business Aircraft Operators Association, is leading calls for a clearer regulatory environment and improved infrastructure.
“General aviation is directly related to the health of the economy and once orders start coming in [for Indian companies] I am confident regulations will fall into place,” Kapur told AIN. “If business is sluggish it is difficult to convince the board that an aircraft is an urgent buy.” The past two years have seen approximately 30 Indian-owned helicopters sold and some 15 jets leaving the national register. While most aircraft sold were smaller types owned by charter companies, larger operators are also increasingly cutting their fleet sizes. These include the following companies: Larsen & Toubro, Essar Group, Jindal Steel & Power, Reliance Infrastructure and Grasim Industries. Reliance, for example, sold its Beechcraft King Air and a Hawker, as well as a Bell helicopter that it had operated until recently. Last year, Essar shut down its in-house engineering department of eight to 10 people. Others are looking at similar exits from business aviation, according to the BAOA. “Downsizing is detrimental to growth of the industry. People are losing jobs,” said Kapur. “We need consolidation to bring in efficiencies. This has not as yet started in India though the BAOA is making a push for it by holding discussions with the regulator–the Directorate General of Civil Aviation [DGCA]–to recognize Continued on page 18 u
Joy Jets Adds Phenom 300 To Charter Roster
飞鸿300加入Joy Jets包机阵营 巴西航空工业公司近期向印度交付了一架飞鸿300，这是该国首架飞鸿300。 总部位于喀拉拉邦的Joy Jets将运营这架轻型喷气机，之前该公司已拥有飞鸿 100。Joy Jets是珠宝连锁商Joyalukkas旗下的公司，它声称明年将引进一架航 程更远的中型飞机。 巴西航空工业公司生产的公务机阵营（包括体型更大的莱格赛和世袭）如今 已经全部登陆印度。巴西航空工业公司为飞鸿300提供了一位飞行教练，他将陪 伴Joy Jets的机长们完成头100个小时的飞行。 Joy Jets说选择飞鸿300是因为拥有飞鸿100飞行证书的飞行员可以驾驶这架 新款飞机。较之飞鸿100，飞鸿300的机舱更大、航程更远，可以将包机客户运 到印度农村地区的小镇上。Air Works为Joy Jets提供飞机维修服务。 因为印度中层企业家的包机需求正逐步上 升，Joy Jets可能会把飞鸿300的基地设在金 奈。该公司还在等待印度民用航空总局颁发 新的CAP3100证书，该证书涉及Joy Jets计划 提供的服务，它要求公司展示运营机构和系 统、培训准备、地勤和维护等。印度运营商 抱怨说该证书的许可流程耗时过长。 巴西航空工业公司说印度经济变缓使 它在印度强势增长的飞机销售几乎陷于停 滞。巴航工业公务机市场信息部副总裁Jose Eduardo Costas说巴西航空工业公司销往印 度的公务机有20架，占该国15%的市场份额。 印度公务机市场的客户支持结构要发展到 总部位于喀拉拉邦的包机运营商 强大而全面，还有很长一段路要走。“我们 Joy Jets近日接收了一架巴西航空工业 有自己的地面支持代表，可以提供技术和维 公司生产的飞鸿300，这是印度国内的 首架飞鸿300。该公司明年计划增加机 修支持，而且我们还有印度全国设有多个授 身更大航程更远的飞机。 权服务中心，” Costas说。巴西航空工业公 司是首批在印度建立备件库存（位于班加罗尔）的公务机生产商之一，可以对 飞机维修需求做出有效回应。 巴西航空工业公司预期未来十年南亚的工业增长将产生200-220架新公务机 的市场需求。“我们拥有行业内最丰富的公务机产品阵容，可以满足买方各种 需求，” Costas说。“PremiAir（印度尼西亚）和Joy Jets等包机运营商将继 续拓展点到点的飞行服务网络，努力覆盖盲点，他们可以使用户在购买完全属 于自己的公务机之前尽情享受公务飞行的便利，” Costas说。
Embraer recently delivered the first Phenom 300 in India to charter operator Joy Jets, which will operate the light jet alongside its existing Phenom 100. The Kerala-based operator, which is part of the Joyalukkas chain of jewelry stores, has said it intends to add a longer-range midsize aircraft to its fleet next year. The Brazilian manufacturer’s complete portfolio of executive jets (including the larger Legacy and Lineage models) is now represented in India. Embraer has provided an instructor for the Phenom 300 to line-fly the aircraft with Joy Jets captains for the first 100 hours. Joy Jets said it selected the Phenom 300 because it can be flown by pilots already holding Phenom 100 approval. It offers a larger cabin and longer range than the 100, which is providing charter flights to smaller towns in rural parts of India. Air Works is providing maintenance support for Joy Jets. With charter demand from middle-ranking Indian entrepreneurs looking up, Joy Jets is viewing Chennai as a possible base for the Phenom 300. The operator is still waiting for India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation to grant the new CAP 3100 certification that is required for the services it seeks to offer. This requires the company to demonstrate adequate operational organization and systems, as well as provision for training, ground handling and maintenance. Indian operators have complained that this approval process is taking too long. Embraer says the slowdown in the Indian economy has done little to stop its strong business aircraft sales in the country. According to Embraer Executive Jets market intelligence vice president José Eduardo Costas, the Brazilian airframer now has 20 business aircraft based in India, which he said represents a 15-percent market share. A strong and comprehensive customer support structure on Kerala-based charter operator the ground in India goes a long way. “We have our own field-supJoy Jets recently received the first Embraer Phenom 300 aircraft to be port representatives to provide technical and maintenance support based in India. It plans to add larger, in addition to our multiple authorized service centers across the longer-range aircraft next year. country,” explained Costas. Embraer was one of the first business aircraft manufacturers to have a spare parts inventory in India (located in Bangalore), enabling effective responses to maintenance needs. Embraer foresees an industry growth in demand of 200 to 220 new business jets over the next 10 years throughout South Asia. “We have the broadest portfolio of business jets in the industry, which caters to the varying requirements of buyers,” said Costas. “Charter operators like PremiAir [in Indonesia] and Joy Jets will continue to offer point-to-point travel to underserved destinations and they enable customers to leverage business aviation benefits before moving to full business jet ownership,” Costas said. –N.M.
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www.ainonline.com • April 16, 2014 • ABACE Convention News 17
商务航空在印度 BIZAV in India
印度公务机运营商的国内及国际运营面临着许多困难， 这 些困难或来自于运营实践，或来自于官僚阶层。 Operators of Indian aircraft (carrying the VT tail number) face numerous practical and bureaucratic difficulties operating into and within the country.
意，这些业主也缺少维持飞机运营的可用人手，“所以整合是很重要的一步策 略，”Kapur说。 该产业面临的一个主要监管事宜是DGCA要求重量少于5700公斤的双引擎飞机 上面必须安装驾驶航语音记录仪和飞行数据记录仪（要求一年内安装，截止日 期为2014年12月31日）。BAOA提出了警示，高额的安装与认证费用可能会导致 更多此类飞机被行业舍弃。 “时间正一点点流逝，”Kapur告诉AIN。“我们要求DGCA做经济分析，但迄 今他们还没有做这项工作。对抗的局面正缓缓迫近。这项政策使飞机在印度的 销售减缓，因为销售商无法在2007年之前生产的飞机上安装这些仪器。” 印度针对民用飞机的关税为18.5%，针对包机公司的飞机关税为2.5%。BAOA认 为这两项差别关税也需要调整。“关税方面的不平衡正在扼杀这个产业。政府 应该为两种飞机实施名义关税，”Kapur说 。 印度人持有的子公司定期做国际飞行时，也面临着海关带来的困难。BAOA认 为印度的海关法规普遍存在太多漏洞，许多细则有待解释，这些因素也抑制了 飞机业主购入飞机的积极性。 除了监管方面的障碍，印度公务机行业还要面对机场基础设施方面的不足， 主要是公务机停机位的紧缺。“孟买的情况是一团糟。大约70%的公务机业主已 经把飞机转移到了附近城市的机场，”Kapur说。“这种情况打消了许多人购买 公务机的主意。我们听到许多人说宁愿选择包机，以节约时间，”他说。 本行业一些人建议政府重新修订与私有合资机场合作伙伴的运营、管理和发 展协议。BAOA抱怨说这份协议存在对公务飞行的歧视。“政府使我们走上了与 机场的对抗之路，他们视我们（通用航空）为侵略者，”Kapur说。 与政府数次协商之后，Kapur希望当局考虑建设新的固定基地运营商（FBO）和 直升机停机坪。他特别期望政府能为航空摄影、应急医疗救援、电力支持等飞行 服务商提供更有利的环境。目前国外运营商垄断了这个领域，而且他们雇佣的是 外国飞行员，因为国内运营商要花六个月才能获准执行为期仅三个月的运营合同。 Kapur 承认行业在促使政府合理调整监管环境方面，已经取得了一些进步。 举例来说，运营商现在能够在三天内获得国外注册的飞机的降落许可，在过去 要等上七天才能取得许可。现在一天就能获得飞越领空的许可，而过去是三 天。政府也授权印度海外领事馆为出访印度的人颁发商务签证。 美捷 u
水上飞机帮孟买缓解停机位拥挤窘境 印度包机运营商Maritime Energy Heli Air Services (Mehair) 新近推出水上 飞机新航线，航线连接印度商业之都孟买的市中心与富裕的Aamby Valley地区。该 包机线路所用飞机为赛斯纳206水陆两用飞机，可搭载四名乘客。自上月（3月） 初投入运营之后，该线路接到许多预订，公司决定5月底新增一架可载九名乘客的 赛斯纳208。 Mehair在孟加拉湾的安达曼和尼科巴群岛已经开展了水上飞机服务。它在孟买 地区的水上飞机运营将成为印度大陆首例。 Aamby Valley私人居住区拥有多幢高端别墅、一个会议中心和数家休闲娱乐机 构。Mehair在这个新服务项目上已经投资320万美元，它期望富有的商业人士和游 客可以加入它的客户名单。“这是一个未被开发的新市场，投资商对这个市场满怀 期待，” Mehair创始人之一Siddharth Verma对AIN说。早在官方预订宣布之前一 个月，所有座位都已售罄。Verma说每天飞行四趟就足以保本。 除了飞往Aamby Valley的线路，该公司还将提供乘坐赛斯纳飞机往返孟买周边 另外五个目的地的飞行服务，其中包括孟买南北两端之间七分钟短途飞行。四月该 公司将推出此项服务，运营初期价位仅为20美元，它可以帮乘客在最糟糕的交通高 峰期飞越孟买，节约90分钟的时间。 Mehair还和印度南部的Goa邦签订 了一项不可撤消的协议，它将为该州提供水 上飞机服务，以支持当地的旅游业。该服务推出时间尚未确定，它将主要把国外游 客运到海岸边的各家度假酒店。 Mehair原计划在2013年7月在南部Kerala邦推出同类水上飞机服务，但是由于有反 对的声音说水上飞机会打扰当地渔业，该计划已被搁浅。Verma告诉AIN， Mehair很 高兴能够得到Maharashtra邦政府（包括孟买）的全力支持，该邦允许Mehair修建水 上飞行必需的浮动码头。 Verma还说公司将仿效印度洋马尔代夫群岛成功的水上飞机运营模式， 目前马尔代夫群岛的水陆两用飞机机队规模雄居全球第一。他相信这种运 营模式可以在印度6000多英里长的海岸线上复制出来。在接下来的5年里， 公司计划新增25架飞机，其中包括大型飞机Viking Twin Otter，可以搭载 19名乘客。 为了推出孟买周边的水国飞机服务，Mehair不得不设法获取得多重许 可，其中包括印度海岸警卫队、海军、警方、机场管理方、环保局、以及 孟买港务局等各个部门的同意。赛斯纳水上飞机要求水域至少长2650英 尺，距离陆地的宽度至少164英尺，水深至少10英尺。 Charter operator Mehair is using Cessna 206 seaplanes to carry passengers to luxury communities around the outskirts of India’s commercial capital Mumbai.
包机运营商Mehair使用赛斯纳206水上飞机运载乘客，把他们送到商业之都孟 买市郊的豪华社区。
18 ABACE Convention News • April 16, 2014 • www.ainonline.com
Bizav hopes for reforms uContinued from page 16
aircraft management companies that offer an integrated asset management approach to owners.” For now, the DGCA still has a complicated mesh of regulations that make life difficult for business aircraft users. The BAOA has suggested that private companies or holders of air operator certificates be
allowed to take over the management of aircraft “that can generate revenues when an aircraft is not being used by the owner.” An ICAO-led team endorsed this recommendation in a draft general aviation policy submitted to the Indian government in April 2012, but Indian officials have yet to implement any coherent regulations for the sector. Recently, Kapur suggested the authorities mandate that owners of fewer than three aircraft use management companies. Such
Seaplanes Lift Mumbai’s Jetset Above the Congestion Indian charter operator Maritime Energy Heli Air Services (Mehair) is launching a new seaplane operation to connect the center of the country’s commercial capital Mumbai with the affluent Aamby Valley area. The charter flights, operated with four-seat Cessna 206 amphibians, started last month and early advance bookings have convinced the company to add a nine-seat Cessna 208 by the end of May. Mehair is already operating seaplane services in the remote Andaman and Nicobar islands in the Bay of Bengal. The Mumbai-area operation will be the first seaplane service for the Indian mainland. Aamby Valley is a private community dotted with high-end villas, a convention center and various leisure facilities. Mehair, which has so far invested around $3.2 million in the new service, expects its passengers to include wealthy business people and tourists. “We’re in an untouched market and investors are excited about it,” Mehair co-founder Siddharth Verma told AIN. Available seats have been sold out for a month even before bookings officially open. Verma said four trips per a day will be enough to break even. In addition to flying to the Aamby Valley, the Cessnas will also provide a service connecting five other destinations around Mumbai, including a seven-minute hop between the north and south sides of the sprawling city. This month this service is being offered at an introductory rate of $20, helping passengers avoid what can be a 90-minute drive through the worst of the rush hour. Mehair has also signed a firm agreement with the southern Indian state of Goa to introduce seaplane services there in support of the tourist industry. The operation there, for which a service launch date has yet to be confirmed, will mainly carry foreign tourists to various resort hotels along the coast. Plans to launch similar seaplane services in the southern state of Kerala in July 2013 ran aground in the face of opponents who argued that the flights would disrupt the local fishing industry. Verma told AIN that Mehair has enjoyed the full support of the Maharashtra state government (including Mumbai), including permission to install the required floating docks. Going forward, Verma said he would like to emulate successful seaplane operations in the Maldives Islands in the Indian Ocean, which currently claims the largest amphibian fleet in the world. He believes this model can be replicated to introduce services around India’s 6,000-plus-mile coastline. Over the next five years, the company intends to add 25 more aircraft to its fleet and it is already considering the larger Viking Twin Otter, which can carry 19 passengers. Mehair had to get multiple approvals to launch the seaplane services around Mumbai, including signoffs from the Indian coast guard, the navy, police, airport authority, environmental officials and the city’s port authority. The Cessna floatplanes need a body of water 2,650 feet long and with clearance from the land on both sides of 164 feet, as well as a minimum water depth of 10 feet. –N.M.
Some in the industry have suggested that the government revisit the operation, management and development agreement signed with its private joint-venture airport partners. The BAOA has complained that this agreement was structured in a way that effectively discriminates against access for business aviation. “The government has put us on a path of
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a requirement, he said, would help raise safety standards and improve cost-effectiveness. “The DGCA has said it has problems handling some 164 NSOPs [nonscheduled operator permit holders],” he stated. “This will reduce the number to around 35 and create fewer administrative hassles. Also, the DGCA has to address ICAO requirements for safety and quality, thereby intensifying the burden on owners. Even those with one aircraft have to hire at least five people [to operate it],” he said. With standards of training not up to the mark and a lack of availability of people to run operations’ departments, “the important step is to consolidate,” said Kapur. A major regulatory issue facing the industry is a DGCA requirement that mandates installation of a cockpit voice recorder and a flight data recorder (extended by a year to December 31 this year) on twinengine aircraft weighing less than 5,700 kg (12,566 pounds). The BAOA has cautioned that the high cost of installation and certification may result in the disposal of many more aircraft. “Time is ticking,” Kapur told AIN. “We had asked the DGCA to do an economic analysis. That hasn’t been done. We’re slowly creeping toward confrontation again. This is affecting sales of aircraft into India, which have slowed as sellers are unable to install this equipment on aircraft manufactured before 2007.” India’s differential rate of customs duty–18.5 percent for aircraft intended for private use and 2.5 percent for charter companies–also needs to be rationalized, according to the BAOA. “Duty imbalance is killing the industry. The government should impose a nominal duty for both categories,” said Kapur. Indian-owned subsidiary companies regularly flying aircraft in and out of the country face customs difficulties. The BAOA maintains that customs rules in general have far too many loopholes in India and leave a lot to interpretation, all of which acts as a further disincentive to aircraft ownership. In addition to regulatory hurdles, the Indian industry faces shortcomings in terms of airport infrastructure, most notably a lack of parking areas for business aircraft. “Mumbai is a huge mess. Approximately 70 percent of owners have moved out to neighboring airports,” explained Kapur. “This defeats the idea of owning a business aircraft. We are hearing rumblings of people saying they may as well charter aircraft to save time,” he added.
confrontation” with airports, which “view [GA operations] as intruders,” said Kapur. Following discussions with the government, Kapur is hoping authorities will give consideration to the establishment of new FBOs and heliports. In particular, he wants a more favorable environment for operators engaged in services such as aerial photography, emergency medical
flights and power-line support. As things stand, operators from overseas are getting this work, employing foreign pilots, simply because it can take a domestic operator six months to obtain clearance to conduct a threemonth contract. Kapur acknowledged that the industry has made some progress in rationalizing the Indian government’s approach
to regulating it. For example, operators can now get landing permits for foreign-registered aircraft in three business days, compared with the seven days that it previously took. Overflight permits can now be issued in one day rather than three. The government has also authorized Indian consulates overseas to grant business visas to visiting crew. o
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www.ainonline.com • April 16, 2014 • ABACE Convention News 19
商务航空在印度 BIZAV in India 因为印度缺少固定基地运营商 （FBO），新德里国际机场的通用航 空机位已变得异常拥挤。
With the lack of fixed-base operators in the country, general aviation aircraft experience congested parking at Delhi International Airport.
ICAO带头呼吁行业政策变更 作者：Neelam Mathews 印度通用航空的规章制度十分复杂，行业呼吁稳定的监管架构和健康、明确的监管 制度。国际民航组织（ICAO）领导的一个小组就此起草了一份关于通用航空政策的建 议，并于2012年4月提交给了印度民航部，该建议覆盖固定翼飞机、直升机和水上飞 机。但由于国家领导人在数月之后发生变更，政府未就此采取任何行动，2014年也许 可以看到好的趋向，印度公务机运营商协会（BAOA）主席Rohit Kapur对AIN说。 他还说现有的印度民用航空总局（DGCA）有希望被一个新提议的民用航空监管机构 取代。2015年该计划可能付诸实施，届时该机构将拥有金融和管理自主权，将大大推 动通用航空的发展。 通用航空备受冷落 薄弱的基础设施严重地阻碍了通用航空的发展，而且通用航空专用设施在近期或中 期显然无法在财务方面实现自立。很明显，印度紧缺固定基地运营商（FBO），兴建更 多FBO的计划也被搁置。比如说，新德里国际机场曾提出一个项目意向书，欲吸引固定 基地运营商与一家经招标流程选出的公司在英迪拉·甘地国际机场联手建设一个新的 全方位服务设施，但该意向书两度提出，又两度被撤回。 一位行业内部人士告诉AIN，近期没有招标计划，“因为公务航空的停机费用并不 能为机场带来多少利润，那些停机位可以用在其它更能赚钱的地方。” 孟买和德里的机场都已经异常拥挤，ICAO领导的小组建议其它机场豁免通用航空飞 机的着陆和停机费用。“任何机场税都应该是公平、透明的，不含任何歧视内容，它 的应用也应该无异于其它交通方式，”小组提出了这样的建议。 该报告还提出了公务机运营商最关心的一点，DGCA下令所有重量少于5700公斤的双 引擎飞机上面都必须安装驾驶航语音记录仪（CTR）和飞行数据记录仪（FDR）。BAOA 就此提出警示，高额的安装与认证费用可能会影响许多飞机的销量，因为在行业眼 中，它们将变得不够经济。 Air Works India Engineering 的市场销售部副总裁Dhiraj Chhabra说今年监管机 构应该努力确保通用航空维修服务商能够使用机场机库和其它基础设施，并承认它们 是飞机性能维护的关键服务提供商。 虽然近年来印度的飞机数量一直在增长，除了一个GMR集团在Hyderabad建的机库和另 一个Air Works在班加罗尔附近的Hosur建的机库之外，在过去二十年里，印度机场管理 局（Airports Authority of India）没有新建任何机库，从而导致了停机位的紧缺。 缺乏一致性 根据该报告，DGCA的政策差异性很大，明显缺乏一致性。比如说，2011年9月以 来，有两架用于训练的CTLS超轻型飞机在获得飞行批准之后又被禁飞，因为官方认识 到这种型号的飞机并不能用于训练。“现在又有提议说应修改规定，批准轻型运动飞 机（LSA）。政府可能会准许LSA归入超轻型飞机范畴，”一名DGCA官员说。 印度大部分私人飞机业主运营的飞机数量都少于三架，BAOA呼吁官方批准私人飞机 业主把飞机交由其它机构管理。“应该准许他们把飞机交由持有航空运营许可（AOP） 的机构管理，这样即便是业主不使用飞机时，飞机也能为他们带来收入，飞机的效率 和安全性都可以随之提升，”Kapur说。
ICAO提交给印度政府的计划书 在一份提交给印度民航部的改善印度通用航空的建议书中，国际民航组织 （ICAO）领导的一个小组建议印度民用航空总局（DGCA）应： • 全面实施安全管理系统，确保行业健康有序。 • 雇佣并培训合格的技术及行政人员，以履行改机构的义务。 • 取消不定期运营商的飞行员飞行经验应达到500小时且该机型飞行时间至少25小 时的要求 。
ICAO group spearheads quest for rules and policy changes by Neelam Mathews With general aviation regulations in India caught up in a web of complex rules, the industry has expressed a need for a stable regulatory framework that would allow it to grow in a sound, more straightforward regulatory regime. Addressing this, an ICAO-led group drafted a set of recommendations for a policy on general aviation–including fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters and seaplanes–and submitted them to the Ministry of Civil Aviation in April 2012. While no action has been taken as a consequence of changes in leadership over the past few months, 2014 could bring in good tidings, Rohit Kapur, president of the Business Aviation Operators Association (BAOA), told AIN. In addition, hopes are high, he said, that a proposed regulatory body, a civil aviation authority will replace the existing Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). This is planned to be operational by 2015 and will have financial and administrative autonomy, allowing it to be more effective in the development of general aviation. Genav Is a Stepchild
Infrastructure constraints present a significant hurdle and it is clear that development of dedicated facilities for general aviation is not likely to be viable financially in the short or medium term. This is apparent in the lack of FBOs in the country and the suspension of any plans to build more. For example, Delhi International Airport’s “expression of interest” in attracting a fixed-base operator to develop a new full-service facility at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in partnership with a company selected through a competitive bid process was issued and withdrawn twice. An industry insider told AIN that there are no plans to issue a bid in the near future because “business aviation does not make the airport money from parking fees, and the space occupied by aircraft could be used in a more lucrative manner.” With Mumbai and Delhi airports congested, the ICAO-led group recommends that general aviation aircraft should be exempt from paying landing and parking charges at other airports. “Any tax on air transport should be fair, equitable, transparent and nondiscriminatory in its intent, and its application vis-à-vis other modes of transport,” say the recommendations. The report also indicates a major concern to operators is a DGCA circular that mandates the installation of a cockpit voice recorder (CVR) and a flight data recorder (FDR) in twinengine aircraft weighing less than 5,700
kg. The BAOA has warned that the high cost of installation and certification may result in the sale of many aircraft as they are rendered uneconomic. Dhiraj Chhabra, associate vice president for sales and marketing with Air Works India Engineering, said the regulator should focus this year to ensure general aviation maintenance providers are given “access to hangars and infrastructure at airports and recognize them as providers of critical services to keep aircraft airworthy.” While the number of aircraft has grown in recent years, except for two hangars built by GMR in Hyderabad and Air Works in Hosur near Bangalore, the Airports Authority of India has not built a single hangar in the past two decades, creating real scarcity. Lack of Consistency
Discrepancies and lack of consistency in the DGCA are apparent, according to the report. For example, two CTLS microlights for training have been grounded since November 2011 after permission was withdrawn when it was realized the type certificate did not cover training. “There is [now] a comprehensive proposal to amend rules to allow the light sport aircraft [LSA] category. Until then, the ministry is likely to permit inclusion of LSA in the microlight category,” said a DGCA official. With the majority of owners in India operating fewer than three aircraft, the BAOA has called for private aircraft owners to be allowed to put their aircraft under the management of another entity. “They should also be allowed to put their aircraft under the management of an AOP [air operators permit] holder to enable them to generate revenues when the private aircraft is not used by the owner. This will bring in efficiencies and enhance safety,” said Kapur. o
ICAO’s Plan for India In its recommendations for improving general aviation in India, an ICAO-led group has recommended to India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA): • F ully implement a safety management system and ensure the industry is fully compliant. •H ire and train sufficient qualified technical and administrative staff to carry out its obligations. • Remove the pilot experience requirements for nonscheduled operators that require 500 hours, including 25 hours in type. n
www.ainonline.com • April 16, 2014 • ABACE Convention News 20
NetJets now closing in on China business plan by Chad Trautvetter
Gama Aviation targets China for its expansion by James Wynbrandt Marwan Khalek, group CEO of London-based Gama Aviation (Booth P501), sees China as the next growth opportunity for his global charter and management company. “We have a two-pronged strategy for the region,” Khalek told AIN here at ABACE 2014. “One is our Hong Kong operation [established in 2012] and one is Mainland China, and we’re making good progress on both.” The company has signed a business cooperation agreement with a Beijing entity that would open the way for a China base, he said. Khalek added that Gama expects to make a formal announcement about the deal by the end of this year. “The cake is in the oven and baking.”
Here in Shanghai at ABACE 2014, Khalek continued, “We want to let customers and the industry know we’re here, and we mean to do business here. We want to make people aware of not just our Asian operation, but to use that as a point of contact to make people aware of what our global presence is.” Founded in 1983, Gama has expanded its presence substantially since taking on Growthgate Capital of Bahrain as an equity partner in 2008. The company now manages 90 to 95 aircraft, ranging from King Airs to Gulfstreams that are based at some 25 locations on four continents, and employs more than 500 people. The company’s line-maintenance
Attention! You can hardly miss the security forces here at ABACE. They are not only efficient, but also professional and sharp in their appearance.
Aerochine signs deals for more Bell copters by R. Randall Padfield Aerochine Aviation, an independent representative of Bell Helicopter for China, Hong Kong and Macau, signed a purchase agreement for five more Bell 505 helicopters yesterday at ABACE 2014. Shortly afterwards Aerochine participated in selling two Bell 407s to Sanya Yalong General Aviation of Hainan Island. business more than doubled in 2013, with similar growth expected this year. Additionally, its new FBOs at Sharjah, UAE, and Glasgow, Scotland, are “up and running.” The Chinese market for business aircraft faces significant challenges, Khalek said. “The constraint of growth in the region at the moment is not demand, it’s [the lack of] infrastructure to service that demand.” He added that the current multi-day approval process for flights “removes the cornerstone of what this product is about.” As for hopes of loosening the current strictures on private aviation activity in China, Khalek said, “It can happen very easily with the strike of a pen at the right levels of government. It’s just a matter of the political will to do it. The benefits of business aviation are becoming more recognized in the region. They’re understanding it’s about productivity, not luxury.” o
According to Diana Chou, managing director of Aerochine, one customer has already signed up for three of the new 505s, which will be used in sightseeing/tourism operations. Deliveries of these 505s should take place near the end of 2016, she said. One of Sanya Yalong General Aviation’s 407s will be delivered in June and the second in early 2015. Aerochine plans to build a maintenance service center based on its expectations of double-digit growth in sales of helicopters, many of which are slated to fly in tourism operations in some of China’s major scenic areas. “The liberation of low airspace 1,000 meters and below has
fueled domestic development,” said Chou. “Having sold numerous Bell Helicopters over the past four years, Aerochine recognizes the growing demand for singleengine helicopters, such as the Bell 505 Jet Ranger X.” Since the beginning of this year, Aerochine has signed purchase agreements with end users for five Bell 505s and three Bell 407s. With offices in Shanghai and Beijing, Hong Kong-headquartered Aerochine (Booth 529 and 531) provides consulting services to government, corporate and high-net-worth customers, as well as after-sales support. Sino Private Aviation, an Aerochine Aviation sister company and Bombardier representative, recently added a Bombardier Global jet to its fleet. L’Voyage, a Sino Private Aviation subsidiary, specializes in brokering charters in China. It reported a 230-percent increase in charter business compared to 2013. o
DAVID LAU
Cheng has worked in the aviation industry for more than 35 years, including more than 23 years in the Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department–15 of those as an accident investigator. He is also an experienced business jet pilot and an ICAOcertified safety management systems instructor. The company is also expanding relationships with vendors such as chauffeured ground transportation service provider Savoya, which will deliver “precise and reliable” service to NetJets China passengers. Meanwhile, arrangements are being finalized to position two unspecified NetJets aircraft in China to support its charter business. NetJets Business Aviation is a joint venture with NetJets (Booth P222), Hony Jinsi Investment Management Beijing (a subsidiary of Chinese private-equity firm Hony Capital) and Fung Investments, part of the private investment arm of the families of Dr. Victor Fung and Dr. William Fung. o
DAVID McINTOSH
NetJets is preparing to launch its NetJets China business in mid-2014, by which time it expects to receive Chinese government approval for an air operator certificate. It also has hired “key people” over the past few months in the run-up to the launch of NetJets’ Chinese joint-venture operation, NetJets Business Aviation Ltd., which initially will provide aircraft management services. “We are making the necessary arrangements to launch our aircraft management business in China quickly, once our license is approved,” said NetJets chairman and CEO Jordan Hansell. “We are very excited to begin operations there because we see great potential for private aviation in China, as well as throughout Asia. We see China as one of the premier growth markets in the world and look forward to launching an aircraft management business here initially, which could grow into a fractional business in the future.” Over the past few months, NetJets Business Aviation hired several people to run the business, including Eric Cheng in the role as director of safety.
Zhou Yu Feng, left, general manager of Sanya Yalong General Aviation, signed a deal here at ABACE to purchase two Bell 407s through Aerochine Aviation. Participating in the signing ceremony were Diana Chou, standing, Aerochine managing director, and Chris Jaran, managing director, China, for Bell Helicopter.
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Jet Aviation Basel’s “Visionary” cabin interior for VIP widebody aircraft may provide a glimpse into the future, particularly as manufacturers increasingly introduce lightweight airframes of composite structures.
Luxury VIP cabins increasing in popularity by James Wynbrandt More than simply transportation, a business jet can serve as flying office, airborne home and luxury retreat, its fuselage a blank canvas within which an owner, interior design team and completion specialists can create a “working” work of art. Here at ABACE 2014 in Shanghai, attendees can see the results in the stunning interiors of aircraft on static display, and in presentations at the booths of the world’s leading VIP aircraft interior completion and refurbishment specialists. Aeria Luxury Interiors (Booth H229) of San Antonio, Texas, a subsidiary of ST Aerospace, a VIP completion center for Airbus and Boeing executive airliners, is displaying at its booth conceptual renderings prepared by its interior design team for Boeing narrowbody and widebody aircraft. Key management executives from Aeria and ST Aerospace, including Ron Soret, vice president and general manager of completions, are here to meet with current
and prospective customers. On the heels of its cabin refurbishment of a Boeing 767200, Aeria is preparing for its first BBJ green cabin completion, which will include a dedicated forward crew lounge, an efficiently equipped galley, dining suite, conference room, large resting lounge and master suite. A state-of-the-art digital entertainment system with multiple hi-definition screens will be installed for an “indulgent” theater experience on board, along with Inmarsat and Iridium satellite communications systems and high-speed Wi-Fi system. A humidification and zonal drying system will enhance passenger comfort. The aircraft is scheduled to arrive at Aeria in December, with completion anticipated by October 2015. Over the past two years Aeria has remodeled its 100,000sq-ft hangar and shop areas and offices to meet anticipated demand for completions and refurbishment. The company also recently acquired 3-D
printing capability for prototyping and proof-of-design concept, and to fabricate complex decorative pieces and nonstructural parts. This year it will create an additional 14,000 sq ft of space for a cabinetry and upholstery shop, as well as a standalone sales and interior design building. Comlux (Booth H718) concentrates its completions and refurbishment expertise at the Indianapolis headquarters of its Comlux America division. From there its Comlux Aviation Services subsidiary last year delivered an Airbus ACJ319 back to Malaysian operator Jet Premier One after completing heavy maintenance (including C4 and six-year checks) and a reworking of its VIP cabin. The aircraft, which is operated on behalf of the Malaysian government for head-of-state transportation, also was repainted
Aeria Luxury Interiors is here at ABACE presenting conceptual renderings of its designs for Boeing narrow- and widebody models, such as this for a BBJ (above). At right, an Airbus ACJ319 that was completed by Comlux, which handles completions and refurbishments at its expanded Comlux America facility in Indianapolis.
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externally and now features the national emblem. The cabin refurbishment work involved Comlux having to get a new supplemental type certificate to establish that the equipment installed complied fully with an EASA airworthiness directives covering burn issues. The whole project was completed on schedule and to agreed quality standards. “The aircraft is really impeccable,” said Capt. Norudin Abd. Majid. “I am particularly pleased with the upholstery and the finish on the woodwork accomplished by Comlux craftsmen in the VIP cabin. Despite challenges faced due to the complexity of the cabin rework, the overall project went extremely smoothly and the aircraft was delivered on time, reflecting Comlux’s spirit and commitment.” In February, Comlux received an order to handle the
completion of an ACJ320 aircraft that is due to arrive at the company’s new hangar in Indianapolis before the end of June. The widebody jet’s interior is being designed by the Switzerland-based group’s Comlux Creatives cabin design department. It will feature a forward lounge and master suite area, and just beyond this will be a dining room in which food prepared in one of two galleys can be served. The ACJ also will include a “business-class” area equipped with Swift Broadband satellite and wireless connectivity. The cabin will feature surroundsound speakers, mood lighting and an upgraded insulation package to reduce interior noise levels. Comlux has significant experience with completions and refurbishment work for both Airbus and Boeing models, as well as for smaller business aircraft, including Bombardier’s products. Flying Colours Corp. (Booth H606) of Ontario, Canada, which specializes in completions and refurbishments of Bombardier aircraft, is exhibiting here at ABACE for the third consecutive year. “We have a complete sales team in attendance as well as our Asian designers, and have numerous meetings already arranged,” said Sean Gillespie, executive v-p sales and marketing. Over the past three years Flying Colours has delivered numerous Challenger 850 completions to China under its preferred completion center agreement with Bombardier, and is currently involved
in green Challenger completions for several Asia-based clients, along with numerous refurbishments, including a Challenger 604 for a Chinese operator. “We also just recently completed a full pre-owned Challenger 850 completion for a Hong Kong-based client that included a complete carbonfiber interior, seats and divans finished in exotic leathers and fabrics, IFE upgrades and Wi-Fi Internet,” Gillespie said. The company’s CRJ ExecLiner conversion program, which converts a standard CRJ into VIP business jet, is also active in China, and the first conversion for a China-based client, which will include full CAAC certification of the ExecLiner interior and auxiliary fuel system is near completion. The 15-passenger interior will have three cabins, state-of-the-art IFE system, dual lavatories and a long-range fuel system. “We are also actively exploring joint ventures with Asian-based clients,” said Gillespie. The company recently announced a partnership with Bombardier to provide interior support and refurbishment at
the new Bombardier service center in Singapore, and is in the process of setting up and staffing the facility. Meanwhile, at its Peterborough, Ontario headquarters, Flying Colours last month opened a $2.5 million, 20,000-sq-ft hangar expansion, and this month is upgrading its paint facility with a $750,000 investment. Fokker Services (Booth P511) of the Netherlands, for example, demonstrates here in Shanghai that with more than 100 years of experience in the aviation industry, its VIP cabin completions and refurbishments are thoroughly up to date. Specializing in narrowbody executive airliners–the Airbus ACJ and Boeing BBJ families–Fokker is highlighting its recent completion of “the only A320 [ACJ] that can carry 26 passengers and be operated for commercial use,” said James Aspell, Fokker’s v-p technical services and aircraft completions and conversions. “To have this completion certified, the cabin of this aircraft had to be compliant with heatrelease requirements, something which we achieved in relatively short time frame thanks
China Expands Its Completions Skills Base Chinese companies are starting to move into the VIP aircraft completions and refurbishment market. For instance, next month Ameco Beijing is opening a new hangar dedicated to providing completions and maintenance for business aircraft. The new facility will be able to accommodate one widebody aircraft and three narrowbodies simultaneously and has interior workshops alongside it. According to Ameco Beijing (Booth H324), which is a joint venture between Air China and Lufthansa German Airlines, it has been handling VIP completions of Boeing and Airbus aircraft in China since the 1990s. It offers a comprehensive service covering all aspects of design, engineering, manufacturing, installation and certification of cabin interiors. China Aircraft Maintenance and Engineering Co. (Booth H705), the first private MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul) facility in China, is also highlighting its capabilities as the country’s first MRO provider to offer interior modifications and refurbishment for small and mid-size business jets. And Taikoo (Xiamen) Aircraft Engineering Co. (Booth H318), the only Airbus and Boeing-approved cabin completion center in Asia, can handle VIP projects from green completions to modifications and refurbishment, and offers conceptual design, procurement, cabinetry, upholstery, installation and certification services. –J.W.
China Aircraft Maintenance and Engineering Co., the country’s first MRO, offers interior modifications and refurbishments of small and mid-size business jets.
to employing our own compliance verification engineers and our close relationship with EASA and the FAA.” The company’s refurbishment capabilities include IFE (in-flight entertainment) and CMS (cabin management system) upgrades. Currently, Fokker is completing a green A319 ACJ, scheduled for delivery in first-quarter 2015. A sales representative from Fokker’s local China office is joining Aspell at the company’s booth, where attendees can view photos and movies of the company’s recent VIP cabin completions and design concepts, as well as take a visual tour of its facilities in Holland. Fokker’s four hangars can host up to five narrowbody and five regional aircraft, and one hangar will be extended this year to accommodate an additional narrowbody aircraft. Aspell invites owners, operators, designers and brokers who are “truly looking for European craftsmanship and quality supported by a reputable VIP completions and refurbishment company that’s easy to work with” to drop by or schedule an appointment. Italian-flavored Brands
Custom interior design and installation facility Delta Interiors (Booth P509) of Italy is displaying “Italian-flavored brands” here at ABACE, said Matteo Bulletti, the company’s general director. “We are happily surprised that Chinese customers are really liking our Italian design,” Bulletti told AIN. “We can provide a luxury interior, completely custom-made, and can assist the customer from A to Z.” Bulletti invites “aircraft owners who are looking for bespoken luxury interior, and maintenance managers looking for a reliable partner for their interior rework” to visit the company’s booth. He said that Delta has just signed a contract to provide the interior work for 16 aircraft for a Chinese OEM that he declined
Flying Colours of Canada specializes in completions and refurbishments of Bombardier aircraft such as this Challenger 850, which features a complete carbon-fiber interior.
to identify, deferring the announcement to the manufacturer. Delta has just equipped a new facility for production and finishing of these interiors. Hamburg-based Lufthansa Technik (Booth H614) comes to Shanghai with close to 100 VIP cabin completions to its credit, including recent green completions on an ACJ and BBJ2, and it’s currently completing three Boeing widebodies: two 747-8s and a 767. Company spokesperson Wolfgang Reinert noted the company also performs minor and major cabin refurbishments, in addition to providing a portfolio of VIP and executive jet services spanning the entire life cycle of VIP aircraft. “We’re a must visit for any VIP or corporate jet client and aircraft management company operating or planning to operate an Airbus or Boeing aircraft,” Reinert said. Joining Lufthansa Technik at the booth is U.S. subsidiary Bizjet International of Tulsa, Oklahoma, which is focused solely on narrowbody Airbus and Boeing VIP completions. A green BBJ the company completed for an undisclosed Chinese customer and delivered to Nanshan Jet is on view here at Boeing’s ABACE static display. “This is our first green BBJ completion delivered to China,
Lufthansa Technik is currently completing three widebody Boeing aircraft–two 747-8s and a 767; it also has on the drawing board a proposed design for a BBJ completion (seen above).
but the seventh overall completion to China,” said Brian Barber, Bizjet International’s v-p sales and marketing, noting the company has previously delivered refurbished BBJs and completed green ACJs for Chinese customers. “We want to showcase our knowledge of working with Chinese culture and Chinese aviation authorities and the CAAC,” he said. Bizjet International recently signed a completion contract for a BBJ2 and is in discussions with several Chinese customers for additional VIP completions, Barber said. The company is also highlighting the expansion of its facilities to meet expected demand for refurbishment of legacy BBJs and ACJs. “We’re at the beginning of the curve for the heavy checks and the lifecycle upgrades of these airplanes, so we need to have the capacity for VIP operators to have a place to take them,” he added. Customized Floatplanes and More
Primarily known as a seaplane float manufacturer, Wipaire (Booth P533) of South St. Paul, Minnesota, is showcasing its luxury custom interior configuration and finishings work for Cessna Caravan, Cessna Grand Caravan (including the EX) and Twin Otter aircraft. Wipaire’s Chinese distributor, Alfred Lau of Aviation Supplies Ltd., joins the staff at the booth, where attendees can see photos of recent interior work such as a custom Caravan interior with carpet, cabinets and seats, and a partial executive configuration for a new Twin Otter. The luxury interiors really stand out when paired with floats, which together allow one to travel to the remotest of locations in the utmost comfort.
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Cessna Citation XLS+ gains CAAC approval Cessna Aircraft, a division of Textron Aviation, received Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) certification on Monday for the Citation XLS+, clearing the way for deliveries in China. This upgraded version of the Excel/XLS series includes Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 avionics, two fadec-controlled Pratt & Whitney Canada PW545C engines, seven-knot faster maximum cruise speed, extended nose contour and expanded seat widths. “Bringing the Cessna Citation XLS+ to China means introducing this market to the most successful business jet ever produced,” said Bill Harris, Cessna vice president of sales for Asia and Asia Pacific. “Business owners consistently have chosen the Citation XLS+ more than any other aircraft in the light-midsize category for
its unparalleled combination of comfort, ease of operation and range of mission capabilities.” CAAC certification is another step toward beginning operations at Cessna-AVIC Aircraft Zhuhai Co. for final assembly and delivery of Citation XLS+s to customers in China. According to Bill Schultz, Textron Aviation senior vice president of China business development, much of the work to establish this joint venture has been completed and approval of the business license is expected from the Ministry of Commerce of China this summer. Schultz told AIN that CessnaAVIC plans to deliver the first XLS+ assembled at the Zhuhai facility to a Chinese customer in November at Airshow China, which is also being held in Zhuhai (Nov. 11-16). “As customers in China gain
Lux VIP cabins gain popularity
facility for its float and interiors manufacturing, and is adding cabinet-making capabilities to its in-house interior shop. The company also offers maintenance services as a Cessna single-engine and Caravan service center, a Quest authorized service center and a Viking factoryendorsed service center.
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“Anyone looking to offer a unique air taxi experience will definitely want to explore the option of floats, which are also available for a wide variety of smaller aircraft,” said a Wipaire spokesperson, identifying “air taxi operators, waterfront resorts, other businesses with water sources nearby, and wealthy people looking for convenient travel to remote locations or destinations with water access” as natural customers. Wipaire recently added an additional manufacturing
Narrow and Wide Bodies
Switzerland’s Jet Aviation (Booth P328) has performed more than 200 aircraft completions since its 1967 founding, and here at ABACE key personnel including Ruedi Kraft, v-p market development and completions sales, and Matthew
With approval from the CAAC, Cessna is a step closer to delivering Citation XLS+ aircraft here in China in parternship with AVIC.
interest in the light jet and midsize categories, Cessna provides enticing advantages as the demonstrated leader in these segments,” he added. “It is the right time to have proven products like the Citation XLS+ ready and available for the market. Our Woollaston, director completions sales and market development, are ready to discuss how the company can support customers in Asia. Jet Aviation recently signed a new completion contract for an ACJ A320, which will join completions for an Airbus A340 and Boeing BBJ, and other narrow- and widebody projects–several for Asia-based customers–currently under way at its Basel Completions Center. Jet Aviation Basel is also readying itself for Boeing 787 VVIP interior completions. The company’s “Timeless to Visionary” widebody cabin interior designs won the SBID 2013
Jet Aviation’s completions center in Basel, Switzerland, is currently handling completion projects for a variety of Airbus and Boeing narrow- and widebody aircraft, including several for Asia-based customers. It is preparing to handle 787 VVIP interior completions.
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relationship with China Aviation Industry General Aircraft Company (CAIGA) is about working together to identify the general aviation needs of the Chinese market and to provide Cessna products and solutions to meet those needs.”
DAVID McINTOSH
by Chad Trautvetter
At nearly 19 feet long and 68 inches high, the Citation XLS+ has the largest cabin in its class and can seat up to 12 passengers, according to Cessna. The twinjet has a top speed of 441 ktas and a range of more than 1,858 nautical miles. o
Wipaire’s luxury custom interior for float-equipped Cessna Caravans allows adventurous wealthy people to travel in comfort to remote locations such as waterfront
International Design Award in the Contract Visualization category, and attendees can see a video of these designs onscreen at the company’s booth. Jet Aviation has also been reducing cycle time for its completions, implementing new business practices and making investments in engineering, such as 3-D engineering capabilities, and production shops, including full systems integration in the cabinet shop. The company invites any attendees considering a completion or refurbishment project, or who are interested in maintenance, charter and aircraft management services, to visit its booth. Among other noteworthy cabin completion and
rebfurbishment experts here at ABACE: Hong Kongbased Asian Sky Group consultancy (Chalet 15), which has offices throughout China, offers completion management and interior definition and completion center selection among its services. Texas-based Aeristo (Booth P515) is showcasing its fine leathers and sheepskins–which meet FAA specifications–and seating comfort systems, all created for VIP aircraft interiors. PATS Aircraft Systems (Booth H410) of Delaware is showcasing its interior completions and refurbishment capabilities for narrowbody VIP executive airliners, as well as its airframe maintenance service. o
去年8月由哈尔滨安博威飞机工业有限公司组装 的首架莱格赛650大型喷气机完成了首飞。 The first Legacy 650 jet assembled in China by Harbin Embraer Aircraft Industry completed its maiden flight last August.
巴航工业公务机中国销量 Embraer sees fertile ground for executive jets in China 有望见涨 by Bill Carey
作者：Bill Carey 巴航工业公务机声称中国政府 已经做出许多努力，以塑造有利 于公务飞行的良好环境，但它也 指出中国公务飞行的市场增长仍 存在诸多阻力。 中国的航空基础设施就是其中 一大阻力。截止去年，中国共有 193家机场面向民用航空开放， 但是班机在管制空域内拥有优先 权，而且专业的空勤人员也很紧 缺，无法满足公务航空市场的需 求。中国高额的进口税限制了更 多公务机的引进。“为了应对这 些挑战，我们与客户、行业监管 机构、以及飞行训练市场的领军 者保持密切合作，以保障畅通的 市场准入渠道，”巴西航空工业 公司曾经如是回复AIN的询问。 自从巴西航空工业公司于 2004年向大中华区交付首架公 务机之后，迄今为止它已接到 35张 确 认 订 单 和 5张 选 择 权 订 单。巴西航空工业公司已交付 21架公务机，其中包括11架大 机 舱 莱 格 赛 650s、 6架 超 大 型 世袭1000s、3架超中型莱格赛 600s、1架飞鸿300轻型喷气机。 巴西航空工业公司声称它的旗 舰机型世袭1000在中国超大型 喷气机市场上占有15%的份额， 而莱格赛650在中国大型喷气机 市场上占有10%的份额。 在2月份的新加坡航展上，巴 西航空工业公司预测到2023年 亚太地区的公务机销量将达到 1530架，其中中国的销量将达到 805架（超过半数）。在这次航 展上，巴西航空工业公司在亚 洲地区首次展示了体型最大的喷 气机莱格赛1000E，该机航程达 4600海里，拥有霍尼韦尔Ovation
Select机舱管理系统、新的驾驶 舱备选项和新的外观设计。 哈尔滨工厂建造莱格赛650s 去年8月中国建造的首架莱格赛 650完成了首飞。哈尔滨安博威飞 机工业有限公司完成了这架飞机 的组装，该公司是巴西航空工业 公司和中国航空工业集团公司的 合资企业。巴西航空工业公司声 称该机已于今年1月递交给一个客 户。所有在哈尔滨组装的莱格赛 650s都将递交给中国客户。这家 哈尔滨合资工厂过去曾经一直生 产ERJ 145支线喷气机，2012年才 转而生产莱格赛650。 巴西航空工业公司表示对中国 公务航空行业的持续增长抱有信 心。“许多新机场正在建设中， 中国政府还将继续加大投资， 整合通用航空和商用航空，这种 趋势必将推进飞机业主数量的增 长并提升飞行运营的效能。我们 相信这方面的进展将为中国公 务机市场带来更为广阔的发展空 间，”巴西航空工业公司说。 o
The People’s Republic of China government has done much to make China more “executive aviation friendly,” according to Embraer Executive Jets. But obstacles remain to business aviation growth, said the Brazilian manufacturer. China’s aviation infrastructure is one obstacle. As of last year, there were 193 airports open for civil use. But airlines receive priority in controlled airspace. There is a shortage of professional staff and pilots to meet the needs of the business aviation market. The country’s high import tax restricts the introduction of more business jets. “To circumvent these challenges, we work in close collaboration with customers and regulatory authorities, as well as market leaders in training, to ensure a smooth entry into service,” Embraer said in response to an AIN query. Since Embraer delivered its first executive jet to the greater China region in 2004, it has booked 35 firm orders and five options. The manufacturer has delivered 21 of those business
Avjet to Open New FBO at Seoul’s Gimpo Airport Korea Airport Corp. (KAC) recently announced a deal with Avjet to build and manage an FBO at Seoul’s Gimpo Airport, close to the city center, with the aim of making it the country’s main business aviation hub. The main airport, Incheon, is some 30 miles from the city center. Construction of the new FBO started in February next to the Gimpo international terminal, and the plan is for it to open in October 2015. Avjet Asia has been awarded the contract to operate the FBO. KAC president and CEO Kim Seok-ki has worked closely with Avjet to finalize the arrangement. “President Kim’s insight, leadership and vision for growth of the Korean corporate aviation market makes Avjet Asia proud to be a partner in this process,” said Marc Foulkrod, chairman of Avjet. He added that business aviation in South Korea has been growing slowly over the past five years, with the largest business jet operator being Korean Air. The airline operates four Cessna Citation Vs and two CitationJet CJ1s– although all of them are used for training at the airline’s Jeongseok Airport on Jeju Island. It also has a Boeing Business Jet and a Bombardier Global Express XRS, which are operated by Korean Air Business Jet. –I.S.
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jets: 11 large-cabin Legacy 650s, six ultra-large Lineage 1000s, three supermidsize Legacy 600s and one Phenom 300 light jet. Embraer said its flagship Lineage 1000 represents 15 percent of China’s ultra-large jet fleet. The Legacy 650 meanwhile holds about 10 percent market share in the large jet category. At the Singapore Airshow in February, Embraer predicted that China would account for 805 (more than half) of the 1,530 business jet sales forecast for the Asia Pacific region through 2023. For the first time in Asia, it exhibited the new Lineage 1000E version of its largest jet, with extended range to 4,600 nm, an enhanced interior with Honeywell Ovation Select cabin management system, new cockpit options and a new external look. Harbin Factory Builds Legacy 650s
The first Legacy 650 built in China completed its maiden flight last August. Harbin Embraer Aircraft Industry, the joint venture between Embraer and Aviation Industry Corporation of China, assembled the jet, which was delivered to a customer in January, Embraer has said. All Legacy 650s assembled in Harbin will be delivered to customers in China. The Harbin factory used to build ERJ 145 regional jets; its conversion to the Legacy 650 was announced in 2012. Embraer expressed confidence that China’s business aviation segment will continue to grow. “New airports are being built, and the government continues to make investments in the integration of general aviation with commercial aviation, which will expedite the viability of aircraft ownership, and the efficiency of flight operations. We believe this progress will result in a broader market adoption of business jets,” the manufacturer said. o
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China improves ATM with help from partners by Bill Carey The rapid growth of China’s civil aviation sector has made air traffic management (ATM) efficiencies all the more important as the country strives to keep up with the demand for air travel. From 2005 to 2010, China invested 250 billion yuan ($41 billion) on civil aviation infrastructure, about the total amount it had spent in the previous 25 years, according to the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). As of 2010, there were 175 “transport airports,” including 16 with more than 10 million passengers, and 268 million total annual passengers. The agency managed six million takeoffs and landings. Last year, the CAAC reported that China had 193 civil airports, including 24 with more than 10 million passengers. Passenger traffic increased to 354 million. In its 12th five-year plan, issued in April 2011 and covering the period through 2015, the CAAC forecast 230 airports, 450 million passengers and 10.4 million takeoffs and landings. It expected the size of the GA fleet to expand rapidly. Having doubled from 2005 to 2010 to just over 1,000 aircraft, the fleet is forecast to double again to more than 2,000 aircraft by 2015. Squeeze on Capacity
China’s ambitious civil aviation growth plans are capacity-constrained, however. The CAAC notes that the country has insufficient available airspace, particularly on major routes and at large airports. The aviation infrastructure is inadequate to support the growth in operations. The capacity of large airports must be increased, and the capability of ATM facilities improved. Beijing Capital Airport, the main airport serving Beijing, ended 2012 as the world’s second busiest airport by total passenger movements after Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, according to the CAPA Center for Aviation. The next busiest airports in China are Guangzhou, Shanghai
Pudong, Shanghai Hongqiao, Chengdu and Shenzhen, said CAPA. Under the latest five-year plan, the CAAC said China’s ATC system would be centralized, with responsibility for eight high-altitude control regions–Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Xi’an, Chengdu, Shengyang, Urumqi and Sanya–and 27 middle- and low-airspace control regions. Airports with more than 100 daily flights will be classified as approach control regions. Civil and military air traffic management will be coordinated, and weather and information services are to be improved, according to the CAAC. “The air management automation system will be updated and enlarged,” states a copy of the plan. “There will be more system interconnection between high air management centers, middle- and lowair[space] management centers and terminal control centers.” In the plan, the CAAC promises to promote the GA segment. “We shall… enlarge [the] new business scope…to meet diversified needs of the market,” including the requirements of commuter, business, sightseeing and private aviation, the agency states. It will be the “perfect the environment for market operation, support and lead the development of general aviation enterprises and form [a] fee management system led by the market, which shall be advantageous for the development of general aviation.” Specifically, the CAAC said it will “nurture” three to five leading GA companies. Foreign Partners
China is taking on the challenge of improving and expanding its aviation system through its own resources and with help from foreign partners. Incorporating ATM approaches is an important part of the strategy. In 2008, the CAAC and its Air Traffic Management Bureau (ATMB) installed the first of four ground stations to support automatic dependent surveillancebroadcast (ADS-B) tracking of aircraft in
Preparing for expected traffic growth in the region, representatives of Airbus and the CAAC’s Air Traffic Management Bureau last year signed an agreement to cooperate on modernizing China’s ATM system.
28 ABACE Convention News • April 16, 2014 • www.ainonline.com
GE Aviation’s RNP to ILS procedure at Xi Chang Airport in south-central China (above) will save Air China Southwest up to 14 nm per approach versus the conventional ILS procedure. Also, GE’s work to extend RNP capability to the instrument landing system at China’s mountainous Jiuzhai Huanglong Airport (below) should greatly enhance safety and operational flexibility there.
the Sanya flight information region. The agency had installed eight total ADS-B ground stations by the end of 2012, and plans call for installing more than 200 stations nationwide “as the first phase,” the CAAC reported last October in an ADS-B working group paper for the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). In October 2009, the CAAC issued a performance-based navigation (PBN) implementation roadmap outlining targets for integrating PBN–which includes required navigation performance (RNP) and area navigation flight routes–with communication, navigation and surveillance/air traffic management (CNS/ATM) systems by 2025. The end state calls for PBN operations in all flight phases. The CAAC selected GE Aviation (Booth H118) to implement an RNP program at Jiuzhai Huanglong Airport in Sichuan province in 2011. The U.S. company, which has worked with Chinese airlines to design RNP flight paths since 2004, said the effort represented China’s first airport-sponsored RNP program. It called for GE to design precise approach and departure flight paths and vertical guidance for each of eight RNP-capable airlines that operate to Jiuzhai. GE supported RNP operations approval for the two launch carriers: Air China and China Eastern. The EU-China Civil Aviation Project (EUCCAP) technical assistance and cooperation program started in October 2010 and will conclude this October. It is a three-year, €3.7 million effort funded by the People’s Republic of China commerce ministry, the CAAC and the European Union. Its aim is to help China
build its aviation capacity by providing assistance and training in areas including airworthiness standards, rulemaking, aircraft incident/accident investigation, GA and ATM. “Beyond October 2014, there is a strong willingness from European industry players to continue synergies with China’s aviation industry, and this might be facilitated by the EU,” stated a July 2013 article in EURObiz, the journal of the EU chamber of commerce in China. “Although it is not yet clear what form any prospective cooperation may take, what is apparent is that the EUCCAP has laid strong foundations for any future cooperation.” Last September, the ATMB and Airbus’s ATM subsidiary Airbus ProSky signed a memorandum of understanding to cooperate on modernizing China’s ATM system. The agreement called for starting four projects right away: to develop air traffic flow management (ATFM) and airport collaborative decisionmaking (A-CDM) procedures, to design RNP authorization required (RNP AR) flight paths at Chengdu Airport and to improve instrument landing system performance at Beijing Capital Airport. “The four projects we have launched now pave the way for a broader cooperation between us and Airbus in the future,” said Wang Liya, ATMB director general. “The implementation of new ATM technologies is the key driver for the modernization of the ATM system in China. The cooperation will help us draw on the experience of other regions to develop our future ATM systems, which will be more integrated with global systems.” o
Dassault Falcon Jet is showing three aircraft on the ABACE static display here at ABACE: a 2000LX/S, 7X and a 900LX.
Dassault plans bigger Falcon bizjet family Although Dassault Falcon Jet’s current line of business jets satisfies the needs of buyers who want large, wide cabins, there is no Falcon Jet that flies as far as the ultra-long range Gulfstream G650 or upcoming Bombardier Global jets. But that should soon change, as the Falcon family is slated to see an announcement about a new member at EBACE in Geneva next month. “You will see that we are continuing to build the Falcon family and we’ll announce a new member with more range,” said John Rosanvallon, president and CEO of Dassault Falcon Jet. The largest Falcon jet, the flyby-wire, three-engine 7X, reached a milestone during the ABACE
show, with the rollout of the 250th 7X in Mérignac, France. This 7X will fly to Dassault Falcon’s completion center in Little Rock, Arkansas, in June and then be delivered to the buyer by the end of the year. Currently there are 216 7Xs in service in 34 countries. China Success
Dassault Falcon (Chalet 12) saw greatly improved sales in China last year, and 2014 is shaping up to be strong as well. Rosanvallon attributes the company’s success in China to its strong product support, marketing and customer service efforts. “In all areas of sales and marketing and customer service, we really invested heavily,” Rosanvallon said.
DAVID McINTOSH
by Matt Thurber
The customer service efforts are managed through Dassault Falcon’s Beijing subsidiary which represents the Falcon brand in China and is staffed by all Chinese-speaking employees. In Shanghai, the Dassault Falcon Services-Shanghai operation, in coordination with Shanghai Hawker Pacific, is now two years old and is staffed by Falcon-trained technicians. Two Falcon pilots are located in Beijing to support local operators with ferry flights, demo flights, jumpseat support and any other Falcon
flying issues. An operations manager in Beijing can assist with training local operators on aircraft dispatch, flight planning and aircraft performance monitoring functions. Plans are underway to add even more investment in Dassault Falcon’s customer support efforts in China, including increasing inventory to 3,000 parts valued at more than $13 million, which will triple the number of spares in China. This is scheduled for completion by this summer. o
5X Experience ABACE visitors can also view a Falcon 5X “cabin experience” at the French manufacturer’s chalet, to get a feel for the new jet, which will enter service in 2017. Priced at $47 million in 2014 dollars, the Snecma Silvercrest-powered 5X offers range of 5,200 nm carrying eight passengers at Mach 0.80. “We’re almost sold out of positions on the 5X for 2017 and 2018,” said John Rosanvallon, president and CEO of Dassault Falcon Jet. n
Honeywell takes the long view in Asia by Matt Thurber 10 years, according to Greer. “We’re still projecting that the large cabin jets are going to be 50 to 55 percent by numbers and 80 to 85 percent of dollars,” he said. In the satellite communications arena, Honeywell’s selection as the exclusive provider of hardware for Inmarsat’s GX Aviation high-speed Ka-band satcom for the BGA market will impact the company’s AsiaPacific customers beginning
DAVID McINTOSH
Honeywell provides its PlaneView flight-deck for the Gulfstream G550.
certified by the CAAC last year and represents the first new airframe for that engine in many years. Honeywell is also working with CAIGA on its concept for a midsize business jet and with Comac on the C919 airliner. Honeywell’s 22nd annual business aviation forecast projects deliveries of 600 to 1,000 new jets in China in the next
in 2015, when the three-satellite constellation begins service. GX Aviation offers download speeds to the aircraft of up to 50 Mbps. As well as cabins, cockpits will also take advantage of GX Aviation’s high-speed connectivity, for example, by allowing pilots to transmit information about maintenance problems to their
operations departments, speeding up repairs. “That’s going to make a big difference on reliability,” he said. “The whole connected aircraft [feature] is a big deal in both the front and back of the airplane.” Another Ka-band benefit, due to the lower cost of data transmission, will be new applications in real-time flight tracking. In May, ICAO is holding a special meeting of state and industry experts on the global tracking of airline flights. “We have the technology now,” Greer explained, “but it’s just a matter of having bandwidth at the right price.” At its ABACE 2014 booth (P310) Honeywell is also highlighting the Ovation Select cabin management system, which offers high-definition video and the ability to connect to Honeywell satcom systems for passenger Internet access and telephone calls. Honeywell’s combined vision system is also featured and marries enhanced vision with Honeywell’s SmartView synthetic vision system to provide pilots a clear view of the runway on the primary flight display during approaches in inclement weather. “This is the second largest economy in the world,” Greer concluded, “with 1.3 billion people and only 1,000 general aviation aircraft. They’re really starting from scratch” o
great hall of abace The opening day at ABACE saw visitors flocking to see the wares of 187 exhibitors from around the world–73 of which are from Asia.
DAVID McINTOSH
Honeywell’s long-term investments in the Asian marketplace are paying off, according to Briand Greer, the Shanghai-based president of Asia Pacific for aerospace. “This is a big show for us with what’s happening with business and general aviation (BGA) in the region,” he said. Key Honeywell BGA programs in China include the LTS101 engine for Avicopter’s AC311 helicopter, which was
www.ainonline.com • April 16, 2014 • ABACE Convention News 29
Avinode seeks to bridge charter data gap in China
Aircraft
by James Wynbrandt Requests for charter flight price quotes, a bellwether of business aviation activity, have been growing in China by more than 20 percent annually over the past three years, according to data released on the eve of ABACE 2014 by Avinode (Booth H430). Quote requests sent through the Swedish company’s online charter marketplace for flights to and from China, Hong Kong and Taiwan grew from 9,701 in 2011 to 11,684 in 2012 (up around 20.5 percent), and to 14,369 in 2013 (up around 23 percent). But the data and analysis provider is the first to put an asterisk beside these
figures, due to the relatively low volume of inquiries in this developing market, along with a lack of data about actual charter flights that subsequently occurred. “We’re not able to draw any conclusions about whether the market is increasing or decreasing,” said Magnus Henriksson, Avinode business unit manager. Part of Avinode’s mission here at ABACE 2014 is to overcome that data gap by meeting with “as many buyers in the market as we can” and explaining why they should use Avinode’s charter booking portal, said Gustav Andreasen, the company’s regional representative. “We know [charter] operators in the region and have good relationships with them. Now we need to find buyers, brokers and travel agents, people who are booking with operators.” Avinode’s platform allows operators to list their aircraft and availability, and brokers to source lift, negotiate deals and book aircraft, all in real time. In more developed markets, comparing online booking activity with actual flight data from Eurocontrol, the Federal Aviation Administration and other sources enables Avinode to offer a host of data analysis and forecasting services. For example, the data can help operators to decide where to base aircraft to maximize potential bookings, or the type of aircraft to add to their fleets to take advantage of market demand. Yet despite evidence of business aviation’s growth in China, air charter has been slow to take off, hampered by an unwillingness among many owners to permit their aircraft to be used by “strangers,” and a lack of familiarity with this access model among potential customers with the need and the financial means to charter business aircraft. “From what we have seen, a lot of aircraft are coming into the region, but not a lot are going out to the charter market,”
Top Arrival Airports Per request and aircraft category
Light Jet City/Airport
Airport code
% of all requests
Beijing/Capital
ZBAA
19.8%
Shanghai/Hongqiao
ZSSS
13.4%
Shanghai/Pudong
ZSPD
10.6%
Guangzhou (Canton)/ New Guangzhou Baiyun Int’l
ZGGG
8.3%
Sanya/Fenghuang
ZJSY
6.9%
Changsha/Huanghua
ZGHA
4.6%
Pyongyang/Sunan Int’l
ZKPY
4.1%
Xian/Xianyang
ZLXY
4.1%
Haikou/Meilan
ZJHK
3.7%
Zhengzhou/Xinzheng
ZHCC
3.2%
Beijing/Capital
ZBAA
21.1%
Shanghai/Hongqiao
ZSSS
9.0%
Shanghai/Pudong
ZSPD
8.8%
Chengdu/Shuangliu
ZUUU
8.1%
Ulaanbaatar/Chinggiss Khaan
ZMUB
7.6%
Sanya/Fenghuang
ZJSY
6.3%
Guangzhou (Canton)/ New Guangzhou Baiyun Int’l
ZGGG
6.2%
Pyongyang/Sunan Int’l
ZKPY
4.0%
Changsha/Huanghua
ZGHA
3.0%
Shijiazhuang/Zhengding
ZBSJ
2.5%
Haikou/Meilan
ZJHK
2.5%
Beijing/Capital
ZBAA
33.0%
Ulaanbaatar/Chinggiss Khaan
ZMUB
8.9%
Xijiao/Manzhouli
ZBMZ
8.4%
Sanya/Fenghuang
ZJSY
7.5%
Shanghai/Hongqiao
ZSSS
5.8%
Shanghai/Pudong
ZSPD
4.3%
Guangzhou (Canton)/ New Guangzhou Baiyun Int’l
ZGGG
4.3%
Chengdu/Shuangliu
ZUUU
4.1%
Pyongyang/Sunan Int’l
ZKPY
2.2%
Dalandzadgad/Dalanzadgad
ZMDZ
1.6%
Mid-size Jet
(Excluding domestic; including Hong Kong and Taiwan)
Total Number of Requests: 7,689
Percent of Total Requests 2013
Percent of Total Requests 2012
Global 5000
672
8.74%
7.5%
Falcon 7X
560
7.28%
6.9%
Gulfstream G550
531
6.91%
7.3%
Challenger 605
530
6.89%
7.8%
Challenger 604
479
6.23%
5.7%
Gulfstream V
476
6.19%
4.8%
Global Express XRS
441
5.74%
5.8%
Global Express
439
5.71%
7.4%
Gulfstream G200
353
4.59%
4.1%
Falcon 2000LX
275
3.58%
3.7%
said Andreasen. But brokers and operators in China have ample reason to work with Avinode nonetheless, he added. For example, if charter operators list their fleets on the Avinode site, “when U.S. and European brokers are looking for lift in China, and they type in ‘Hong Kong to Beijing,’ your aircraft will pop up and provide exposure for your company.” Online in Chinese
At its booth here this year the company is offering its demonstrate its system in Chinese, “so the operator new to Avinode will be able to sit down and understand it in their native language,” said Andreasen. In August the company introduced enhancements to its charter-pricing tool, incorporating landing and overnight fees, seasonal pricing and aircraft performance profiles, making it easier to develop accurate charter price quotes. While the data-driven company declines to make forecasts based on the statistics at hand, the information is insightful in its own right. The nuggets include: • For the past three years, the Gulfstream G200 and Challenger 605 have held the number-one and number-two spots as most in-demand aircraft for charter flights within China, accounting for about one third of all quote requests. Doubtless this says as much about what aircraft are available in the
market as it does about customer preferences, and, • Favored aircraft for international charter flights into China, Hong Kong and Taiwan show much more diversity. Last year Bombardier’s Global 5000 held the top spot for quote requests for such flights, while the Challenger 605 took the number-one position in 2012, and the Gulfstream G550 in 2011. Avinode’s data also reveals that Hong Kong International, Beijing Capital and Shanghai’s Hongqiao airports accounted for the overwhelming majority of quote requests for charter flights over the past three years, amounting for some 70 percent of all departure and 60 percent of all arrival quote inquiries. As for where charter customers may be traveling, Beijing Capital to Hong Kong International, and Sanya Fenghuang to Hong Kong International, have been the number-one and number-two most popular routes by quote requests for the past three years running. How long will it be before Avinode can collect the information it needs to make predictions about where the China business aviation market is headed? That’s another forecast the numbers-oriented company is reluctant to make. “First we need to get them into the charter market,” concluded Andreasen. “Then we can really get some data.” o
Global Popularity
DAVID McINTOSH
Heavy Jet
The most popular arrival airports in China by aircraft category based on requests sent. Please note that only the arrival airport of the first leg in a multiple-leg trip is considered.
Most Popular Aircraft Types based on requests for international flights to China
30 ABACE Convention News • April 16, 2014 • www.ainonline.com
Charter operators requested the long-range Bombardier Global-family aircraft for flights in Asia more than any other business jet in 2013, according to data compiled by Avinode. The company also reported here at ABACE 2014 that the number of aircraft in the region available for charter in the Avinode Marketplace grew by 50 percent between the first quarters of 2012 and 2013, a tenfold increase over the 5 percent growth seen the prior year. n
7X
200
7X
250,000
7X
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