MEBA Convention News
PUBLICATIONS Thursday 12.13.12 DUBAI
®
Vol. 45 No. 35
DAVID McINTOSH
www.ainonline.com
MEBA 2012 attracted more than 7,000 visitors who perused business aviation pleasures– such as this popular Gulfstream G550.
MEBA scores successes at new bizav-friendly site
grow to 1,300 by 2020, up from today’s 500. “Quite simply,” he said, “there is a huge growth potential here.” Record Attendance
hall and flanked by major companies’ chalets. Although the plan was to hold the MEBA show inside a purpose-built exhibition hall, that building is still under construction so the show took over the new terminal building at Al Maktoum International Airport at Dubai World Central. The 2014 show will be in the new facility, as will next year’s Dubai Air Show. While the shape of the Al Maktoum terminal made for an unusual layout for exhibitors, the result was a favorable flow of
north African countries. Thus far in 2012, MEBAA has added 25 new members, reaching a total of 195 during this year’s MEBA show–the organization’s fifth–which ends today. The regional business aviation market is currently worth
$493 million and is expected to reach the $1 billion mark by 2018, according to Ali Ahmed Al Naqbi, founding chairman of MEBAA. Regional business aviation traffic climbed 12 percent during 2012, and he expects the fleet of business aircraft to
MEBA 2012 opened its doors on Tuesday with a record number of preregistered attendees, more than 7,000, and MEBAA expects that number to be easily exceeded by the time the show ends. There were 34 aircraft on the static display, conveniently located on the ramp just outside doors at the end of the exhibit
FBOs
Avionics
Product Support
Maintenance
Special Missions
Jetex Plans Aggressive Expansion
Ovation Select Installed on BBJ3
Bombardier Dubai Parts Depot
Nigerian FBO Broadens Capability
King Air Is King on a Mission
Dubai-based Jetex, which launched in 2005 at the Dubai Airshow, expects to triple its FBO holdings by opening four facilities in 2013, including one here at Dubai World Central’s Al Maktoum International Airport. Page 4
Shortly after receiving EASA approval, Honeywell’s Ovation Select cabin management system has been installed by Jet Aviation Basel in a BBJ3, the first such installation in the Boeing bizliner model for a customer in the ME region. Page 10
The recently opened Bombardier parts warehouse in the Jebel Ali Free Zone has boosted spare parts availability in the region. More than 6,900 parts are now housed in the depot, supporting operators in Europe, Africa and Middle East. Page 13
Lagos-based FBO Evergreen Apple Nigeria has expanded its maintenance operations through its relationship with EASA-certified Maintenance Center Malta, as well as its recent designation as an approved facility by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority. Page 18
The King Air’s good endurance, configuration, ample cabin and operating economics have made the twin turboprop a popular choice for special missions, including maritime tasks such as oil-spill detection and anti-piracy patrols. Page 20
by Matt Thurber In just a little more than six years since its founding, the Middle East Business Aviation Association (MEBAA) has grown from a small regional organization to an influential shaper of business aviation’s future in 23 Middle East and
Continued on page 4 u
FRANK GEHRY
GLOBAL CREATIVITY Few creative artists become legends in their own time. Among the exceptions is architect Frank Gehry, whose freeform masterpieces mark the globe. Without overstatement, his buildings have become as renowned as the people, performers and collections within. As enduring as Gehry’s architectural legacy are the medical advancements made by the Hereditary Disease Foundation. His participation as a leading board member has helped the organization raise over fifty million dollars to support pioneering genetic research. In appreciation of Frank Gehry’s boundless creativity, Bombardier is proud to contribute to the Hereditary Disease Foundation.
I AM GLOBAL Introducing the Bombardier Global aircraft family With inspired creativity, Bombardier engineers have crafted the Global aircraft cabin to make possible more comfortable configurations and incorporate more accommodating technologies. Intelligently purposed to balance productivity and leisure, every interior is carefully configured to each owner’s personal vision without compromise to the aircraft’s performance.
MORE ADVANCED
MORE COMFORT
MORE FREEDOM
Be Global. To learn more about the Hereditary Disease Foundation and to make a donation, visit www.IAmGlobal.Bombardier.com
Bombardier, Global and I AM GLOBAL are trademarks of Bombardier Inc. or its subsidiaries. © 2012 Bombardier Inc. All rights reserved.
MORE RESPONSIBLE
having launched at the 2005 Dubai Airshow, it revealed that four more FBOs are in the pipeline–including one here at Dubai World Central (DWC) to be built next year. Jetex has already been growing fast. After providing only handling services in
MEBA scores success at DWC uContinued from page 1
visitors, with people funneling past the stands in what seemed like a steady stream. At the UTC Aerospace Systems stand, business development specialist Mark Hulan said the company had a great location. “We like the layout and the flow of traffic,” he said. “We’re really happy with that.” “It’s been good,” said Nael Chehab, operations and sales manager for Executive Aircraft Services. “We like the new venue, and there’s been a concentration of people who we want to see.” The only somewhat universal complaint about MEBA 2012 was the site’s distance
from downtown Dubai. As the airport and its surroundings grow, local amenities should fill in some of the sandy desert surrounding Dubai World Central and visitors might not have to drive to hotels in downtown Dubai. Al Naqbi took advantage of the MEBA show to reach out to MEBAA members and potential members, and during conference sessions he urged the regional business aviation community to communicate with MEBAA. “Please tell us about the problems you are facing,” he said. One of MEBAA’s key issues, he added, is drafting a uniform set of business aviation policies and procedures that the 23 regional countries could agree on. “I’m very optimistic,” Al Naqbi concluded. o
4 MEBA Convention News • December 13, 2012 • www.ainonline.com
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EurOPEAN ADVErtISINg OFFICE: Daniel Solnica 78, rue de Richelieu, Paris, France Tel: 33-1-42-46-95-71 Fax: 33-1-42-46-85-08 dsolnica@club-internet.fr ruSSIAN ADVErtISINg OFFICE: Yuri Laskin, Gen. Dir., Laguk Co. Ltd. Russia, 115172, Moscow Krasnokholmskaya Nab., 11/15 - 132 Tel: +7-05-912-1346, 911-2762; Fax: +7-095-912-1260 ylarm-lml@mtu-net.ru tHE CONVENtION NEWS COMPANy, INC. – AIN PuBlICAtIONS PrESIDENt – Wilson S. Leach EXECutIVE VICE PrESIDENt – John F. McCarthy, Jr. VICE PrESIDENt OF OPErAtIONS – R. Randall Padfield trEASurEr – Jane L. Webb SECrEtAry – Jennifer L. English
DAVID McINTOSH
If you were wondering what this unusual sculpture of street signs is doing on the static ramp at MEBA 2012, wonder no longer. Created by local artist Brad Downey and entitled “The B in Brad II,” the piece is part of TAG Aviation’s art display here at the show, which was curated by Dubai’s Cuadro Gallery, in association with Artliner Art & Aviation. Some half-dozen other works of art are being displayed inside the TAG Aviation chalet (A1, A15). All of these pieces are for sale. While you’ll probably have trouble finding a business jet with a big enough entry door and cabin interior to carry the sculpture home for you, there are certainly plenty of cargo airplanes that frequent Al Maktoum International that could take it (an Il-76 perhaps?). –C.T.
Convention News
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Jetex Flight Support president and CEO, Adel Mardini, hopes to open an FBO here at Dubai World Central by the end of next year. He also plans to open three more FBOs in 2013–two in Europe and one in the Far East.
its first three years, the company jumped into the FBO business by acquiring the former Flying Group facility at Paris Le Bourget Airport (in February 2009). Last November, the company established a joint venture with Westair to operate an FBO at Shannon Airport in Ireland. Both facilities are prime locations for business aircraft handling in Europe, with the Paris FBO logging more than 9,000 annual movements in the past year alone, Jetex president and CEO Adel Mardini told AIN here at MEBA 2012. But apparently that was just the beginning. According to Mardini, next year Jetex (Stand 400) plans to open FBOs at DWC’s Al Maktoum International Airport, as well as two new locations in Europe and one in the Far East (Mardini would not elaborate further on the exact locations). Regarding the facility here at DWC, Mardini said Jetex had signed a memorandum of understanding and is in final negotiations for a long-term lease on a facility in the “aviation district,” a 6.7-sq-km plot of land on the southwest corner of the airfield that will house various business jet FBOs, hangars and MROs, as well as the new Dubai Airshow facility
MEBA
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DAVID McINTOSH
Jetex Flight Support, which provides business aircraft handling services around the world and operates two FBOs in Europe, is planning an aggressive growth strategy that could see its FBO holdings triple over the next year. As the Dubai-based company celebrates its seventh anniversary,
market in the world. “Jetex is making steps to be closer to the U.S. market,” Mardini told AIN. “U.S. aircraft operators need assistance for international trip planning, and we are the natural choice for this in the Middle East, since we are very familiar with the rules and culture in this region.” Closer to home, the company is expanding its footprint in Africa, having opened an office in June at Ethiopia’s Addis Ababa Airport, which Jetex calls “a gateway to Africa.” It also offers full aircraft fueling (including arranging for cash payment of fuel in local currencies), ground handling and flight planning services throughout this emerging continent. o
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by Chad Trautvetter
(currently under construction) where future MEBA conventions will also be held. The new Emirates Flight Academy will also be located in this district. Jetex hopes to open its FBO at Al Maktoum Airport by the end of next year, Mardini said. Meanwhile, Jetex is also laying plans to expand in the Americas. In October, it started supplying fuel to international operators in domestic airports in Brazil, and next year Jetex plans to do the same in Mexico and Columbia. The company also exhibited for the first time in the U.S. at the recently held NBAA Convention in Orlando, Florida, hoping to make inroads into the largest business aviation
C
Al Maktoum FBO is in Jetex’s growth plans
MEBA Convention News is a publication of The Convention News Co., Inc., 214 Franklin Ave., Midland Park, NJ 07432; Tel.: (201) 444-5075. Copyright © 2012. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission of The Convention News Co., Inc. is strictly prohibited. The Convention News Co., Inc. also publishes Aviation International News, AINalerts, AIN Defense Perspective, AIN Air Transport Perspective, AINmx Reports, AINsafety, Business Jet Traveler, ABACE Convention News, EBACE Convention News, HAI Convention News, MEBA Convention News, NBAA Convention News, Dubai Airshow News, Paris Airshow News, Singapore Airshow News. Printed in Dubai by Emirates Printing Press Computer Services: SmartAV UK Ltd.
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by Jen Tye and Matt Thurber In just two-and-a-half years, Apple has sold more than 100 million iPad tablet computers. Airline and business jet pilots were early adopters of iPad technology, which offers powerful electronic flight bag (EFB) applications that help with preflight preparation, in-flight navigation and display of charts and flight manuals. While airline passengers use iPads for pleasure and work, business jet travelers can take advantage of a variety of iPad apps tuned specifically for the airplanes they are flying. In business aviation, clients are able to use their iPads to enhance their flying experience. Many manufacturers have developed apps that let passengers control window shades, climate, lights and other systems. Gulfstream has created an app called Cabin Control for its new jets and also offers the PlaneBook app for pilots. Some new iPad apps allow passengers to play iTunes content (movies, music, books and so forth) on monitors and speakers in the cabin. Other apps interact with 3-D moving-map systems, such as Rockwell Collins’s Airshow system or Honeywell’s Ovation Select, so passengers can view mapping data on their iPads. Jeppesen, a unit of Boeing, offers an EFB-type app called Mobile FliteDeck, which replaces the 40 pounds of paper charts that pilots typically must bring along.
Studies undertaken by Jeppesen showed that iPad EFB users indicated improvements in situational awareness and that workload in the cockpit decreased. “The iPad has been a game changer for EFBs in the business aviation market,” said Rick Ellerbrock, Jeppesen’s director for aviation strategy. “The vast majority of our corporate jet customers are either deployed already with mobile technology, in formal evaluation programs, or are seriously considering it for the future. A high percentage of EFB authorizations we have seen in the last two years have been on the iPad.” Recently, Airbus developed an iPad EFB solution for the Airbus Corporate Jet. Data from the Airbus Flight Smart System can be integrated into the EFB, using real-time parameters, and even providing load and trim sheet calculations. Flight manuals can also be added into the iPad EFB as can be detailed aircraft systems diagrams. Embraer offers the eTechPubs iPad application for the Phenoms and Legacy jets. “With this new app, Phenom and Legacy operators will have readily available in the palms of their hands all the information they need to operate and service aircraft,” said Edson Carlos Mallaco, vice president, customer support and services, Embraer Executive Jets. “This and other apps we are developing
are part of our strategy to support a paperless cockpit by putting support solutions on tablets and other mobile devices.” As part of their subscription, operators with a valid technical manual revision service can use the eTechPubs app to download all technical manuals to a single iPad. Additional features include links that allow easy communication of comments to Embraer. Cessna’s CPCalc is an excellent example of the iPad’s capability for calculating takeoff and landing performance for Citation jets. CLCalc is used for weight-and-balance calculations. Both apps make preflight planning far simpler and subject to far less error. Satcom Direct (Stand 140), a satellite communications service provider, recently launched the FlightDeck 360 iPad app, which provides pilots access to airborne datalink communications and real-time flight data. A key benefit of FlightDeck 360 is that operators can use their satcom Internet connection to gain datalink functionality, without needing or having to install a flight management system. According to Satcom direct, FlightDeck 360 users can “access messages in flight, predeparture clearances, oceanic clearance, flight plans and support documents before powering up the aircraft.” While in flight, the app integrates with other apps, such as ForeFlight Mobile, so pilots can view weather information. The app is free for Satcom Direct FlightDeck Freedom customers, or it can be purchased for operators who don’t subscribe to FlightDeck Freedom.
Lou Martin’s one-stop interiors shop
Jeppesen’s Mobile FliteDeck app replaces 40 pounds of paper charts and helps users improve situational awareness while decreasing the workload in the cockpit.
Saudia Private Aviation (Chalet A10) has released its own Inflight Entertainment System (IFE) app for the iPad. This demonstrates the flexibility of the Apple mobile device environment, making it relatively easy for companies to customize apps to suit their clients. The Saudia Private Aviation app provides not only information about the company and its fleet, but also useful features for passengers. These include the Holy Quran, traveling dua (Islamic prayers to read before traveling– Ed.), passenger safety cards for the Falcon 7X and Hawker 400XP, a choice of daily newspapers, video and audio entertainment, games, distance calculator, flight requests and client feedback. The app can be used in Arabic and English. The Arinc Direct (Stand 387) iPad flight-planning app is also aimed at eliminating cockpit paperwork. The app provides full access to Arinc’s flight- and tripplanning services, including the ability to recalculate a flight plan; view weather information; access
runway analysis calculations; view airport diagrams, procedures and en route and approach charts; and overlay weather charts and flight plans onto en route charts. Handling service provider Colt International offers access to its services via an iPad app. Demonstrations of the Colt app are available at the company’s MEBA stand (111). Universal Weather and Aviation (Stand 380) provides access to all of its services via mobile apps that work with a variety of smartphones and tablets. Fuel distributor Avfuel (Stand 580) has long had an iPad app (FBO Locator) with information on all of its participating fuel dealers. For viewing airport, handling service and FBO information at global airports, Penton Media (Stand 606) offers the Ac-U-Kwik Worldwide app (for $39.95). For all the latest news, of course, download the AINonline iPhone app, which includes the latest MEBA show news, exhibitor directory, schedule and maps. o
ACJ319 sports Venue CMS and high-def entertainment
DAVID McINTOSH
Lou Martin & Associates (Stand 571) makes more than the iconic window shades that have long been associated with the San Antonio, Texas-based company. Here at the MEBA show, the company is introducing new composite flat panels, made by sister company Technical Composites. The panels are available in a variety of core and skin material types. Also at its MEBA stand, Lou Martin is demonstrating the E-3 window shade assembly, which combines an electronic, dimmable lens with a pleated shade. For completion centers and
MATT THURBER
iPads ratchet-up status in business aviation apps
aircraft owners, Lou Martin offers one-stop engineering services to help clients with planning through installation of aircraft interiors. –M.T.
Lou Martin, president of Lou Martin Associates, is at MEBA demonstrating new composite panels and the E-3 window shade assembly (above), which combines an electronic, dimmable lens with a pleated shade.
6 MEBA Convention News • December 13, 2012 • www.ainonline.com
Jet Aviation Basel (Stand 590) recently completed and delivered an Airbus ACJ319 with Rockwell Collins’s Venue cabin management system (CMS) and high-definition entertainment system. The Venue system replicates the home entertainment experience, according to Rockwell Collins, including on-demand delivery of Blu-ray movies displayed on high-definition monitors along with digital audio. The CMS also includes the Rockwell Collins Airshow 3-D moving-map system. The open architecture of Venue allows for easy installation of new features, some of which include the new Rockwell
Collins Skybox, which facilitates onboard playing of Apple iTunes content. The latest Rockwell Collins in-flight entertainment (IFE) products can be seen at the company’s exhibit here at MEBA 2012 (Stand 586). “Venue has proved to be an excellent IFE solution for a complex completions project,” said Neil Boyle, vice president, completions center at Jet Aviation Basel. “We have been impressed with Rockwell Collins’s project management and strict adherence to schedule.” –M.T.
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The Global 7000 and Global 8000 aircraft program is currently in the development phase and as such is subject to changes. All specifications and data remain approximate, may change without notice and are subject to certain operating rules, assumptions and other conditions. Bombardier, Challenger, Global, Global 7000 and Global 8000 are trademarks of Bombardier Inc. or its subsidiaries. © 2012 Bombardier Inc. All rights reserved.
Jet Aviation’s new FBO open for biz at DWC
The fuTure of Dubai WorlD CenTral is in his hanDs Hassan Al Shaikh, Dubai World Central (DWC) sales executive, uses an iPad to control the interactive display of Al Maktoum International Airport at the DWC stand (650). The airport is the centerpiece of the 30-year DWC phased-construction project, a master-planned aerotropolis being developed by the government of Dubai. With the iPad interface, all areas and phases of the development can be shown, the images created by two projectors. DWC’s “Aviation District” covers 6.7 sq km, a
space that includes the currently under-construction Dubai Air Show/MEBA site. Future plans for other areas at the airport call for construction of a main terminal (depicted in the center), additional runways, and expansion of the logistics/cargo-handling area to accommodate planned sea-to-road-to-air cargo movement. DWC’s vast expanse will also include an industrial district and luxury residential area. Staffers at the DWC stand use the iPad to give visitors a pern sonalized glimpse of the future.
Royal Jet medevac duty sees considerable growth by David Donald Royal Jet will celebrate its tenth anniversary next May, and the company is reporting significant growth and its busiest year so far. Last year Royal Jet operated 3,135 flights to 370 cities in 136 countries, and this year already is set to exceed this figure. Revenues in the first quarter of 2012 were up 15 percent, while the company’s summer performance saw a 19-percent increase in flying hours over the same period in 2011. One area of the company’s activities that is showing considerable growth is medical evacuation. In that sector, 2011 was a record year for Royal Jet, but it has been
exceeded this year by 10 percent. In total, Royal Jet has flown more than 1,650 medevac missions. “Our medical evacuation service has earned a reputation for being dependable and trustworthy,” said president and CEO Shane O’Hare. “Our service goes well beyond providing air ambulances, medical teams and equipment. We provide medical escorts for patients traveling by commercial airline to ensure a seamless, expert bed-to-bed service. We arrange private road ambulance and helicopter transport and hospital appointments anywhere in the world, and organize travel on behalf of the patient’s family. Just
as we do with our luxury jet charters, we aim to offer our medevac clients a quality of service that is second to none.” For those duties, Royal Jet operates two dedicated medevac aircraft–a Gulfstream G300 and a Bombardier Learjet 60–while the six Boeing BBJs can also be drafted in, if required. Royal Jet is now looking at expanding its fleet of dedicated aircraft. The existing airplanes are equipped to a high standard, with intravenous infusion pumps, arterial blood-gas monitors, defibrillators, ventilators, oxygen and monitors for blood pressure and electrolytes. Royal Jet’s medical teams are highly trained to specialize in all forms of critical and emergency care, and anaesthesia. Together, Royal Jet’s aircraft and medical teams are always on standby to react to emergency medical situations across a wide range of conditions and regions. o NEXUS Pairs with MedAire
Royal Jet operates two dedicated medevac-equipped jets, sa Gulfstream G300 and Bombardier Learjet 60.
Travel safety and health provider MedAire has signed a memorandum of understanding with NEXUS Flight Operations Services, under which NEXUS will become the facilitator of MedAire services in the Middle East and Africa. NEXUS president and CEO Abdullah Al-Sayed said: “MedAire’s services [are] a necessity, not a luxury.” –J.W.
8 MEBA Convention News • December 13, 2012 • www.ainonline.com
Jet Aviation has opened a new FBO at Dubai World Central to take the pressure off its facility at Dubai International Airport (DXB), which at certain times of the day is unable to obtain slots for airplanes to land. Philippe Gerard, FBO director for Jet Aviation in Dubai, said yesterday that the new FBO opened last Friday and has already processed 200 crew and about 45 passengers. “We are looking to move 50 percent of our traffic from Dubai International to Dubai World Central, or 150 to 200 flights a month, when we become fully operational,” he said. “We will give passengers a choice between DXB and DWC. Those traveling to Atlantis, The Palm or Burj Al Arab will find
take only 15 to 20 minutes from DWC. At five o’clock in the afternoon, the drive to Burj Al Arab from DXB can take one hour,” he added. “DXB is very congested and getting worse every day. At rates of delivery, Emirates and flydubai need two more parking spaces every month. Jet Aviation’s FBO at DXB has five parking slots available.” The beauty of the new 2,000sq-m DWC facility is that it faces no parking restrictions at all. “It takes passengers five to ten minutes maximum to pass through immigration, police and customs,” said Gerard. He believes that MEBA 2012 has been crucial to clarifying the position of the government of Dubai on business aviation. For two years, business-jet
DAVID McINTOSH
DAVID McINTOSH
by Peter Shaw-Smith
regional refurbishmenT Mohammed Al Khouri (left), chairman of aircraft-refurbishment specialist First Emirates Aviation Group (FEAG), and Michael Rucker, senior vice president/general manager Jet Aviation Dubai (JAD, Stand 590), signed an agreement at MEBA 2012 yesterday to cooperate on aircraft refurbishments. Effective immediately, JAD will offer a full range of interior services out of FEAG’s refurbishment center in Abu Dhabi. The planned agreement was announced at EBACE 2012. FEAG holds local GCAA 145 approval and access to Part 21 approval. All refurbishment work will be performed n in adherence to JAD’s quality system.
our DWC facilities convenient and easily accessible. We can get slots at any time of day,” he said. Gerard thinks the choice they face is simple. “You need to decide whether to have the airplane holding [before landing] for 45 minutes or spend 25 minutes more in your car…there is a huge blockage on slots at 14-Zulu [1400 UTC] to 20-Zulu [2000 UTC] at DXB every day. High volumes there mean that aircraft face 30 to 45 minutes [delay] before being able to land. Even outside that period, landing is not easy,” he said. “Most [adjacent] destinations
operators in the emirate have complained about official obfuscation regarding the status of business aviation and where its final home would be. “In a sense, the MEBA show has made [business aviation’s move from DXB to DWC] official. Suddenly, [at MEBA] they opened everything up,” he explained. “The government has been extremely helpful. The dam has broken. The policy is not just ‘We are open for MEBA 2012.’ It is ‘We are open’.” Jet Aviation has FBOs in Saudi Arabia at Jeddah, Riyadh and Medina. o
Snecma outlines Silvercrest support plans
AT THE STANDS
Gleaming on the Safran display (Stand 357) is a mockup of the Snecma Silvercrest engine, which has been selected for the Cessna Citation Longitude super-midsize business jet. Displaying the model, which was first shown a few weeks ago at the NBAA convention in Orlando, Florida, emphasizes the fact that Silvercrest is now a program moving fast toward certification in 2015. Ground tests have already started (see MEBA Convention News, Tuesday) and the first flight trials on the right-hand nacelle of a specially modified Gulfstream II are scheduled to begin in the summer. Here at MEBA, Loïc Nicolas, Snecma’s general manager for the business aviation market, outlined some of the support infrastructure that is being planned for the Silvercrest. “Support is a key target for us,” he said. “We will have a maintenance customer support center in the U.S. and another one in Asia. A center in France will cover Europe and the Middle East.”
DAVID McINTOSH
by David Donald
Snecma’s Loïc Nicolas shows off the Silvercrest engine that is to power Cessna’s Citation Longitude. The engine clearly has numerous other potential business jet applications, but Nicolas won’t discuss the matter just yet. He will say only that “we continue to maintain the flow of information with other airframers.”
Establishing regional centers smoothes the support process by removing the distribution of parts over long distances, and by overcoming major time-zone differences. “We want to be totally integrated with the area where our customers will fly,” said Nicolas. For its initial application in the Longitude, Snecma will naturally partner with existing Cessna maintenance centers. Snecma is using sophisticated performance monitoring systems that allow
data to be downlinked to ground centers for computerized analysis. This technology is based on that developed for the CFM56 airliner engines that Snecma builds in a joint venture with GE. Nicolas sees a bright future for the Silvercrest engine. “We see that new aircraft are requiring more thrust and more range, in any category, and they also want higher cruise speeds,” he explained. “To achieve that they need new-generation engines with exceptionally low fuel consumption.” o
The Hyundai Motor Co. has selected Iacobucci HF (Stand 556) to provide seating for its new Boeing BBJ, just a few months after Iacobucci launched its new VIP seat business. With the support of Avjet, Comlux America will outfit the BBJ, the second of the type in Iacobucci’s orderbook. Boeing will deliver the bizliner to Comlux in the second quarter of next year and it should be completed within the year. Iacobucci HF created its new division as par t of a five-year industrial plan, with the aim of bringing a fresh Italian style to the seating business, backed up by the latest in technological innovations. The seating for the Hyundai BBJ will encompass a variety of styles, including single- and twin-pod seats with electromechanical actuation in the forward lounge and mechanically operated seats in the aft working section. The latter will feature 360-degree swivel, full-bed position, extended leg rest and tilting headrest capabilities. Comlux is installing a private office in the center of the cabin that can convert into a bedroom. Along with the seats, Iacobucci HF will also provide the galley inserts, for which it has become well known. These include coffee makers and an induction oven for cooking fresh food, the only such unit available in the aviation market, claimed the company. v
Experience individual services. At our FBOs in Geneva, Lugano and Munich. At RUAG FBOs we want our customers to feel most welcome at any time. Whatever you wish: feel free to ask. We will do anything to make you feel comfortable while your aircraft gets the most reliable service you can imagine. At our one-stopshops we undertake several maintenance service operations during one single downtime – adjusted to your personal schedule. Welcome to RUAG FBOs.
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RUAG Schweiz AG | RUAG Aviation Headquarters Business Aviation 1217 Meyrin Geneva | Switzerland Phone +41 22 710 44 34 info.businessaviation@ruag.com www.ruag.com/aviation
www.ainonline.com • December 13, 2012 • MEBA Convention News 9
A Falcon Aviation Services Bell 412 lofted the UAE national flag high above Abu Dhabi’s seaside Corniche on UAE National Day.
Bell 412 fêtes UAE National Day A Bell 412 helicopter played a key role in the December 2 celebration of the United Arab Emirates National Day, towing the world’s largest banner– the UAE national flag–along the seaside Corniche. The banner was visible from 20 kilometers as the Falcon Aviation Services helicopter towed the massive 4,600-sq-m flag. The celebration also included hot-air-balloon rides, aerobatic demonstrations and fireworks. Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifa Al-Nahyan, UAE president and Falcon Aviation founder, began the tradition of flying the record-breaking flag banner at National Day 2007, the
first time the world’s record was broken for flying the largest banner. “We are honored to be part of celebrating the UAE’s 41st National Day,” said Danny Maldonado, Bell executive vice
president of sales and marketing. “Towing the world’s largest aerial banner is one example of the dozens of missions the Bell 412 performs around the world thanks to its outstanding power and payload-carrying capability.” –M.T.
Workers prepped the 4,000-sq-m UAE national flag to be hoisted by a Bell 412 from Falcon Aviation Services’s fleet.
Jet Professionals announces partners in Far East Jet Professionals, the wholly owned staffing specialist and subsidiary of Jet Aviation, has announced two new ventures here at MEBA: strategic alliances with Future Stream Japan and with EDI-Staffbuilders in the Philippines. Earlier this year the company was selected to provide aviation staffing and consulting services to Dubai World Central, and last year it opened an office at Al Bateen Executive Airport in Abu Dhabi. In addition, the Abu Dhabi Airports Free Zone Authority has just issued it a professional trade license, allowing it to serve the Middle East and Asian markets from the UAE. Through the Future Stream
alliance, Jet Professionals (Stand 560) hopes to accelerate its introduction into the Japanese market, while the alliance with EDI-Staffbuilders is aimed primarily at providing employment opportunities for skilled Filipino aviation professionals. Jet Professionals also recognizes that aviation is something of a fluid marketplace, and provides services that cater to what it terms “outplacement,” when companies are forced to rebalance their workforces. It offers courses that range from career guidance and employee counseling to CV writing and interview techniques. These courses are currently offered in English, French, German, Italian and Spanish. –D.D.
10 MEBA Convention News • December 13, 2012 • www.ainonline.com
by Matt Thurber Honeywell (Stand 625) has received EASA certification of its Ovation Select cabin management system (CMS) for the Boeing BBJ and, in partnership with Jet Aviation, delivered the first system to a BBJ3 customer in the Middle East. Jet Aviation Basel (Stand 590) did the completion project on the BBJ3, including installation of a Honeywell MCS-7200 satellite communications system. “Through our close working partnership with Honeywell’s European project team,” said Neil Boyle, vice president of completions, Jet Aviation Basel, “we have been able to complete the EASA certification process of Ovation Select on time and provide our customer with one of the most advanced BBJ cabins in the world.” The Ovation Select installation with satcom provides access to in-cabin streaming of data to mobile devices and computers. Other Ovation Select features, all running on an Ethernet backbone, include JetMap HD, with a 3D high-definition moving map offering 14 perspectives and a terrain database with 15-meter-resolution satellite imagery; “crystal-clear surround sound” audio, Blu-ray video and digital communication
distribution in the cabin; display of real-time images from external aircraft cameras; and control of lighting, seats, temperature, window shades and galley calling from each seat. New APU Mx Plan
Honeywell also announced a new auxiliary power unit (APU) maintenance plan (AMP) for Boeing Business Jets. The AMP covers service and repair of Honeywell 131-9B APUs installed on Boeing 737-600 through -900 series models and BBJ-configured 737s. Providing coverage under a 60-month rolling contract, the AMP can be transferred to a new owner when the aircraft is sold. Coverage includes on-condition unscheduled heavy maintenance at service centers in the U.S., China, Germany and Singapore. AMP participants also get special rates for rental APUs and compliance with alert and recommended service bulletins. o AINonline iPhone App NOW AVAILABLE
tails tell the tale An eclectic lineup is a hallmark of business avaition shows, and the static display here at MEBA in Dubai the tall tails tell the tale of a Boeing BBJ, a 767 and an Airbus ACJ.
DAVID McINTOSH
PHOTOS COURTESY OF FALCON AVIATION SERVICES
Ovation Select certified; delivered for ME BBJ3
Hawker Beechcraft Corp. (HBC) took another step toward emerging from Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Tuesday when it received authorization from the bankruptcy court to sell its remaining inventory of Hawker 4000s. The Wichita, Kansasbased airframer is shutting down its business jet line and intends to sell 20 Hawker 4000s “for the best price possible, on an ‘asis-where-is’ basis, with no warranty or support commitments,” according to a HBC court filing. The court’s approval included a number of terms, among them requirements that HBC consult with the ad hoc committee of senior secured lenders and ad hoc committee of senior noteholders, and that all sales and transfers of the Hawker 4000 inventory be free and clear of liens. A large number of Hawker 4000 owners had earlier filed protests with the court, objecting
to a sale that might devalue aircraft now in service and to the company’s decision to do so without warranty or support commitments. Also on Tuesday, Judge Stuart Bernstein issued an order authorizing HBC to enter into the debtor-in-possession (DIP) amendment and approved it “in all respects.” The approval allows HBC to execute and deliver all documents and take any action necessary “to implement, effectuate and fully perform under and in accordance with the motion and this order, including payment of the DIP amendment fees and expenses.” JPMorgan in its December Aerospace and Defense: Balance of Power suggested, with regard to the HBC restructuring, “the acquisition of the company is still possible.” The financial services giant named Brazil’s Embraer, Cessna and
HBC: bizav grows in ME by James Wynbrandt The Middle East is continuing its trend in the growth of new aircraft deliveries, according to data released here at MEBA 2012 by Wichita-based aircraft manufacturer Hawker Beechcraft Corp. (HBC, Chalet A12), which says it is picking up a good proportion of new orders for turboprops. “We are well positioned to benefit from an increase in demand in the Middle East and
lead the turboprop category in the region with a market share of more than 70 percent for our King Airs,” said Scott Plumb, HBC vice president of sales, Europe, Middle East and Africa. Overall business aircraft deliveries in the region increased more than 130 percent between the 2002-2006 and 2007-2011 periods, according to the HBC data. In the latter period, 246 turbine aircraft were delivered
DAVID McINTOSH
by Kirby J. Harrison and Matt Thurber
Scott Plumb, Hawker Beechcraft v-p, jet sales, Europe, Middle East and Africa.
Bell Helicopter parent company Textron and Gulfstream Aerospace parent General Dynamics as companies that might benefit from such a deal. King Airs Good Choice for Shorter Trips
At the MEBA show, HBC’s plan to emerge from bankruptcy as a manufacturer of turboprop twins was evident on the static park. Three Beechcraft King Airs are on display, representing a core element of the company’s to the Middle East, versus 106 deliveries in the preceding five years. A total of 626 turbine business aircraft are currently based in the region, according to the airframer. Saudi Arabia accounts for 21 percent of the fleet, followed by the UAE with 17 percent. Aircraft deliveries to these countries increased, respectively, by 146 percent and 250 percent in the periods analyzed. HBC expects to gain from the continued growth, although the company is currently in bankruptcy and plans to sell or shutter its business jet division. (See related article above.) o
Growth of Middle East Business Aviation Markets 2006–06 to 2007–11 (Top Ten by Fleet Size)try Business aircraft fleet size
Number of deliveries 2002–06
Number of deliveries 2007–11
Change in deliveries 2002–06 to 2007–11
Saudi Arabia
134
24
59
146%
United Arab Emirates
106
14
49
250%
Israel
59
24
4
-83%
Egypt
38
8
17
113%
Iran
38
0
0
0%
Qatar
21
5
16
220%
Jordan
19
1
7
600%
Lebanon
19
1
8
700%
Kuwait
17
5
4
-20%
Country
Bahrain
7
4
9
125%
Rest of Middle East
168
20
73
265%
Middle East Total
626
106
246
132%
12 MEBA Convention News • December 13, 2012 • www.ainonline.com
manufacturing plans, which also include continued production of the piston-powered Bonanza single and Baron twin. More than 200 HBC aircraft are in service in the Middle East and North Africa, 120 of which are King Airs, according to Scott Plumb, vice president, jet sales, Europe, Middle East and Africa. Just 15 percent of those King Airs fill special-mission roles, he added. While the commercial market is somewhat flat worldwide, Plumb stated that, “The special-mission business is really strong. We have signed two very big deals in the last 30 days in this region.” Because proprietary equipment will be installed on these aircraft, the governments that are buying them don’t want to permit HBC to announce the buyers’ identities, he explained. Also suitable for Middle East applications are the piston airplanes, primarily for training academies. The Bonanza and Baron include air-conditioning as standard equipment and can operate with no performance degradation at ambient temperatures up to 50-deg C. Although the two airplanes are expensive compared to other
DAVID McINTOSH
U.S. court okays sale of Hawker 4000 inventory
training airplanes, he said, the robust construction and reliable operation of the Bonanza and Baron put their lifecycle costs on par with competing training airplanes. The local opportunity for the company that emerges from bankruptcy–called, simply, Beechcraft Corp.–will be to develop a larger market for King Airs in the Middle East, Plumb explained. People who fly privately in the region typically want larger, long-range jets. But Plumb believes there are plenty of shorter trips, in the 300- to 600-nm range, that would be far more efficient and less costly in a King Air than a jet. The turboprop twin can also land on much shorter runways and even unimproved airstrips, something a jet can’t do, while the King Air’s amenities and technology are every bit as modern as those found in the latest jets. Helping potential buyers understand that a King Air can serve their needs will be a big part of Plumb’s job, but he feels strongly that “the King Air family can compete in the jet market. That’s a market space that we have perfected.” o Marking the sale of two Falcon 900s to Cessna Middle East sales rep Wallan Aviation are (l-r) Fahad Wallan, v-p operations, Wallan Aviation; Gilles Gautier, Dassault’s v-p sales EMEA; Saad Wallan, chairman of Wallan Aviation; and Renaud Cloatre, Dassault Middle East sales director.
Wallan joins Falcon club by David Donald As Cessna’s sales representative in the Middle East, Wallan Aviation has naturally operated an all-Cessna charter fleet, but now the company has announced that it is to add two Dassault Falcon 900s to its roster. The aircraft will provide a significant longrange and large-cabin capability. Before the end of the year, Wallan will take delivery of a pre-owned Falcon 900EX EASy II, and in the second quarter of next year will receive a new Falcon 900LX. The LX aircraft offers a 4,750-nm range, allowing it to reach northern China, Southeast Asia or southern Africa from the Gulf region. It also provides the ability to reach
the U.S. with a single refueling stop at Shannon, Ireland, where customs and immigration can be cleared for all U.S. destinations. “We chose the Falcon 900LX because of its advanced technology and efficient performance and range, its go-anywhere flexibility and its resale value,” said Saad Wallan, chairman of Wallan Aviation. “Falcons are increasingly proving themselves with operators in the region, and this helps develop experience and build confidence in the Falcon range.” Dassault has more than 60 Falcons operating in the region, and plans to deliver six more to Middle East customers during the next 18 months. o
Bombardier houses parts in depot at Jebel Ali FZ
in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Bombardier can support its family of aircraft, including this Global Express, This means they are operat- supplying parts from its new depot in the ing in the right time zone for Jebel Ali Free Trade Zone to operators in operators in those parts of the the Middle East, Africa and Europe. 1859_AMAC-Pilatus AIN_Junior_def.qxp_199x264mm 06.12.12 14:45 Seite 3
DAVID McINTOSH
Bombardier has achieved a boost in the availability of spare parts to business aircraft operators in the Middle East with the recent opening of a depot here in Dubai. The facility, operated through a joint venture with parts logistics specialist Transworld Aviation, is located in the Jebel Ali Free Zone, so it is much closer to Al Maktoum International Airport than the Canadian airframer’s former parts depot at Dubai International Airport. The depot, which can support operators in Europe and Africa, already houses some 6,900 parts–almost 50 percent more than the 4,700 items stored at the former Dubai depot, which was located at ExecuJet Aviation’s Dubai International FBO. According to Diane De Souza, Bombardier Business Aircraft’s vice president for parts services, there’s plenty of room to expand the inventory. Located six miles from Al Maktoum International Airport, the depot operated by Transworld 24/7 features radio frequency inventory tracking to speed distribution and restocking.
MIFFLIN-SCHMID DESIGN
by Charles Alcock
world. The manufacturer also has a regional support office in Dubai, with a team including a customer liaison pilot, a regional support manager and support representatives. o
AMAC Aerospace is now Middle East Pilatus PC-12 NG Exclusive Distributor and Service Center
Parts Hub at Frankfurt
In July, Bombardier upgraded its parts center at Germany’s Frankfurt International Airport from a depot to a hub for the entire Europe, Middle East and Africa region. This means that operators no longer have to depend on the OEM’s hub in Chicago and allows them to get and return parts more quickly. “Given the expansion of our worldwide fleet of aircraft, we have developed a decentralized distribution model for parts based on hubs in Chicago, Frankfurt and Singapore,” De Souza told AIN. “We want to get closer to our customers by increasing the number of parts we have available worldwide.” The new Frankfurt hub also allows Bombardier to receive parts directly from vendors. The expanded facility serves more than 800 different operators, and the number of shipments from it has more than doubled over the past 12 months. Bombardier also recently established its main customer service team for the Europe, Middle East and Africa region at its facility
Our reputation for excellence in business aviation expanded with our appointment as exclusive Middle Eastern sales and distribution representatives for Pilatus PC-12 NG, an aircraft unrivalled in its class. Together, Pilatus and AMAC Aerospace represent a proud collaboration in excellence. We look forward to introducing our esteemed middle-eastern clients to the Pilatus PC-12 NG, whether you are private aircraft owners or newcomers to VIP travel. Our new maintenance hangar and sales office are located at Attaturk International Airport, Istanbul, Turkey. We look forward to serving you! Visit us at MEBA Stand No 622 and Chalet A20
www.pilatus-aircraft.com
AMAC Aerospace Turkey Dünya Ticaret Merkezi, A2 Blok, Kat: 11, No:352 34149 Yeşilköy/İstanbul
Mr. Mohamad Badran T +41 79 229 36 78 info@amacaerospace www.amacaerospace.com
www.ainonline.com • December 13, 2012 • MEBA Convention News 13
Emteq’s Quasar II takes lighting to celestial realms by Kirby J. Harrison Emteq (Stand 144) was one of the first business aviation suppliers to introduce LED lighting to the private jet cabin, and with the U.S.-based company leading the way, LED has become the standard in cabin lighting, from washroom to cockpit, to reading lights and emergency signage. At the National Business Aviation Association Convention in Orlando, Florida, in early November, Emteq introduced its Quasar II, a smaller package that is lighter in weight but offers the same light intensity as its earlier version. It also has the advantage of operating on both 28V-DC or 115V-AC and provides two-inch node resolution to allow clearer and smoother lighting control. It was also designed with Emteq’s cabin lighting protocol, making it a “smart-light” by eliminating the requirement for a separate control unit. Quasar II incorporates all the advantages of the company’s earlier technology, including: • Full-spectrum LED mood lighting, which captures the nuances of white light to 32 pre-set lighting modes, from sunset/ sunrise to 100-percent dimming capacity, and permits programming to fit the desired ambiance, whether it is dining or working or preparing for sleep. • Daylight, which is a system allowing the passenger to adjust the cabin wash light through multiple shades of white, controlled through the cabin management system. • Quasar Flex, which is easily customizable to meet any customer demand and is perfect for curved-edge designs, from credenzas and galley surfaces to lavatory mirrors.
Emteq program manager Kyle Alban said that with the growing use of “curvilinear” cabin design, Quasar Flex has been gaining popularity. “In the past, the designers would have to take rigid Quasar in smaller sections to follow a curve, but it resulted in unwanted shadows and uneven lighting,” he explained. “Quasar Flex neatly solved that problem.” Another recent advance is the company’s flat-panel LED lighting where the panels are evenly lighted with no hot spots, so they are ideal for shower walls, tabletops and bulkhead panels. These have also been used in a conference table so that the backlighted alabaster stone inlay seemed to glow. While it is currently available only in white, it can also be made available in full spectrum. “We just haven’t had a client ask for it yet,” said a company spokeswoman. Emteq has expanded well beyond the usual up-wash and down-wash lighting and is now providing everything from custom-built lamps to sconces, chandeliers, reading lights, logos, symbols and emergency signage. “The possibilities and applications for lighting are endless,” said Alban. “With [today’s technology] we can simulate anything, even a waterfall.” Technology has moved well beyond simple cabin lighting, and designers are considering the type of lighting and how it can be placed to enhance the cabin décor and function as the owner selects fabrics and colors. “Lighting is a crucial element in setting the cabin ambiance. Being able to change that lighting in flight, and even program it, really enhances the flying experience,” she added.
Schneider’s SAIL explores India’s bizav market prospects by Neelam Mathews Schneider Airservices India Ltd. (SAIL, Stand 644), which was created by parent company Schneider Airservices to obtain a foothold on the Indian subcontinent, has drawn on its 14 years of experience at Friedrichshafen Airport to gain CAR 145 approval from India’s Director General Civil Aviation (DGCA). It is now “looking at the sale of pre-owned aircraft, part support, aviation management and MRO,” said Sunil Ahluwalia, SAIL president sales and marketing, told AIN. The Indian market is still evolving, as far as service standards go, and much needs to be done and quickly, said Ahluwalia. “An area we are confident to get a competitive edge in is our engineering strengths… [while] I have great respect for
existing players and am not questioning them, our [systems] are tried and tested. We appreciate the need for pricing and [quality of] manpower.” Ahluwalia recognizes that having good relationships with vendors is an important aspect of doing business in India. While the company is new, people working with SAIL come with years of experience in the industry, he explained to AIN. “Today, people are looking at providers that ensure on-time-performance, efficiency, cost and synergized logistics–all in a coordinated manner, with minimum downtime. Our international expertise comes in handy from preplanning, preloading with a realistic time frame rather than [getting] surprises later.”
14 MEBA Convention News • December 13, 2012 • www.ainonline.com
Emteq’s Daylight lighting system allows for variable LED lighting that can replicate multiple shades of white, all controlled through the cabin management system.
Quasar II LED lighting from Emteq is smaller and lighter. Combined with Quasar Flex and full-spectrum mood lighting, it can add light and color to any curved portion of the cabin.
Emteq’s lighting possibilities interface seamlessly with systems of other providers, from Honeywell to Rockwell Collins. Also, eConnect interfaces nicely with suppliers such as Rosen and Alto. “We like to play nice with everybody… we think the client should have a choice,” said Alban.
Emteq had its start in 1996 in New Berlin, Wisconsin, in the basement of founder, president and CEO Jerry Jendusa. Today the company has nearly 500 employees worldwide, from its New Berlin headquarters to Bachenbulach, Switzerland, to Taubaté in Brazil. o
Interestingly, the first job SAIL got in India following its launch early this year was a C check for a Boeing 707 of the Aviation Research Center (ARC), an Indian Ministry of Defense agency that operates a fleet of aircraft for surveillance. Operations remain limited, as the company has not been able to get a hangar at Delhi’s international airport and, given its restricted business at the moment, SAIL rents hangars on a case-by-case basis. This will change soon, however, said Ahluwalia, who also plans to rent a hangar in southern India to service prospective clients there. While the sale of spare parts is a good business for SAIL, this year, following a slowdown in the Indian economy, it has engaged in the sale of pre-owned aircraft. SAIL, for instance, recently sold a helicopter to a foreign buyer and is expecting a few more deals to materialize. While orders are not coming in fast, the aspiration to acquire remains. “There is a growing segment in the market looking at the pre-owned category as, ‘these
days, every dollar counts,’” he added. First-generation entrepreneurs from prosperous states like Punjab in northern India, for instance, who require pan-India operations, are buying turboprops or mid-sized jets. Another breed of entrepreneur include industrial houses with interests in hotels and mining projects abroad, who are often looking to dispose of their smaller jets so they can buy larger, longrange models. Entry-level jets, such as the Embraer Phenom 100, are proving to be popular with jewelers in southern India, for example, Kalyan and Joyalukkas, which have started a retail trend as they travel pan-India in search of markets. However, Ahluwalia expects it will be multinational retail giants like Walmart, which are expected to enter the market soon, that will “make things happen.” The world’s largest retailer is believed to operate 22 jets in the U.S., one of the largest corporate fleets in the world, said Ahluwalia. But he is not willing to take any bets on Walmart’s business strategy in India. o
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Trip-support provider UAS reaps biz after Arab Spring by Peter Shaw-Smith and James Wynbrandt Dubai-based trip-support provider United Aviation Services (Stand 330) said here at MEBA that the troubles since early last year in North Africa (and Syria) had led to an increase in people choosing to visit destinations such as Dubai and other places in the region rather than the trouble spots. Abdul Charafeddin, the company’s marketing director, told AIN that “the Arab Spring [has generated] a lot of movement of general aviation flights. [There are] a lot of meetings being held in Europe,” for example. UAS is making the most of MEBA to generate even more business. “[We are here] to welcome our clients and also to discuss the current [global business aviation] situation and our business relationship with Russia, and at the same time greet new [potential] customers,” said Charafeddin. That’s a welcome change from the tasks UAS typically contends with while supporting flights worldwide, including to some of the most remote regions of the world. “You have no idea. Every day you wake up and come to the office, you’re
hit with something you’ve never been hit with before,” said Jay Ammar Husary, one of five Syrian brothers who run UAS. Husary serves as the company’s senior director of operations and sales, while his brother, Omar Al Hosari, is managing director. Husary makes no bones about the demands the job places on him and his colleagues. “We are a service provider. It could be landing an aircraft, or securing room service for the captain. We deal with all kinds of issues.” In contrast, at MEBA, in addition to the pleasures of seeing old friends and clients, UAS is making new ones. “We get a lot of visitors [at our stand],” said Charafeddin. “They want to know what level of service we offer and establish contacts for future operations.” UAS was set up in 2000 to provide ’round-the-clock services. With access to more than 12,000 aircraft worldwide, the company can arrange permits on short notice, coordinate ground-handling services and fuel uplifts, as well as deliver reliable and prompt charter solutions across the globe. Services include computerized
16 MEBA Convention News • December 13, 2012 • www.ainonline.com
United Aviation Service provides round-the-clock international trip planning and support, as well as charter solutions from its base in Dubai. Services also include handling clearances, nav fees and ground handling.
flight planning and weather briefings, clearances and navigation fees, comprehensive ground-handling services, fuel, hotel accommodation and transportation. Charter services and trip-cost estimates are also available. As one of the UAE’s leading international trip support providers, UAS has been integral in assisting international private jet operators navigate the highly convoluted world of global aviation oversight and regulation, whether it is ICAO’s new electronic flight-plan standard, which took effect worldwide on November 15; the complexity of Chinese visa procedures for business jet crews;
Brazil’s 15-day advance notice requirement for landing-permit revision; the difficulties of overnight stays in Iraq; or the unpredictability of Libya, where the seizure of Tripoli International Airport by armed militia in June did nothing to bolster international confidence. With a plethora of airports available and open overflight access, the UAE is rising on the list of locations that business jet operators need to consider. So Dubai is rapidly becoming a center for flight support companies with close ties to the Middle East. Husary commended the UAE authorities for their flexibility and “wise, businessminded thinking.” o
Bahrain Airport prepares to expand
Ahmed Nemal, Undersecretary for Aviation Services, and Kamal Bin Ahmed Mohamed, Minister of Transportation, Kingdom of Bahrain, discuss plans to expand the passenger terminal at the Bahrain International Airport.
Bahrain Airports Company (BAC) is well advanced with plans for further expansion at the international airport at Muharraq, in the north of the island, an official told AIN at MEBA 2012 in Dubai. “Bahrain Airports Company is planning a major project to expand the passenger terminal building as well as a major service center,” said Mohamed Yousif Al-Binfalah, CEO of BAC. “We have already developed infrastructural plans. We hope that by 2013, we will begin the work.” BAC was established in 2008 to manage and operate Bahrain International Airport and assumed management responsibility in 2010. It seeks to promote the aviation sector’s contribution to the country’s gross domestic product and enhance infrastructure for users of the facility BIA’s $100 million terminal was inaugurated in 1994 with an expanded capacity of nine million passengers a year. Al-Binfalah said the airport’s capacity would eventually expand to 13.5 million passengers but he did not specify a completion date. “One of the purposes of this project is to sustain the competitive advantage that BIA has in the region in terms of the time it takes the passenger to go through all the checks,” Al-Binfalah said. The airport offers cargo and catering services as well as aircraft engineering. Shuttle services to the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia via the King Fahd causeway are available at the airport. Parking facilities have been augmented, smartphone e-ticketing services installed, as well as e-facilities at airport access points. There are no slot restrictions at the airport during off-peak hours. Bahrain Petroleum Co. caters
to more than 60 percent of the aviation fueling operations at the airport through its affiliate, Bahrain Aviation Fueling Co. (BAFCO). BAFCO supplies Jet-A1 aviation fuel, which is
produced to international standards, the company said. Bahrain Duty Free, established in 1990, is managed by Aer Rianta, founder of the world’s first-duty free stores. o
DAVID McINTOSH
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During MEBA, Al Habtoor Trading and Altran, with cooperation from ADPI, announced a major new initiative at Dubai World Central. Known as the “Wings of Dubai,” the project aims to deliver a major MRO cluster that can ultimately handle 60 business jets and 40 helicopters per month. As well as delivering sophisticated maintenance services to increase aircraft availability, Wings of Dubai will become a major educational facility and “green” location. v
Visit Satcom Direct® booth #140 to view a demo of Unity. 506 Churchill Tower Business Bay, UAE | www.satcomdirect.ae www.ainonline.com • December 13, 2012 • MEBA Convention News 17
by David Donald On average about three crews every day will face one of pilots’ greatest fears: smoke in the cockpit. Quite often, smoke is easily controlled, by switching off electrical consumers and pulling circuit breakers, for example. But uncontrolled smoke in a cockpit can quickly obscure vital flight instruments, effectively incapacitating the flight crew at a critical time. Here in Dubai the problem is particularly sensitive. On Sept. 3, 2010, UPS Flight 6, a Boeing 747400, crashed near Dubai International Airport after the pilots had reported smoke in the cockpit.
Cockpit smoke has been a major contributing factor to many other incidents. For the penalty of just five to six pounds in weight and a space the size of a Jeppesen manual, VisionSafe’s (Stand 579) emergency vision assurance system (EVASI) can help pilots see in a smoke-filled cockpit. EVAS comprises an inflatable vision unit (IVU) that inflates in 45 to 60 seconds to form a clear, smoke-free channel to the windscreen and central instruments/ screens. A pump draws in air and filters it of particles down to
0.1 micron size, and then pumps the filtered air into the IVU volume. The pump maintains a slight overpressure to prevent infiltration of smoke from the rest of the cockpit space. EVAS is easily installed and is totally self-contained, with its own battery power that provides up to four hours of operation. It needs to be tested once every 90 days, and serviced every two years. VisionSafe has tailored the system to fit virtually all of the airliners and business aircraft of Western origin currently flying, and holds supplemental type certificates for them. Unsurprisingly, UPS was the first global carrier to fit EVAS throughout its fleet, and many other operators have installed the kit. Bombardier, Dassault and Gulfstream have made EVAS a standard option for their business aircraft. o
DAVID McINTOSH
VisionSafe system cuts path through smoke
VisionSafe’s emergency vision assurance system can help pilots see in a smoke-filled cockpit. When inflated, it forms a clear, smoke-free channel to the windscreen.
Nigerian FBO broadens maintenance capability
London exec charter seeks Middle East link-up London Executive Aviation, a well-known name in the European charter market, is seeking to expand its operations in the Middle East to help it fill return legs and iron out seasonal variations. To make this move the company is looking for a similar local operator, with whom LEA could place one or two of their aircraft. LEA is the world’s biggest Embraer Legacy operator, with seven 600s and two 650s on the books, and two more 650s coming soon. Operations are currently centered on London, while a single Legacy is based in Moscow to serve the growing Russian market. In the next two or three months LEA expects to open an office in Athens, where another Legacy will be based. Many of LEA’s operations from Western Europe are to the Middle East, and the company reports that this business continues to grow. However, there is also a growing occurrence of aircraft flying empty return legs, as well
as a seasonal dip in the European market in the period after the New Year. A partnership with a Middle East company would allow LEA not only to fill many of those empty legs, but also to generate more business from the region and to allow a reciprocal arrangement to cover seasonal variations. For the Middle East, the late summer is generally a low season, and a partnership could help both operators balance their fleets more efficiently. LEA is proposing that one or two of its Legacy aircraft could be based in the Middle East, where the type’s size and range are seen as ideal for most charters. An ACMI (aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance) lease deal is the favored method of placing aircraft in the region. LEA is concentrating on finding an operator of a similar size in the UAE. “We’re looking for the right partner,” said George Galanopoulos, LEA’s managing director, “and they need to be ambitious enough.” –D.D.
can have that done here.” Three MCM engineers are now based full time at EAN, with maintenance work managed by an EASA-certified engineer. EAN, which operates the first fully integrated FBO, maintenance and hangar facility for business jets at Murtala Mohammed Airport, is already equipped for maintenance of SAFT batteries and wheels for aircraft including the Dornier 328 and Bombardier Learjet, Challenger and Global Express models. With its new AMO status, EAN will expand its wheel and battery services to a wider range of aircraft, and moves one step closer to its long-term goal of offering full
DAVID McINTOSH
Patrick Margetson-Rushmore, LEA’s chief executive, and managing director George Galanopoulos are here at MEBA seeking a local partner to help the company grow in the region.
Lagos-based FBO Evergreen Apple Nigeria (EAN, Stand 420) announced here at MEBA 2012 it has expanded its maintenance operations through its relationship with EASA-certified Maintenance Centre Malta (MCM) and its recent designation as an Approved Maintenance Organization (AMO) by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority. “Ninety percent of the business aircraft in Nigeria are foreign registered,” said Segun Demuren, EAN’s CEO and founder. “Now, with our EASA-certified partner, there’s no need [for owners] to travel to Dubai, Europe or South Africa for maintenance. They
line maintenance for Nigerian registered aircraft. EAN is now working to extend its maintenance capabilities for rotorcraft, beginning with the Bell 430 and 427 helicopters, as well as fixed-wing general aviation aircraft, such as the de Havilland Twin Otter float plane. In June, EAN recruited an FAA-certified engineer with Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority approval, and more recently an A&P (airframe and powerplant technician) from the U.S., who has extensive experience in Nigeria. With its six maintenance specialists and ample ramp space, EAN can service up to six midsize business jets on the parked space, or four in its hangar. Additionally, EAN has added a fuel truck to its operations, ensuring quick fueling operations. –J.W.
pilatus picks amac turkey to handle pc-12 nG Pilatus Aircraft recently appointed AMAC Aerospace Turkey as the Swiss airframer’s exclusive Middle East distributor for the rugged single-engine PC-12 NG turboprop. AMAC Turkey intends to provide maintenance at its Istanbul facility for Middle East PC-12 operators and anticipates strong demand for the aircraft, with its low operating cost, large payload and short-field capability.
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z Al Bateen Gears-Up for Air Expo As well as its day-to-day task of catering to business aviation in Abu Dhabi, Al Bateen Executive Airport is getting ready for the second Abu Dhabi Air Expo (Mar. 5-7, 2013), billed as “the only general aviation exhibition in the Middle East.” Organizers appear to be attempting to incorporate light and sport aviation, whereas MEBA is mainly a business aviation show, otherwise its claim to be the “only” show might suggest a strategy to become the new number-one event for the sector in the region. Air Expo officials anticipate a display of more than 120 aircraft, including helicopters, sport aircraft and an Airbus A319 from locally based Rotana Jet. The show will feature corporate/VIP aircraft. Also known as the Al Bateen Expo, the show site has doubled in exhibition space to cope with an increase in demand. Many exhibitors were signed up during the NBAA convention in the U.S. last month. OEMs Bombardier, Daher Socata, Dassault, Embraer and Gulfstream have committed to the event.
DAVID McINTOSH
z UTC Aerospace Systems Shows Multiple Products Following United Technologies’ acquisition of Goodrich in July, the company was merged with Hamilton Sundstrand to form a new entity: UTC Aerospace Systems (Stand 445). The combined company is one of the world’s largest suppliers of aerospace and defense products, providing systems, components and services for a wide range of fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft in both military and commercial worlds. With a vast portfolio to choose from, the company is showcasing capabilities from its interiors business, which was formerly part of the Goodrich stable. FAUL life raft Before the merger, this division had acquired DeCrane Aerospace and the Winslow LifeRaft company. On show here at MEBA 2012 from the former DeCrane business are a luxury seat and a high-spec veneer galley unit. From Winslow is the FAUL four-person life raft for corporate jets, a market in which UTC Aerospace Systems claims a 94-percent share.
z Ac-U-Kwik Incorporates AirportData.com Ac-U-Kwik (Stand 606), the well-known airport and FBO directory based in Overland Park, Kansas, is highlighting the recent launch of Ac-U-Kwik Premium, an enhanced option for subscribers of www.acukwik.com, here at MEBA 2012. The enhanced product includes more than 13,000 web and email addresses for FBOs, handlers, fuel providers and ground service suppliers around the world, giving preflight planners additional resources and tools. The expanded offering was made possible by the acquisition of UK-based Highline LP by Penton Media of New York City, which publishes Ac-U-Kwik. Highline LP developed AirportData.com for the airline and air cargo market. “We are now providing what our customers have been requesting for years: a data set that is clearly unmatched in our industry,” said Frank Craven, executive director of data for Penton’s aviation group. “Ac-U-Kwik Premium is a true game changer.” Penton Media is offering a free trial of Ac-U-Kwik Premium, available through the www.acukwik.com/premium.
z Empire Aviation Takes Another Legacy 650 Dubai-based Empire Aviation Group (Stand 624) has added a second Embraer Legacy 650 to its aircraft management fleet, which now numbers about 20 aircraft, including two Legacy 600s. Empire’s aircraft management philosophy “helps owners to optimize their investment and protect the long-term value of their aircraft asset,” according to the company, “covering all aspects of the aircraft’s operation, the option of charter and maintenance management.” The Legacy 650 seats up to 14 passengers and can fly 3,900 nm (four passengers) or 3,840 nm (eight passengers). Typical destinations from Dubai include London and Johannesburg. “Our aircraft management services are the core of our regional business and it is gratifying that we continue to attract new aircraft owners to bring their aircraft under EAG management,” said Steve Hartley, Empire Aviation Group executive director.
U.S. Pavilion makes debut at MEBA’12 by James Wynbrandt Along with new aircraft and a new show site, MEBA 2012 is presenting a new exhibit area, the U.S. Pavilion, showcasing the goods and services of 10 U.S. aviation companies, spanning a range of goods and services from in-flight catering to aircraft manufacturing. The pavilion’s purpose is to make it easier for attendees to find U.S.-based companies in one location, and for the companies to be seen by attendees. Potential customers in the Middle East “like the American quality; they like our technology,” said Carole Lotito, media manager, Kallman Worldwide, which organized the pavilion (and also organizes U.S. pavilions at other airshows such as Farnborough and Paris). The exhibitors are shown in the table below. “From our previous experiences like [exhibiting at] EBACE, we didn’t want to get lost in the shuffle,” said Joe Celentano, president and coowner with brother John of Rudy’s Inflight Catering. “We’re not a giant manufacturer or service company, we’re truly a mom-and-pop company, very boutique. Being in the U.S. Pavilion enables us to not get lost in a sea of other exhibitors.”
Aircraft (CAIGA) in 2011. “Cirrus is still officially a U.S. company that just happens to be owned by a Chinese investor,” said Duplais. “And prior to 2011, Cirrus was owned by a Bahraini investment bank for the previous nine years.” Whatever the current status of their presence in the Middle
East, all these exhibitors recognize that if one wants to do business here, he or she must come here first, which, after all, is the justification of the business aviation industry all are part of. “At the end of the day, nothing is more powerful than someone getting on an airplane, traveling seven or eight thousand miles, spending time to meet people, hear and try to meet their needs, and forge relationships,” said Celentano. “We’re hoping this is going to be one of many MEBAs we will attend.” o
A first-timer at a MEBA show, the U.S. Pavilion is showcasing a range of goods and services available from 10 diverse U.S. companies.
Mutual Interests
Most of these exhibitors already have relationships with customers or potential customers in the Middle East, and see MEBA as an opportunity to advance their mutual interests. Fargo Jet Center (FJC), in addition to promoting its convenient location on the Great Circle route, is also interested in creating a presence in the Middle East. “We have relationships, and we see opportunities for Fargo Jet Center in both operations and aircraft sales or FBOtype operations, and we’ll have some discussions about all these services we can provide,” said Darren Hall, FJC’s vice president of marketing. Cirrus Aircraft is pursuing “specific fleet opportunities and some individual” sales, said Jon Duplais, vice president fleet and special mission aircraft. Some attendees might think Cirrus is out of place in the pavilion, as it was purchased by the China Aviation Industry General
DAVID McINTOSH
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U.S. Pavilion Exhibitors at MEBA 2012 Aero Specialties manufacturers of aircraft and airport ground support equipment
Stand 573
AvFuel global fuel provider
Stand 580
Aviation Partners, Inc. its blended winglets are found on airliners and business jets
Stand 575
Bangor International Airport in Maine, a popular point of U.S. entry and exit for international private aircraft flights
Stand 577
Cirrus Aircraft manufacturer of the popular SR20 and SR22 single-engine piston aircraft; communication-equipment manufacturer
Stand 574
Cobham/Thrane & Thrane
Stand 578
EVAS/VisionSafe Corp. manufacturer of cockpit-smoke displacement systems
Stand 579
Fargo Jet Center FBO and maintenance facility, which is a popular stopping point for international travelers bound for the West Coast of the U.S.
Stand 580
Kallman Worldwide exhibition services provider
Stand 573
Rudy’s Inflight Catering aircraft catering service
Stand 576
www.ainonline.com • December 13, 2012 • MEBA Convention News 19
Boutsen team marries sales and design skills by James Wynbrandt
King Air’s ME future likely to be very special by David Donald Hawker Beechcraft’s King Air twin turboprops continue to take the lion’s share of the Middle East turboprop business market, accounting for more than 70 percent of sales over the last three years. However, the type’s good endurance, configuration, capacious cabin and attractive operating economics have also made it a natural platform for a wide variety of special tasks, and many hundreds have been converted for special missions during the type’s long career. There is little sign that the demand for special-mission King Airs may be diminishing, and the type is being promoted in the Middle East for a variety of such tasks. Quite apart from
the obvious military duties, such as ISR (intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance), it has important applications in the maritime arena for civilian and government security agencies. Regional Tasks
Here at MEBA Hawker Beechcraft (Chalet A12) is highlighting the King Air’s suitability for regionally important tasks, such as oil-spill detection and fisheries protection, as well as the increasingly important antipiracy mission. The type is also well suited to other roles, such as air ambulance, aerial survey and flight inspection. Hawker Beechcraft’s current King Air production family
comprises the 350ER, 350i, 250 and C90GTx, which between them cover a variety of range/ payload options. All but the 350ER are on show here at MEBA. The company is emphasizing the fact that all four versions are capable of receiving special-mission modifications. There is a significant number of companies offering such conversions. Among them is French company Business and Commuter Aircraft (BCA), which is promoting its King Air modification capabilities at the show (Stand 345). Based in Lyon, BCA and its forerunners have provided maintenance support for Beechcraft aircraft for many years. It is also the French dealer for BLR Aerospace, and has installed the U.S. company’s winglets on King Airs. BCA has converted a King Air 350ER to test the Selex Galileo ATOS (airborne tactical observation and surveillance) system. o
company prewashes all linens, and stocks the aircraft with items ranging from pizza cutters and scissors to aprons, so the aircraft is ready for use upon delivery. Myriad small touches ensure the cabin always looks its best. For example, the labels on tablecloths note which particular table they are paired with, ensuring cabin attendants can easily match the linen with its appropriate place. As for its pre-owned aircraft sales arm, the company has on static display here a Dassault
DAVID McINTOSH
While the MEBA show takes place in the passenger terminal of Al Maktoum International Airport, the daily life of the airport goes on. The airport opened for operations as a cargo hub within the Dubai World Central complex, and freight remains very much at the heart of the airport’s daily activity. Many of the movements are handled by Russian-built giants, such as the Ilyushin Il-76 and this aircraft: the Antonov An-124 Ruslan. Antonov’s monster is topped in size only by the same company’s six-engine An-225–only one of which was built–Boeing’s new 747-8F and the Airbus A380. Maximus Air Cargo, which operates this An-124, is based here in the UAE.
DAVID McINTOSH
Heavy Metal Keeps on trucKin’
Here at MEBA aircraft brokerage Boutsen Aviation (Stand 598) announced the sale of its 250th airplane, completed last week. “This is a big achievement for us,” said Thierry Boutsen, president of the Monaco-based sales firm and a former Formula 1 race-car driver, who founded the company in 1997 with his wife Daniela. “We’ve sold 50 different models of airplanes in 49 different countries on five continents,” Boutsen told AIN. “Our first sale was a Piper Cheyenne II, for $275,000, and our 250th is a VVIP Airbus Corporate Jet, with a value of over $100 million.” In addition to its impressive sales totals, the couple is also touting Boutsen Design, the company’s new design department. Established last year and headed by Daniela, Boutsen Design provisions aircraft cabins with interior furnishings, or “loose equipment,” such as china, crystal, cutlery, table and bed linen, and other accessories or amenities that do not require certification. “There’s no one else in the aviation business dedicated to loose equipment,” she said. “What I’m doing is the final touch. Our aim is to become the one-stop shop for cabin comfort.” The first project the company took on was an Airbus Corporate Jet undergoing completion, collaborating with the completion center to ensure the cabin furnishings and built-ins were harmonized. Clients receive a link to a secure website with an inventory of all the items purchased, enabling them to reorder quickly any items after delivery. The
Thierry and Daniela Boutsen celebrate their company’s 251st aircraft sale, and its new design department, at MEBA 2012.
Falcon 7X for sale, priced at about $39 million. “We’re open to offers,” said Thierry Boutsen. With more than $1.2 billion in total sales, he attributes the company’s success to “experience in international transactions and our knowledge of the market with its daily moves.” Meanwhile, the sales total has already climbed. “It’s number 251,” he said. “We sold a helicopter this week–a [Eurocopter] EC 135.” o
DAVID McINTOSH
AT THE STANDS
Hawker Beechcraft is promoting special-missions roles for King Airs and brought three to MEBA 2012: a 350i, C90GTx and 250.
20 MEBA Convention News • December 13, 2012 • www.ainonline.com
The Airbus Corporate Jet Centre, based in Toulouse, France, has signed a customized support package covering the two Airbus ACJs the center has delivered to Russia’s state flight department, which flies the aircraft on government transport duties. The support contract is part of ACJC’s VIP Pass, a program that provides support dedicated to the ACJ, rather than relying on airliner-type MRO support. VIP Pass covers seven service areas: system upgrade and cabin refurbishment; airframe maintenance; engine and nacelle full support; spares management; airworthiness and maintenance engineering services; entry-into-service and on-site assistance; and access to aircraft manufacturer services. The support can be tailored to match individual customer requirements, and ranges from no-notice emergency support to a full support agreement. For ACJC (Chalet A) customers, the VIP Pass offers predictable maintenance costs and a single source for all aircraft maintenance and cabin upgrades. An integrated service from an Airbus subsidiary also provides further reassurance to VIP Pass customers. v
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Vigiplane monitors intrusions
z Honeywell Extends Support with Turkey’s MNG Jet Turkish service center MNG Jet has been authorized by Honeywell Aerospace (Stand 625) to undertake servicing of the company’s avionics, communications and cabin management systems. Since 2010 MNG Jet has been an authorized service center for Honeywell’s business jet engine and APU portfolio, including the TFE731 engine. The extension allows the company to service all Honeywell business jet products. Under the terms of the extension, MNG Jet can also provide LRU maintenance and installation of components from across the electrical portfolio. Operators in Russia and the Middle East can also take advantage of the MNG Jet service.
z Falcon Aviation Confirms Forthcoming Fleet
z Sabena Technics Selected for Three ACJ Mods
The Vigiplane security system detects aircraft intrusions, sending notifications to a server, cell phone or other digital device.
Sabena Technics (Stand 620) has been selected to provide cabin modifications on two Airbus ACJ320s and one ACJ318. The company will install two Inmarsat SwiftBroadband satcom systems in each of the ACJ320s, which provides up to four SwiftBroadband channels for each jet. This is a first for the ACJ320, according to Sabena Technics. Two modifications are slated for the ACJ318, installation of a LiveTV system and a humidification system, both also a first-time installation for the ACJ318. “Through this project, Sabena Technics is able to demonstrate its know-how in cabin modification and complex system integration within a very constrained time frame,” said Jean-Luc Fournel, Sabena Technics COO customers.
DAVID McINTOSH
His Highness Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Bin Khalifa Al Nahyan visited MEBA 2012 in his capacity as chairman of Abu Dhabi’s Falcon Aviation Services. As he toured the show, he may have been gathering information for a forthcoming fleet change, and stopped for a briefing on the Bell 429 helicopter. Falcon Aviation currently operates examples of the Bell 412EP, Agusta A109 Grand, Eurocopter EC 130 and EC 135. Its fixedwing fleet comprises a Gulfstream G450, Embraer Legacy 600 and Lineage 1000. During the tour the company’s vice president, A.J. Baker, remarked, “You will see changes in the Falcon Aviation fleet in the short term.”
Visitors viewing the Airbus ACJ318 on static display (A15) here at MEBA 2012 are being viewed right back by the Vigiplane, the bright yellow, autonomous-monitoring system locked onto the jet’s nosegear. Cameras, infrared sensors and radar on the Vigiplane, from Blue Green Technology in Bordeaux, France, record pictures and video that can be viewed remotely in real time. In the event of any type of intrusion, the system delivers instant notifications to a dedicated server, cell phone and other digital communication devices. Blue Green Technology introduced the Vigiplane at MEBA 2010. This marks the first time the device has been displayed in use in public. Company spokesman Michel Bianco said the government of a Middle East nation, which he declined to name, purchased 15 of the devices at cost of about $50,000 per unit. –J.W.
LHT primps for 787-8 VIP conversion Lufthansa Technik (Stand 335) is preparing to receive a second Boeing 747-8 for VIP conversion by the company’s VIP & Executive Jet Solutions division at its Hamburg plant. The first 747-8 arrived at the end of August and is now into its completion program, while the second aircraft is scheduled to arrive later this month, following contract signature at the Dubai Air Show last year. Both
z All the 12s: Brabus Launches in the Middle East Brabus Private Aviation, which was revealed at EBACE in Geneva last May as a new luxury design, completion and management venture, was “launched” here at MEBA 2012 yesterday, coincidentally at 12 past 12 on 12/12/12. The new venture brings together four respected names from the automotive and aviation worlds: Brabus, with 35 years’ experience in the luxury outfitting and customization of automobiles, particularly those of Mercedes-Benz; PrivatAir; Ruag Aviation; and Happy Design Studio, led by Didier Wolff. Heading the new partnership is Constantin Buschmann, CEO of Brabus. Pictured celebrating the launch at the show are (from left) Constantin Buschmann; Didier Wolff (CEO, Happy Design Studio); Ulrich-Joachim Gauffrés (executive v-p development & production, Brabus); Christian Hatje (senior v-p business aviation, PrivatAir) and Dennis Göppel (manager aircraft management and sales, PrivatAir).
of these 747-8s are due to be delivered to their customers in 2014. Together, Lufthansa Technik and its U.S. subsidiary BizJet International have performed more than 15 Boeing 747 completions to date. Meanwhile, work has just started at Hamburg on a VIP cabin completion program for a BBJ2 destined for Freestream Aircraft. The cabin interior design has been created by Marc Newson at London-based MNAerospace.
The cabin management and inflight entertainment system will be Lufthansa Technik’s Nice HD equipment. This will provide live TV, GSM, high-speed Internet and on-demand video. Hamburg is also undertaking another widebody completion, while BizJet International has three completion lines running for narrowbody aircraft and a fourth opening in the first half of next year. –D.D.
Jeff Roberts (left), CAE Group president, civil simulation products, training and services, is shown a model of DC Aviation’s planned new Al Futtaim hangar by Marc Ambrosius, CFO of DC Aviation, a charter/management company. DC signed a contract with CAE at MEBA 2012 to train Gulfstream G450/550, Bombardier CRJ700 and Dassault Falcon 900EX pilots at EmiratesCAE Flight Training in Dubai and other CAE training centers.
22 MEBA Convention News • December 13, 2012 • www.ainonline.com
DAVID McINTOSH
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