MEBA Convention News 12-9-14

MEBA

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12.9.14 • DUBAI

Convention News

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DAVID McINTOSH

YOUR WINGS ARE WAITING All the best that business aviation has to offer is on show here at MEBA. In all, more than 420 exhibitors and more than 8,000 visitors are on site.

With no ACJ Neo in sight, Comlux opts for BBJ Max

by R. Randall Padfield & Charles Alcock Long-standing Airbus operator Comlux yesterday ordered a pair of Boeing’s new BBJ Max 8s, which will be the first BBJs in the company’s charter fleet and Boeing’s first BBJ Max order from a Europe-based operator. The two BBJ Max 8s are due to be delivered

in 2019 and both will be registered on Comlux’s Maltese air operator certificate, with one likely to be based in the Middle East and the other in Europe.

The two main factors driving Comlux’s choice of the 737 Max 8 Continued on page 29 u

New Aircraft

Safety

Pilatus Hopes PC-24 Does Well Here Swiss manufacturer Pilatus has high aspirations for its developmental PC-24 twinjet in the Gulf region. It’s designed with versatility in mind. Page 6

Royal Jet to add nine new aircraft

GAMA AVIATION AND HANGAR8 TO TIE THE KNOT Aircraft charter and management companies Gama Aviation (Stand 470) and Hangar8 announced a merger last night.

Subject to completion in January, the new entity will be known as Gama Aviation plc, a $130- to $200-million capitalized company. Current Gama CEO Marwan Khalek will be the new CEO, while Hangar8 CEO Dustin Dryden will become ­executive director. The combined fleet currently has 144 aircraft under management at 44 operating locations in 15 countries. A more detailed article on the merger will feature in tomorrow’s edition of MEBA Convention News.

–D.D.

by Peter Shaw-Smith Royal Jet, the aircraft charter arm of the UAE Presidential Flight Authority that is coowned by Abu Dhabi Aviation,

Continued on page 29 u

People

Completions

Nexus Family Welcomes Wyvern

Women Filling Aviation Roles

Greenpoint Has a Scale Dreamliner

Nextant Secures First Gulf Sale

With the recent acquisition of safety auditing firm Wyvern International, the Nexus family of companies now has a more powerful support capability. Page 16

Despite stereotypes widley held about the Middle East, women are assuming critical and varied roles in aviation, from combat pilots to business leaders. Page 26

Completions center Greenpoint Technologies is showing its scale interior model of a VIP Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Page 28

Aircraft remanufacturer Nextant Aerospace announced its first sale in the region. The company has placed its 400XTi twinjet in 12 different countries worldwide. Page 30

.com

Remanufacturing

Newly designed for all your devices.

NasJet and ExecuJet mark FBO anniversary Here at the MEBA show, NasJet and ExecuJet Aviation Group are marking the first anniversary of their joint venture FBO at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The partnership operation combines the international expertise of ExecuJet (Stand 575) and the local knowledge of NasJet (Chalet A17), one of the Middle East’s largest business aviation companies. The NasJet-ExecuJet FBO’s year of operation has achieved 100 percent customer retention and a faultless safety record, according to the partners.

“The combined dynamics of local knowledge and international expertise has significantly lifted the user experience to set a new benchmark for FBOs in Saudi Arabia,” said NasJet CEO Saad Alazwari. “The success of our FBO alliance with ExecuJet, in terms of an impeccable track record over the last 12 months, truly serves to showcase the positive synergy of our joint efforts in ensuring a seamless experience for our clients.”

New services introduced during the year include professional aircraft washing for narrowbody aircraft and a ‘customer guarantee,’ under which basic handling charges would be refunded to customers not completely satisfied with their service.

“Saudi Arabia is one of the Middle East’s busiest and most demanding business aviation markets,” said ExecuJet operations director Mark Hardman.

“Customers in Riyadh are experienced and discerning, so the excellent feedback they have given is testament to the success of our close partnership with NasJet,” he added. “The number of movements we’ve recorded in Riyadh this year is ahead of forecast, which gives us great confidence for the future and we expect our FBO movements to increase by 30 to 40 percent in 2015.”

Currently located at the airport’s general aviation terminal, in January the partnership will launch its services at the Royal Terminal, serving heads of state, royalty and other VVIP traffic.

DAVID McINTOSH

by Peter Shaw-Smith & James Wynbrandt

NasJet CEO Saad Saleh Alazwari, left, celebrates the first anniversary of a jointventure FBO with ExecuJet (Middle East) managing director Mike Berry, center, and executive director Hadi Mouawad.

The NasJet CEO said, “...there is significant growth potential for private aviation in countries like Egypt and Iraq.”

Loyalty Program In January, ExecuJet Aviation will launch a customer loyalty program for operators and routing agents, providing one free handling service for every 50 handlings at any of the 19 ExecuJet FBOs around the world. “Our customers are at the heart of everything we do and we are always looking to provide them with the best value for money,” said Mark Abbott, ExecuJet’s group FBO director. “It is important to note that customers always have a choice and this scheme is about appreciating our customers. Aside from the financial benefit our clients will receive, this program further demonstrates our approach to recognize customer loyalty.” –P.S.S.

NasJet operates 67 airplanes under management and flight support, according to the Saudi Arabian company. Of these, 11 (seven Gulfstreams and four Hawkers) are available for charter.

The rest of the fleet is a combination of predominately long-range, widebody aircraft, including BBJ and Airbus ACJ bizliners.

“As a commercial operator, NasJet has the largest

fixed-wing managed and flight support fleet in the Middle East,” claimed Saad Alazwari, NasJet CEO. “Being the largest private jet operator in the region has its advantages, since we have

our own fleet of aircraft accessible at short notice… We also feel that there is significant growth potential for private aviation in countries like Egypt and Iraq,” Alazwari said. o

Jet Aviation wins approval for VIP BBJ cabin interior

DAVID McINTOSH

by Charles Alcock

A ROYAL OPENING FOR MEBA 2014 His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman and CEO of Emirates Group and Chairman of Dubai Airports cut the ribbon yesterday to open this year’s MEBA show. Sheikh Ahmed toured the show site for almost two hours, visiting with exhibitors and tour display aircraft.

2 MEBA Convention News • December 9, 2014 • www.ainonline.com

The European Aviation Safety Agency recently issued certification for a VIP cabin interior developed by Jet Aviation’s Basel completions center for a Boeing Business Jet 737-700. The cabin interior installation was completed three months ahead of schedule and the BBJ1 model is currently undergoing high-precision custom paintwork at the Jet Aviation paint shop. The interior was designed by the Jet Aviation Basel design studio.

“Out-performing the schedule by such a large margin is a real feat on its own account,” said Adam White, senior director of completions engineering at Jet Aviation Basel. “It is our comprehensive in-house capabilities and teamwork that makes it possible for us to outfit green aircraft with innovative design, state-of-the-art technology and uncompromising luxury inside a timeline that is well within customer expectations.”

The BBJ’s interior accommodates 13 passengers and features a crew area, modern galley, spacious open-plan dining area and lounge, guest area, master bedroom and a customized master bathroom. It is equipped with WiFi, satellite communications, iPod connectivity and AC outlets for charging devices.

Meanwhile in other news announced by Jet Aviation at the MEBA show yesterday, Jet Aviation Basel has been selected to perform the world’s first C-check on a Dassault 7X. The aircraft will be re-delivered in February 2015 after 8,500 man-hours of work has been performed. Fabien Fuster, director of Dassault Falcon maintenance at Jet Aviation Basel, said, “We have assigned over 40 fully qualified and highly competent technicians to ensure the highest safety and quality standards.” o

MEBA

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FOUNDED IN 1972

STEPPING OUT

JAMES HOLAHAN, FOUNDING EDITOR WILSON S. LEACH, MANAGING DIRECTOR

The static display line at MEBA makes for a pleasant stroll. The scenery includes all the best that the business aviation industry has to offer.

This year's edition of the show brings optimism and a positive view of business, for today and the years to come.

R. RANDALL PADFIELD, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF – Charles Alcock EDITOR – Ian Sheppard

Gregory Polek Peter Shaw-Smith Matt Thurber Harry Weisberger James Wynbrandt

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RUSSIAN ADVERTISING OFFICE: Yuri Laskin, Gen. Dir., Laguk Co. Ltd.; ylarm-lml@mtu-net.ru Russia, 115172, Moscow Krasnokholmskaya Nab., 11/15 - 132 Tel: +7 05 912 1346, +7 911 2762; Fax: +7 095 912 1260 THE CONVENTION NEWS COMPANY, INC. – AIN PUBLICATIONS MEBA Convention News is a publication of The Convention News Co., Inc., 214 Franklin Ave., Midland Park, NJ 07432; Tel.:+1 201 444 5075. Copyright © 2014. 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, AINtv, Business Jet Traveler, BJT Waypoints, ABACE Convention News, Dubai Airshow News, EBACE Convention News, Farnborough Airshow News, HAI Convention News, LABACE Convention News, MEBA Convention News, NBAA Convention News, Paris Airshow News, Singapore Airshow News, Mobile Apps: AINonline • Aviation International News.

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and a 350ER. However, while a flight-test example of the Citation Latitude made it to NBAA in October, the model is not on display here at MEBA 2014.

According to Harris, Textron Aviation is exhibiting at MEBA not just for the show. “We have an active campaign across the region and believe that good customer service leads to sales in time,” he said. o

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spokesperson replied, “With the announcement of the Citation Longitude in 2012, it is clear that Textron Aviation has set its sights on larger cabin, longer range aircraft, giving Dubai World Central customers 8-10 December 2014 the opportunity to SAN Citation Latitude provides cusstay MARINO www.meba.aero in the Citation family as tomers non-stop travel from the their aircraft needs grow. As Gulf to popular European des- we incrementally grow into tinations, such as from Dubai to the larger category of aircraft, Naples, Italy, and from Dubai we do so with strong customer to St. Petersburg, Russia.” input driving the design fea-

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WASHINGTON, D.C. EDITORIAL TEAM: Bill Carey (air transport and defense); bcarey@ainonline.com Tel: +1 202 560 5672; Mobile: +1 202 531 7566

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Textron Aviation, which MEBAA combines Cessna and Hawker COBHAM business jets plus Beechcraft’s turboprops, has “good coverUS PAVILION XJET @ FAI Middle age of East and North Africa business jet market,” said Bill Harris, v-p sales Asia, RUAG the Middle East and Africa for Textron Aviation (Stand A19).

“We have a fairly even split between Hawkers and Citations in the region with HADID ETIHAD around 125 aircraft,” he said.

“King Airs and Caravans have doneALPHA well in theROCKWELL region, COLLINS tooSABENA and inSTAR the training marCAE ket we’ve done well with the Cessna 182 and 172 JT-A.” SNECMA ATLANTIC FUELEX He admitted that “The large widebodies are always SKYPLAN the most popular here,” and said that the Citation Sovereign had proved popular, while UNIVERSAL SHELL AERIA WEATHER the Citation X had “not done as well as hoped, butWORLD theFUELX+ AVICONCessna’s M-2 light jet (above) is making its MEBA debut, along with its AVJET SERVICES TOTAL could changeROUTING that.” He also stablemate the Sovereign+. Textron Aviation’s v-p for sales in the region Bill said the new Latitude has been Harris (right) is pleased with the company’s “coverage” in the Middle East and LUFTHANSA Africa, including sales of King Air and Caravan turboprops. well received in the market.

FOKKER TECHNIK A Textron Aviation spokesperson told AIN, “The Citation Asked whether the company tures that make Citation airX+ offers the range to accom- still wanted to compete in the craft unique.” modate travel from London long-range, large-cabin jet segAccording to the spokesto Dubai. With a max range ment occupied by Gulfstream, person, Cessna’s new product of 2,700 nm (5,000 km), the Bombardier and Dassault, the pipeline continues to be strong with four newly certified aircraft coming to market within the past year: the Citation SovSECURITY ereign+, Citation M2, Citation X+ and Citation CJ3+. The next new product slated for certification in 2015 is the midConvention News size Citation Latitude.

REGISTRATION is located on the On the static line here at & ENTRANCE first floor DWC, Textron Aviation is (above the main entrance) showing a Sovereign+ and an M2, both making their MEBA Press room: +971 (0) 48879832 Ian Sheppard, Editor • Mobile: +44.7759.455770 debuts, and a King Air A250 3 BELL &

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www.ainonline.com • December 9, 2014 • MEBA Convention News 3

XJet confirms exclusive FBO deal

Khalid Hadachi, president and CEO of VIP Jet Flight support, left, and Ali Al Naqbi, founding chairman of MEBAA announced the MEBAA Morocco Show here yesterday.

MEBAA spreads wings with new Morocco show

by R. Randall Padfield The Middle East & North Africa Business Aviation Association (MEBAA), which represents more than 230 companies in the MENA region, will host its first business aviation show outside of Dubai next September 1-2 in in Morocco. The twoday MEBAA Morocco Show will be held at Casablanca’s Mohammed V International Airport under the patronage of HE Abdelaziz Rabbah, the Moroccan minister of equipment and transport. Ali Al Naqbi, founding chairman of MEBAA, announced the new event here at MEBA 2014 in Dubai yesterday.

“MEBAA covers all the countries in the Middle East and North Africa … [and] current trends predict that business aircraft movements in the region could reach 22,750 by the end of this year,” Al Naqbi explained at the press conference to announce the event. “We realize that Morocco is a very important market and good location,

Bizav Rallies to Feed The Middle East & North Africa Business Aviation Association (MEBAA) and the UN’s World Food Program have released details of how their Fly & Feed program to combat hunger will work in practice. Participating MEBAA operators will donate $20 to the program for every flight they make. They will inform passengers of the initiative and they will then be free to contribute as well if they wish. So far MEBAA has raised $25,000 for the cause. n

actually the center, for business aircraft coming from Europe and North Africa.” A WingX study commissioned by MEBAA found that Morocco accounts for 50 percent of all North African business aircraft movements.

“Business aviation has been growing in Morocco and my meeting with the government there has resulted in an airport being dedicated to business aviation.” This airport, Ben Slimane (GMMD), lies about halfway between Casablanca and Rabat and was planned to be the new commercial airport for Casablanca, but the airlines apparently balked at the move, so it is now being used only for MRO operations.

In addition, “the government has agreed to issue more licenses for FBOs and for more operators in Morocco,” Al Naqbi said. “So we thought that this would be the right place to a have a presence there, because the market is dynamic and moving in the right direction. Morocco is considered to be one of the top five countries in the region where business aviation is doing very well.”

MEBAA expects the event to attract at least 25 aircraft on static display, 50 exhibitors and 2,000 visitors. “I know we can have more than 50 aircraft, but the other members wanted to be more careful,” he said. A MEBAA conference of two or three hours is also being planned to take place during the event.

Although there will not be an exhibit hall at the event, temporary structures will be erected for each exhibitor and for the MEBAA conference.

The website for the new event is www.mebaamorocco.aero. o

XJet has confirmed that it is to open a second Gulf-based FBO, at Dammam, Saudi Arabia. The announcement comes a year and a half after the U.S.-based group unveiled plans for an operation at Dubai World Central.

Speaking to AIN at the MEBAA Conference on Sunday, XJet CEO Josh Stewart said the Saudi authorities had confirmed that the agreement would go ahead for five years following completion of a two-year construction phase, likely in late 2016.

“We are delighted to announce that we have been officially awarded an exclusive license to operate our business model at Dammam Airport in Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia. The airport team understood they wanted to attract more business and private aviation to this airport. They have got an incredible opportunity to do that with land space right next to the business aviation runway,” Stewart said.

“It’s a greenfield site. We’ve already picked the location.

We’ve negotiated terms. We’ve already engaged HOK and Faithful and Gould to help with the project and design of the facility. There’s a two-year

construction window and then a five-year exclusive contract, for a combination of seven years,” he said. “We’ll begin operations in the fourth quarter of 2016. The airport is interested in us [operating from temporary facilities] while we are constructing the [building].”

Given the potential for business aviation growth in the region, the company has been keen to expand its business model beyond hub Dubai–Saudi Arabia is the other major business and general aviation hot-spot in the region, and XJet’s enthusiasm and expertise is sure to stand the kingdom in good stead.

Dammam joins a growing list of locations where XJet (Stand 545) is opening facilities. A center at London-Stansted Airport opened last month (although the full refurbishment will not be completed

until early summer next year) and a Dubai center is set to begin operations in the fourth quarter of 2015 (see page 8).

Elsewhere in Europe, XJet is building a new facility on an 18-acre site at Paris-le Bourget, which is scheduled to begin operations in the fourth quarter of 2016. The site includes a 70,000sq-ft climate-controlled hangar.

Like the London-Stansted facility, it will serve the aircraft of 20 XJet club members, while also being open for other customers.

XJet is also planning to implement phase 2 of its construction plans at the company’s original Denver location, which is running at its capacity of 21 members. Building is due to start in the second quarter of next year to expand capacity. Currently XJet uses only seven acres of the 18 it has available. o

VIP SUPERJET GETS RUSSIAN APPROVAL Sukhoi has received approval for the VIP version of its Sukhoi Superjet 100 twinjet. This approval, issued by the Russian interstate aviation committee aviation register last month, is equivalent to certification. The Superjet will compete against the Embraer Lineage 1000, ACJ and BBJ in the “bizliner” market.

–D.D.

DAVID McINTOSH

DAVID McINTOSH

by Peter Shaw-Smith

TRYING IT ON FOR SIZE Even with all the virtual brochures and electronic imaging, there is still no substitute for the touch and feel of the real, live article. Shows such as MEBA allow potential buyers to experience the merchandise in a real-world way.

4 MEBA Convention News • December 9, 2014 • www.ainonline.com

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Pilatus hoping PC-24 can crack Gulf market Pilatus Business Aircraft (Chalet A13) is gearing up for the 2017 arrival of its new PC-24 and is hoping that the new “versatile” twinjet will break a Middle East market which has been slow to see the virtues of its PC-12 turboprop single.

Pilatus will use the existing PC-12 dealer/service center network to support the PC-24, but says it could add to it; late last month it appointed Amac Aerospace of Switzerland as its exclusive Middle East dealer for the PC-24, building on its partnership (based out of Istanbul) for the PC-12.

“Pilatus is committed to retaining our existing global partner network to sell and service the PC-24,” said Tom Aniello, U.S.-based vice president of Pilatus Business Aircraft.

“For over 20 years, the Pilatus Center network has done an outstanding job of distributing and supporting the PC-12 fleet.

We see no reason to change the partnerships that work so well today between Pilatus, the Pilatus Centers and our customers. In fact, for the past 13 years in a row, an independent survey of customers ranked PC-12 service as the best in the industry.

“We also feel that the local relationships our Centers have developed with customers in their regions are very important, as many of these customers transition to the PC-24. The size of the network is continuously evaluated to ensure we are providing the best support

to our customers. In areas of the world that we believe are under-served by Pilatus representation, we will seek the right partners to help us deliver a Pilatus-class experience.”

Aniello did not have any additional information on when Pilatus would re-open the PC-24 order book. At the EBACE show in May, Pilatus opened and then closed the order book for the airplane after receiving nonrefundable deposits for 84 aircraft. “That quantity of aircraft represents the first three years of scheduled production.

The next available unsold aircraft will deliver in 2020, but we elected to freeze the backlog at that point, rather than commit to pricing and delivery dates so far in the future. As everyone knows, the further out you try to forecast the future, the fuzzier the picture gets,” Aniello said.

Engine Maintenance

Pilatus is working with Williams International to develop an hourly engine maintenance program, and separately an airframe maintenance program for the PC-24, but details are still in the works. The PC-24 will be powered by a pair of Williams FJ44-4A engines (3,435 lb of thrust each, 5,000-hour TBO). “We have not yet established final pricing for either the engines’ or the airframe maintenance,” he said. “Customers can expect direct operating costs very similar to other business jets in the same weight and power class as the PC-24.”

IAN SHEPPARD

by Mark Huber

Pilatus rolled out the first PC-24 jet from its Swiss factory amid great fanfare. The company is counting on the allure of the PC-24’s jet engines to open a Middle East market that has been slow to recognize the benefits of its PC-12 turboprop single.

PC-24s destined for the North and South American markets will be completed at Pilatus’s Broomfield, Colorado campus.

“At our Broomfield operations, we currently employ 75 people to manage the North and South American sales and service network, craft and install the interiors of the PC-12 NG, paint the aircraft to the customer’s specification and deliver the final aircraft to our customer,” said Aniello. “In 2014 we will complete over 50 aircraft at this facility, and that puts us almost at the peak of our physical capacity.

We plan to conduct similar completions functions for PC-24s going to customers in North and South America and will obviously have to expand to accommodate that growth.”

Pilatus already is putting the pieces in place for training on the PC-24, recently signing an

Pilatus’s computer-generated marketing materials highlight the versatility of the developmental PC-24, showing it operating from unimproved strips such as this one.

6 MEBA Convention News • December 9, 2014 • www.ainonline.com

agreement with FlightSafety International for flight crew initial type certification and recurrent training. FlightSafety is currently constructing a Level D simulator for the PC-24 that will be based in Dallas, Texas. “We felt that FlightSafety offered the best combination of technology, instructors, simulators, training materials and customer service that will enable PC-24 pilots to safely realize all the performance capabilities of this innovative new aircraft,” Aniello said. For maintenance training, Pilatus is partnering with FlightSafety to develop a curriculum that will include hands-on technician training using a real PC-24, and this training will be available at a Pilatus Training Center.

PC-12 Popular Elsewhere

Meanwhile, demand for the PC-12 continues to be strong around the world some two decades after its introduction– with more interest in fleet orders including one from Californiabased Surf Air for 15 aircraft and options for dozens more.

“Pilatus is extremely pleased to have been selected as the aircraft supplier of choice for Surf Air,” Aniello said. “Their business model [all-you-can-fly for a fixed monthly rate] is unique and innovative, and the PC-12 NG is a key enabler for the success of their service. We will be working closely with them to ensure the first 15 aircraft provide maximum uptime to support their customers, and look forward to exercising their options for an additional 50 aircraft.

“With the proven success of the PC-12 in large fleet operations ranging from SurfAir to

PlaneSense to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to Australia’s Royal Flying Doctor Service, it seems as if the PC-12 concept has reached a critical mass, and more people now understand its tremendous capabilities and benefits. We seem to be preparing more fleet proposals than we were 10 years ago, but obviously are not able to discuss them publicly at this time,” he said.

Pilatus continues to look at adding refinements and enhancements to the PC-12.

“We design and plan for each of our aircraft to have a very long service and marketing life, and the PC-12 NG is no exception,” Aniello said. “Pilatus engineers and marketers are involved in a continuous R&D effort to look for ways to make the PC-12 NG faster, more efficient, more comfortable and more economical for our customers to operate.

Incremental improvements present a challenging task, because the original PC-12 introduced in 1994 was a very optimized design. However, new technology is constantly being introduced in the areas of propulsion, avionics, interior design, maintainability and cabin connectivity. In-flight Internet connectivity is the most desired option right now, and we are working to offer our customers the best solution possible in terms of connection speed and cost. That technology is moving very rapidly, so we must be agile and quick to keep up with our customers’ needs.” o

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Rockwell Collins ready to offer bizav package

by Matt Thurber and Bill Carey Rockwell Collins (Stand 625) has made key moves in the business aviation market headed into this year’s MEBA show, including a new Pro Line Fusion certification, upcoming certification of its touchscreen Fusion system and full integration of last year’s acquisition of Arinc.

The latest Pro Line Fusion flight deck approval comes with Brazilian ANAC and U.S. FAA certification of Embraer’s Legacy 500 super-midsize business jet. EASA certification was expected by year-end. Pro Line Fusion in the Legacy 450/500 is presented to pilots through four 15-inch displays in the instrument panel, supplemented by an optional HGS-3500 head-up display and the EVS-3000 enhanced vision system. ADS-B capabilities are available as an option, as are Link 2000+ controllerpilot data link communications

and the Rockwell Collins MultiScan Threat Detection System weather radar. Pilots can select which information to display on the LCD panels, ranging from synoptic systems diagrams to navigation charts and maps and flight-critical data, including 3-D synthetic vision, graphical flight planning and geo-referenced (own-ship) position on charts and airport maps.

For easier updates of chart databases and sharing of maintenance data, the Legacy 500 is also equipped with the Rockwell Collins Aircraft Information Manager (AIM) system. When a Wi-Fi access point is available, the AIM automatically downloads updates and also sends maintenance data to Embraer’s Aircraft Health Analysis and Diagnosis system. A new capability offered by Rockwell Collins is the ability to load a flight

XJet opens up in London, will headquarter at DWC

by Curt Epstein Ever since 2007, when aviation service provider XJet opened the doors of its highly regarded U.S. facility at Centennial Airport in Denver, company founder Josh Stewart dreamed of it someday growing into a worldwide network. That dream took a step toward reality last month when XJet (Stand 545) began operations at London’s Stansted Airport.

The company whose slogan is “It’s not an FBO, its XJet,” has moved its industry-first membership club model and “7-Star” service out of the U.S. for the first time, taking over the

250,000-sq-ft (23,226-sq-m) former SR Technics facility, which recently housed the Diamond Hangar, one of five service providers on the field. The facility, which had its soft launch at the beginning of November, has already handled a private Airbus A340, which could easily fit in the l90,000-sq-ft (8,361-sq-m) single-span hangar. In fact, the hangar can hold anything short of an Airbus A380.

The 17,000-sq-ft (1,579-sq-m) terminal is currently undergoing a $1.6 million upgrade, slated for completion in the second quarter

plan from an iPad tablet computer directly to Pro Line Fusion.

Rockwell Collins is expecting to receive FAA certification for its first Pro Line Fusion Touch flight deck retrofit for Beechcraft King Airs by the end of this year. The approval this year will be available for King Airs equipped with Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 avionics; a Pro Line II to Pro Line Fusion Touch upgrade package should receive certification next summer. The Fusion Touch retrofit includes three large touchscreen displays with synthetic vision capability.

Another recent program win for Rockwell Collins is the new Bombardier Challenger 650, which will feature a Pro Line Fusion (not touchscreen) flight deck similar to that installed in the Global 5000/6000 and Legacy 450/500.

Arinc Fitting In Well

In the year since Rockwell Collins acquired Arinc for $1.4 billion, the company has folded the Annapolis, Md.-based business into an “information management services” organization with its earlier-acquired Ascend Flight Information Solutions of 2015. Here at MEBA, XJet is unveiling its plans for the facility’s interior, which will include a dedicated lounge for Middle Eastern VVIPs, a dedicated space and check-in for traveling sports teams, and separate areas for XJet club members, itinerant passengers and crewmembers.

Next July, XJet will bring its business model to the Middle East with the opening of its next location and its new global headquarters at the new private aviation terminal at Dubai World Central (DWC). The company’s 8,611-sq-ft (800-sq-m) club facility, located by the VIP gate, will offer private entrances on both air and land sides. By the end of 2015, to help fill what it describes as a “total void of hangar space in this region,” XJet promises a pair of new 79,000-sq-ft (7,339sq-m) climate-controlled hangars

Planned for a July opening, XJet’s facility at Dubai World Central (DWC) Airport will serve as the company’s new global headquarters.

8 MEBA Convention News • December 9, 2014 • www.ainonline.com

FAA certification of the new Pro Line Fusion Touch flight deck retrofit for Beechcraft King Airs, a major upgrade, is expected before the end of this year.

(the former Air Routing International) and Computing Technologies for Aviation (CTA) businesses. The combination, branded as Arinc Direct, presents to the marketplace a robust suite of international-trip and flight-planning software and communications connectivity on the ground and in the aircraft.

The Arinc Direct business aviation segment has 3,600 individual subscribers, or aircraft “tails,” but Rockwell Collins measures progress in the number of subscribers to its newly bundled products. Jeff Standerski, senior vice president, information management services, said, “When we started out here, our objective capable of holding aircraft up to Boeing BBJs and Airbus ACJs, with another pair due a year later, in a second construction phase.

“I believe the Middle East is a huge growth market,” said company founder, president and CEO Stewart, citing Middle East Business Aviation Association predictions of doubling the region’s private jet fleet over the next five to 10 years. “And I believe our XJet business model is ideally suited for here, because there is a lack of facilities, a lack of hangarage in this marketplace and a lack of service in this market.”

Like its U.S. operation, XJet will be accepting a limited number of “club members” at each location who will pay an annual membership fee based on aircraft size, which will guarantee them a specific dedicated hangar location as well as provide access to XJet’s 24/7 global concierge services. At Stansted and in Dubai, the membership fee will also cover all aircraft handling costs.

“This is incredibly exciting as it has always been our vision to grow a global network and continue to challenge the status quo,” said Stewart. “We believe we built a different type of business model and to be in Europe and the Middle East and maintain our advantage in America, we’ll form a global network and I think a new benchmark in the industry, so I’m very proud to finally get going.” o

was to look at where are the Ascend customers that might have different connectivity than Arinc, where are the Arinc customers that might use different international trip planning–and sync those customers up so that we can provide a combined value proposition. We’ve been able to do that on 60-plus tails already within a nine-month period.”

Founded by airlines in 1929 as Aeronautical Radio, Inc., Arinc is well known as a provider of airto-ground radio communications to the airline industry, and the commercial airline segment represents 40 percent of its business.

Corporate aviation represents 20 percent, but stands out as the fastest-growing segment in Rockwell Collins’s five-year strategic plan.

Arinc Direct’s bundled offerings should drive that growth. “We are significantly increasing the investment in this segment of the business…to go focus on those areas where we can pull together products,” Standerski said.

There are also promising “synergies” between Arinc Direct and Rockwell Collins’s core strength in avionics systems, namely its latest Pro Line Fusion flight deck and Venue cabin management systems. The state-of-the-art Pro Line Fusion system has already been fielded on 200 business jets, while Venue has been installed in 450 passenger cabins. “As we look at those three unique brands and capabilities, as well as pull those together, we believe that’s the unique value proposition that Rockwell Collins has in the marketplace,” declared Standerski.

The newly integrated Arinc Direct has developed some new products, including a “tankering” feature, accessed through the Arinc Direct on-line customer portal, that helps operators determine the optimal amount of fuel to carry onboard for multileg journeys. The Arinc Direct iPad app has been improved with a new weight-and-balance/ performance feature that provides pilots with a way to make accurate computations on their handheld devices with or without an Internet connection. o

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When von Braun was preparing to fly NASA’s Gulfstream aircraft in 1968, the agency turned to the trusted leader in training – FlightSafety International. He praised his instructors and the training, writing, “I learned more about flying the ‘Gulfstream’ in six hours [of FlightSafety simulator training] than in 400 previous hours as a cross-country copilot.” Von Braun was so impressed with the quality and effectiveness of his training and potential of the company, he agreed to join FlightSafety’s board of directors in 1969 and helped to make the company the leader it is today.

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Aeria puts its expertise on show here at MEBA

by James Wynbrandt the company’s designers work with, “We can provide a floor plan within five days,” Soret said. “We can respond very quickly if someone wants to see something personalized for their use.”

Design Versatility

This year’s show also marks “the first time Aeria will be displaying at MEBA with a custom booth,” Soret said. The new stand, created specifically for MEBA, features largescreen monitors displaying presentations, renderings and animation of the company’s work and facilities, spotlighting both its completions and refurbishment capabilities. “There’s a semi-private feel that makes people feel comfortable, so we can carry on a conversation,” Soret said of the new booth.

The display incorporates a different color scheme, styling and design than the booth used for the NBAA or EBACE shows, hinting at the company’s design versatility.

Aeria’s message to MEBA attendees is simple, said Soret: “We have a very talented in-house

DAVID McINTOSH

Aeria Luxury Interiors (Stand 314), the completion and refurbishment division of Singapore’s ST Aerospace, is touting here at MEBA 2014 this summer’s nose-to-tail executive interior installation on a green Boeing wide-body aircraft. Ron Soret, Aeria’s general manager for completions, declined to disclose the type of aircraft or customer, citing confidentiality agreements.

Here at the show, three of Aeria’s representatives are on hand to answer any questions about its experience in executiveconfigured airliner completions, maintenance and refurbishment, and the company is also showcasing a new booth created specifically for MEBA. Chris Mason, Aeria’s v-p sales, Boyd Hunsaker, director of sales and marketing, and Juleen Sanftner, marketing manager, are here at Aeria’s booth and have tablet devices pre-loaded with cabin outfitting plans. “If someone wants to see a floor-plans presentation, we’ll be able to provide that,” Soret said. If prospective customers have ideas of their own they’d like to see

Aeria Luxury Interiors, a division of Singapore’s ST Aerospace displaying its completions expertise. At the stand are, left to right, Chris Mason, v-p of sales and marketing; Juleen Sanftner, marketing manager; and Boyd Hunsaker, director of sales and marketing.

design team with experience creating interiors for Middle Eastern clients.” Asked about any design preferences shared by clients in the region, Soret said, “The majority of the interiors we see coming out of the Middle East are all very high quality and opulent,” citing “more metal work with very rich, high-end material” among the popular touches.

While known for its completion work on executive-configured

CULTURAL EXCHANGE Traditions of the Gulf region date back thousands of years. The MEBA show is a chance for members of diverse cultures to meet, work together and press on to the future.

airliners, Soret said Aeria also aims “to leverage the large MRO network [parent company] ST Aerospace has throughout the world, to grow the maintenance and refurbishment business for VIP airplanes in the Asia-Pacific region.” ST Aerospace’s recently completed Singapore facility will serve as Aeria’s regional base.

“We think this is a good way to cultivate and build relationships with customers, and if they make the decision to trade up to a new aircraft, hopefully they’ll consider Aeria among the candidates to perform the completion,” he said. Soret reported the company has recently “secured a couple of maintenance projects and a couple of refurbishment projects,” but declined to provide details.

DAVID McINTOSH

3D Printing

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Meanwhile, Aeria has enhanced its in-house fabrication capabilities with the addition of 3D printing technology, installing some of the largest 3D printers available in its San Antonio, Texas facilities. “We use them for [making] proof-of-concept parts for design and engineering, for building static design features for the airplanes, and to build production parts,” Soret said. “We’re finding lots of uses for this capability. A lot of these interiors are one-offs, and we’ll only use one part, be it a design element in the cabin or a decorative feature in the ceiling. In lieu of expensive tooling, we’re able to print the part with a 3D printer.”

The 3D technology also speeds up completions. On a recent BBJ completion, the seat

armrests were all made using the printer, saving a significant amount of time. “The more we use it, the more uses we’re finding for it,” Soret said. “The applications on VIP interiors are pretty much unlimited.”

Aeria has come a long way since the brand was launched at the Singapore Air Show in 2012. Now a Boeing approved completion center, the company is adding 14,000 sq ft of shop space and preparing to break ground on a 7,000-sq-ft design showroom with a sales and marketing office at its headquarters. “The goal with that is to enhance the customer experience,” Soret said, “for the customer to be able to have a discussion with the design team, and see carpet samples, veneer and wood finishes, upholstered seats and amenities like China and flatware.”

The center may also showcase CMS and IFE systems, Soret said, adding, “We haven’t completely defined what we’re going to display in the showroom.” But one thing Soret is certain about: “We’re going to have a very strong presence in VIP interior completions, backed by a strong company in ST Aerospace.

We’re going to be a major player in this market.” o

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Jordan’s Arab Wings adds Iraq Gate charter

by Peter Shaw-Smith Arab Wings, the Amman, Jordan-based charter operator owned by International Wings Group (IWG, Stand 665), is increasingly busy with its offshoot company in Iraq, known as Iraq Gate.

“Iraq Gate was set up last year. There are four aircraft under the AOC, with a fifth on the way. These include two Hawker 800XPs, one King Air B200, one CRJ200 and another CRJ200 entering service before the end of the year,” Ahmad Abu Ghazaleh, CEO and general manager, Arab Wings, told AIN in an interview. An Embraer Legacy 600 will also join Iraq Gate’s fleet.

The aircraft are on charter and in long-term use with international oil and gas companies, mostly for internal use in Iraq, with the busiest destinations being Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, Baghdad and Basra. “At times, we are doing 70 hours a month per aircraft. Our Iraqi AOC was awarded in November 2013,” he said.

Flight Training in Jordan

Adding Charter Aircraft

On the management and charter side, the combined Arab Wings and Gulf Wings fleet now numbers 24 aircraft.

“By January 2015, we will have the latest addition to the fleet, a BBJ with Gulf Wings based in Saudi Arabia,” Abu Ghazaleh said “There are six aircraft in Sharjah with the seventh, the BBJ, to be added shortly.

There are 12 aircraft with Arab Wings in Jordan. A client in Jordan is also talking to us about a Legacy 600 to be added to the managed fleet.” Sharjah, UAEbased Gulf Wings is celebrating five years of successful operations here at MEBA 2014.

Of the 24 aircraft under management, 70 percent are on charter, he said. “This year the Lineage 1000 was our largest aircraft. We

DAVID McINTOSH

Another unit of International Wings Group, the Royal Jordanian Air Academy (RJAA), continues to be an

important source of new pilots for the Middle East region. The work is ongoing to replicate the facility in Iraq.

“Our flying school in Iraq is still under study,” Abu Ghazaleh said. “All the training is taking place in Jordan. Currently, we have 400 technicians from the Iraqi air force training at the RJAA in Amman. Multiple reasons have led to the delay in setting up the Iraqi flying school.

For now, it’s just more ideal to do the training in Jordan.”

RJAA is currently training 400 pilots from the Middle East and just signed a contract to have 118 Chinese pilots train there. “We didn’t think of Jordan as the natural location to train Chinese pilots, but they studied us for a while, and saw the same standards as Europe, he explained. “We are able to fly 12 months a year because of good weather conditions, unlike Europe and the UK, where it can be difficult to fly. A quasigovernment agency recruits them for training purposes and has placed them all over world.”

China needs 500,000 new pilots in the next 20 years, to keep the growth of scheduled and general aviation going, Abu Ghazaleh said. “That’s a

huge figure, but when you look at the amount compared to the whole population, it’s the same ratio as other countries. They are looking at options around the world to do their training. There will be larger flows of Chinese pilots in future, so we are making the effort to be successful, as this could be the first step in getting many more trainees in future. They speak basic English, but we have to give them aviation English.”

RJAA also can handle up to 50 trainee pilots at any one time and nine training aircraft operating in Aqaba. If weather is poor in Amman, classes can continue in Aqaba.

FIT FOR A KING Beechcraft’s King Air series is, undoubtedly, the most successful of the twin-turboprop genre. The first of the family made its maiden flight in September 1964. Textron has a pair of King Airs on display at MEBA.

12 MEBA Convention News • December 9, 2014 • www.ainonline.com

Ahmad Abu Ghazaleh, CEO and general manager of Arab Wings oversees the Iraq Gate company, which provides charter.

also manage a Gulfstream G450, a Legacy 650, two Challenger 604s, a Citation, and different Hawkers; the latest to join the fleet was a Falcon 900 XP, which arrived last month.

“A gray market exists, Abu Ghazaleh said. “It’s always easy to do in the Middle East. I hope the authorities manage to regulate this. What would be great for large charter companies in the region would be if they could

work with, for example, the Cayman Islands authorities to get commercial approval. If they could try to find a way for the aircraft to be commercially operated, that would be a great way to regulate the gray market.”

Abu Ghazaleh said that Saudi Arabia was likely to figure in IWG’s plans. “The Saudi Arabian market is an interesting market for us, but I’d like to see where it goes in the future.” o

Gogo adding Text & Talk upgrade for business jets

by Matt Thurber Gogo Business Aviation isn’t just a manufacturer of inflight connectivity systems for business aircraft, but is also a service provider for its Inmarsat SwiftBroadband satcom systems.

“We see the Middle East as being a very interesting market,” said John Wade, Gogo Business Aviation’s executive vice president and general manager. “We have been selling SwiftBroadband successfully for several years, and now we’ve stepped into the service arena. We’re hoping to extend that into the Middle East, and [want customers to] know that Gogo Business Aviation can solve their equipment and service needs.”

Gogo (Stand 415) has also expanded its presence in the Middle East, with an agent based in Abu Dhabi and the opening of a new office in Dubai.

Passengers on Gogo-equipped business jets will appreciate a new feature that Gogo is launching next year, Text & Talk for SwiftBroadband. Text & Talk is a software upgrade that allows Gogo customers to use their own smartphones to send and receive text messages and make telephone calls, without having to dial special numbers or codes, just like using their smartphone on the ground. Text & Talk has

been available on Gogo’s air-toground network, which is available only in the U.S. and Canada, so the expansion to Gogo’s Aviator SwiftBroadband system opens Text & Talk to the rest of the world.

The only alternative for passengers to use their smartphones to connect to an airborne telecom system has been installation of a picocell in the aircraft, but that could cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, according to Wade.

Gogo’s inflight entertainment system, the Gogo Vision streaming movie delivery service, is currently only available for U.S.-registered aircraft, because of region content licensing agreements.

Next year, the company plans to sign new region licensing agreements so it can offer Gogo Vision to operators flying aircraft registered in other countries, according to Wade. Gogo Vision, delivered within the aircraft by Gogo’s UCS 5000 system, is an all-in-one smart router and media server, provides a rotating library of firstrun movies and TV shows, along with other services. Passengers can access the content on a variety of personal Wi-Fi-enabled devices including smartphones, tablets and laptops. o

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Pavilion 5 nexus.aero

Gold plating a specialty for U.S. metalworker

by James Wynbrandt

New brokerage service targets top-end market

by David Donald Vertis Aviation of Switzerland and K5 Aviation of Germany, both of whom have considerable expertise in managing and operating business aircraft at the upper end of the market, are launching 28 East, a new aircraft brokerage service, here at MEBA 2014. Although specializing in sales of aircraft valued at $10 million and above, 28 East can assist with the purchase of aircraft of any value.

“We are very excited to be launching 28 East and believe that we will quickly carve a niche position in the brokerage market,” said Vertis Aviation’s Luca Madone, partner at 28 East. “We know this market very well. I don’t think another company has the expertise we have,” he said.

The launch of 28 East (named after the line of longitude where Europe becomes Asia) follows several previous requests from the clients to assist with aircraft sales. While this was conducted on a smallscale, ad hoc basis, it provided the impetus to launch a formal brokerage business that leverages the large client network of the two partners, and their combined expertise in the large aircraft market.

Based at Vertis Aviation’s headquarters in Zug, Switzerland, 28 East has been established with the necessary infrastructure to provide a complete brokerage service. “We believe we have an exceptional advantage, because we have literally taken aircraft from green-sheet specification to full completion and re-delivery,” said Madone. “Combine this with the operational knowledge of K5 and we have a nose-to-tail solution for clients looking to sell or purchase aircraft.”

Offered services include prebuy inspections, aircraft selection, sale management, completion, selection of management company, crew resourcing and operations. 28 East recognizes that a solid understanding of the highvalue market is critical to success. “Selling a VVIP airliner is very different from normal sales,” Madone told AIN. “There are a very small number of transactions, and no aircraft is the same as another.” Matching highly individualized aircraft to customers requires time-intensive research by dedicated staff, along with detailed intelligence about the market itself.

28 East is launching with a portfolio of two listed aircraft.

A 2007 Airbus ACJ319 is for

sale, equipped with a 19-seat interior, a master bedroom with en suite shower, a second bedroom, two conference rooms, a well-equipped galley and a sophisticated IFE/communications suite. The other aircraft on the list is a 2000 Bombardier Global Express, refurbished in 2011 with a 12-passenger interior. Although details remain undisclosed, two more aircraft are to be added to 28 East’s list imminently.

In the meantime, Vertis Aviation is growing its own charter fleet with the addition of a Boeing BBJ and a Gulfstream G450, which will be available for charter from January. The BBJ, in particular, is expected to generate much interest in the Middle East. The current fleet includes two Airbus ACJs, Global Express, Global XRS, Global 6000, Gulfstream G650 and Falcon 7X. Reflecting a growth in regional business, Vertis is expanding its Dubai office further, having established the site a year ago. The company is finalizing the set-up of a new office in Johannesburg, South Africa, and is now looking to establish an office in the U.S. The company’s other office is in London, where about half of its business is charter brokerage.

Vertis’s partner in 28 East, K5 Aviation, operates a managed fleet comprising three Airbus ACJ319s, two Global Expresses and a Global XRS. o

Hadid widens global footprint

by David Donald Headquartered in Dubai, Hadid International Services provides a wide range of flight support services. The 30-yearold company has considerably expanded its international network in recent times, with Ethiopia being the latest addition to the list of countries in which Hadid has an office. All told the company now has 19 offices worldwide, including a strong presence in Africa.

In the Americas Hadid (Stand 530)

recently opened offices in the U.S. and Brazil, while in Europe a Turkish branch is now functioning. A partnership with Wallan Aviation added Saudi Arabia to the roster.

Hadid continues to grow in areas where economies are developing, and in areas where trip support can greatly aid operations. Asian operations began four years ago with offices established in India and Pakistan, and recently Sri Lanka was

14 MEBA Convention News • December 9, 2014 • www.ainonline.com

added. Hadid is in the process of opening an office Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and aims to launch an office in China next year.

Africa has been an area of interest for decades, where the lack of infrastructure and regulatory environment make trip support a near-necessity. Hadid opened its first office in Senegal, before adding additional locations in Algeria, Libya and Niger, where the company says it has an exclusive contract with the Niger civil aviation authority.

South Africa and, more recently, Ethiopia have subsequently been added to the network. “We have seen promising growth that is still increasing in Africa, accompanied by strong Asian investment in the continent,”

to achieve ISO-9002 certification. In addition to cosmetic finishes, Tanury also uses physical vapor deposition (PVD) to harden metal parts, such as door thresholds and other parts exposed to wear.

The company’s capabilities aren’t confined to aircraft interiors, and can be applied to “the interiors of yachts, palaces and restaurants, anything requiring very high-end metal finishing,” Tanury said. The company has examples of its finished parts on display here at MEBA and is eager to meet attendees interesting in learning more about its high-quality finishing. o

DAVID McINTOSH

One of the launch aircraft for new brokerage service 28 East is this 2000 Bombardier Global Express.

Tanury Industries of Lincoln, Rhode Island, is displaying its aerospace coatings and metal finishing work here at MEBA 2014. Performed “primarily for VVIP and VIP jet interiors,” according to chairman Thomas Tanury, the company provides finishes for “cup holders, lights, vents, inlays, seat-belt buckle covers, basically any metal part on the inside of an aircraft. Our claim to fame is quality and service.”

Exhibiting at MEBA for the third time, the company (Stand 640, U.S. Pavilion) recently provided the gold plating for the interior of a head-of-state Boeing 747 completion, but confidentiality agreements forbid disclosing details of the work, Tanury said. Nonetheless, gold plating is one of the company’s specialties among the more than 150 aviation finishes it offers.

“When I first started, we analyzed the gold plating on competitors’ products,” Tanury said. “We measure gold plating in millionths of an inch. Our competitors were using what we call a ‘flash’ of gold, which is three to five millionths of an inch. We give customers 10 millionths of an inch, for the same price. The cost of gold,” he added, “isn’t the big factor. It’s the labor required.”

Representing what it calls “the cutting edge” of aviation plating, Tanury has pioneered new technologies such as a heavy platinum coating process and electropheretic clear coat systems. It was the first aviation-plating company to obtain an FAA repair station certificate, and the first decorative electroplater in the U.S.

Rhode Island-based Tanury Industries is experienced at gold plating aircraft interior components, and is now also looking to yachts, palaces and restaurants for additional work.

commented Hadid regional director Issa Zuriqi. “The plan is to cover the continent within a year.”

To increase its service provision capability to match growing demands, Hadid last month agreed to partner with satellite communications specialist Satcom Direct (Stand 765) to jointly offer their flight planning, aircraft datalink, flight-following and international trip support services. The alliance with the U.S.-based connectivity specialist is intended to ensure that Hadid’s FlightDeck Freedom datalink packages are compatible with modern avionics and cabin systems equipment. o

Welcome home.

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Lufthansa Technik AG, marketing.sales@lht.dlh.de Call us: +49-40-5070-5553

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More mobility for the world

Nexus family welcomes auditing group Wyvern

by Charles Alcock The recent acquisition of aviation risk management and safety audit provider Wyvern Consulting marks the latest chapter in the expansion of flight operations support company Nexus. In recent years, the Saudi Arabia-based group also has extended its presence in key markets beyond the Middle East with the opening of new flight support operations in Africa, India and Europe.

U.S.-based Wyvern became part of Nexus Services America following an acquisition from online charter portal Avinode. Its Wyvern Wingman and Wyvern Registered audits now will be promoted by Nexus, which also has partnerships with training provider FlightSafety International, security specialist FAM International and consultants MAZ Aviation Group.

Nexus (Chalet P5) moved quickly to strengthen the Wyvern board with the appointment of three new directors: former NetJets executive Vincent Santulli, former Beechcraft executive Shawn Vick and former FAA associate administrator Nick Sabatini. Wyvern CEO Art Dawley, an experienced corporate pilot and flight department manager, also has joined the board.

The Wyvern management team has been further bolstered by the appointment of Phil

Nexus president and CEO Abdullah Al-Sayed said the company’s acquisition of risk management and safety audit provide Wyvern will be a valuable addition to its service portfolio, and especially for clients in regions such as the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

Dawley as chief information officer, with responsibility for managing IT compliance programs and new product development.

Ray Smith has come to the company from Jet Aviation Flight Services to be its new director of audit operations and he will be supported by new deputy director Carl Flynn.

According to Nexus president and CEO Abdullah AlSayed, his main motive for acquiring motive was the lack of established safety audit and risk management companies in key emerging markets like the Middle East, Africa and Asia. “Of the companies providing these services, Wyvern is the most protective of its standards,” he told AIN. “It is very rigid and conservative, and there has never been an accident with an aircraft it has audited. We’re restructuring the company, but we’re not interfering with its standards.”

Avoiding Conflict of Interest

Nexus does not have its own executives on the Wyvern board, in part to avoid any perceived conflict of interest in its role as an aircraft management company. The new board members were chosen for their rich experience with leading manufacturers, operators and regulatory bodies.

In November, Wyvern held the first of its reorganized advisory board meetings and included several operators who are not customers as well as representatives of bodies such as the Flight Safety Foundation and the United Nations Food Program. The meeting included just over 30 percent participation by companies and individuals from outside the U.S. Currently, Nexus has around 13 aircraft under full management for purely private Part 91 operations and provides various levels of management support (mainly involving scheduling and dispatching) for another 135. It is approved as a continuing airworthiness management organization by authorities in the Isle of Man, the Cayman Islands and Bermuda.

Nexus’s flight operations center in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, is staffed by a team of business aviation professionals and provides operators with a wide range of support services, spanning aircraft management, scheduling and dispatching.

According to Al-Sayed, the aircraft Nexus manages are operated to the standards of air operator certificate holders.

The company is IS-BAO-certified and preparing to be audited for the higher IS-BAO stage two standard in January.

In October, Wyvern released the latest Revision 2.0 version of its Wingman Standard that sets the safety benchmark expected for Wingman certified operators. The new standard is based on feedback from a variety of industry sources and customers and takes account of how new technology has changed the risk approach taken by aircraft manufacturers, training providers and operators.

The changes in Revision 2.0 include an alternative method for pilots to achieve their 90and 365-day aircraft type currency requirements for Pilot and Aircraft Safety Surveys by measuring operations defined in the standard as Critical Segments of Flight. The new approach is intended to take more account of how pilots handle high workload environments over shorter flight segments, rather than simply basing the assessment of total flight hours.

According to Dawley, becoming part of the Nexus group has given Wyvern far greater access to international markets and it intends to co-locate its representatives in all Nexus offices.

The change in ownership should also improve Wyvern’s ability to guide its charter-buying clients to a wider network of approved operators globally.

In an alliance with insurance company AIG, Wyvern is

16 MEBA Convention News • December 9, 2014 • www.ainonline.com

now offering a new package of safety and loss control services called AirGuard. The service addresses the safety and regulatory risks faced by corporate flight departments and charter operators.

Intercontinental Support

In addition to its flight operations centers in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain, Nexus now has an East African base in the Rwandan capital Kigali.

The group also has partnerships with FlightSafety International, security specialist FAM International and consultants MAZ Aviation Group.

Last month, through its alliance with FlightSafety, it signed a contract with South Korea’s Aquila International through which it will train Korean flight dispatchers in Saudi Arabia.

It has also been training staff from Nigeria.

This year has seen the Nexus flight operations center move into a new high technology headquarters in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. In September, it introduced a new flight dispatch system. The flight operations center includes four core teams: the Service Excellence team, which is the main interface with clients, Scheduling and Planning, Flight Support and Dispatch.

The Nexus office in Rwanda has been operational since early 2014. Working with local partner Crystal Venture Limited, it supports flights throughout Africa and also provides flight dispatch training for local operators.

In India, Nexus is partnered with Sovika Group, which

provides ground support services at several of the country’s international airports. Nexus is providing the growing Indian business aviation market with trip planning, flight dispatch, crew and aircraft scheduling, maintenance management and concierge services.

In Europe, Nexus is working with local partner FlyTrans (part of the Balguerie Group).

In addition to flight support, the partnership specializes in air cargo logistics.

According to Al-Sayed, for 2014, Nexus is set to achieve a growth rate of around 24 percent in the volume of flight activity it supports worldwide. The growth rate of flights involving Saudi Arabia alone is more like 40 percent.

“The recovery [in business aviation activity for the Middle East] has not been as quick as we had hoped, but people in the industry here are now more comfortable and optimistic,” he concluded. He indicated that falling oil prices will not have a serious impact on the market in oil-producing states and said that, with the exception of Yemen and Syria, most states rare recovering from the instability resulting from the so-called Arab Spring political upheaval. o

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Honeywell’s forecast sees less growth here

Factors Influencing Purchasing Plans in Middle East/Africa

Honeywell Aerospace’s recently released 23rd annual Business Aviation Outlook calls for up to 9,450 new business jets worth $280 billion to be delivered over the next 10 years.

While that’s up by 200 aircraft from the 2013 forecast, the share of projected five-year global demand in the Middle East and Africa moved below its historical range, the company noted.

In fact, 18 percent of operators in the Middle East and Africa surveyed by Honeywell for the outlook said they plan to purchase a new business jet as a replacement or addition, down from 26 percent last year.

“The level of purchase plans is under the world average and unsurprising in that it has been a year of significant political upheaval and ongoing conflict in the region, as well as a year in which oil prices have drifted lower and health crises have emerged in Africa,” Honeywell said. “Regional distress has taken a toll, with operators in the region scheduling their purchases later in the next five-year window than expected last year, with only 21 percent of purchases planned before 2017.”

The overall global forecast reflects an 8-percent increase in projected billings over the 2013 outlook, thanks to 200 more forecasted aircraft deliveries, “modest” list price increases and the continued strong demand for larger business jets. Notably,

annual billings are expected to surpass peak 2008 levels in 2017 and beyond, though unit deliveries are not projected to reach the 2008 peak any time during the 10-year forecast.

In the near term, Honeywell is projecting deliveries of 650 to 675 new jets this year, a singledigit percent increase from 2013.

This improvement is largely due to “program schedule recoveries, new model introductions and additional fractional uptake,” the company said.

“2015 industry deliveries are anticipated to be up modestly again, reflecting momentum from several new model introductions and some gains linked to incremental global economic growth,” said Honeywell Aerospace president for business and general aviation Brian Sill.

Honeywell (Stand 562) bases its forecast on a survey of operators about their future aircraft purchasing plans. In its latest survey, Honeywell found that operators plan to make new jet purchases equivalent to about 23 percent of their fleets over the next five years, either as a replacement or addition. While this is several points lower than the past four survey cycles, it is in line with results of 25 percent or less that were the norm until 2006.

Of these five-year new business jet purchase plans, 19 percent are expected by year-end 2015, and 14 and 22 percent are scheduled for 2016 and 2017,

Iraq-Syria combat ops curtail some bizav flying

by Peter Shaw-Smith Overflight restrictions resulting from military operations against Islamic State insurgents in Iraq and Syria has somewhat reduced Middle East business aviation flight activity, according to Dubai-based UAS International Trip Support.

“The general aviation sector in the Middle East is still very significant, but activity is not at the high rates of recent years,” UAS co-founder and executive president Mohammed Husary told AIN. “The impact of the current overflight restrictions

in place in northern Iraq and Syria is affecting how the shorter-range aircraft operate and [operators] are routing their aircraft north and south of this region as they travel east and west.”

But Husary indicated this is only a temporary setback and that longer-term prospects for bizav growth in the region remain good. “We are seeing continued growth in operational activity by Europe- and Far East-based operators,” he explained. “Activity in Africa

SOURCE: HONEYWELL

by Chad Trautvetter

According to Honeywell, the Middle East/Africa region has a higher preference for larger aircraft compared with the world average.

The most important criteria for replacing old aircraft with newer models is range, which is also true of other regions.

respectively. Purchase timing is shifted somewhat later compared with last year’s results, leading to a modest slowdown in projected demand for the near term, but is offset by pre-sold positions for new models entering service over the next two years.

Midsize Recovery

Operators surveyed continue to prefer larger jets–those ranging from super-midsize to ultralong-range to bizliners–meaning these types will dominate billings over the forecast. In the near term, Honeywell said these models are expected to account for more than 75 percent of all expenditures on new business jets. Volume growth between now and 2024 will be led by this segment, reflecting 60 percent of is also on the increase, which we are supporting via our regional office in Lagos, Nairobi and our African headquarters in Johannesburg.

This has also been the case in America, after the opening of our Americas Headquarters in Houston. Charter business and fuel supply is increasing significantly from Middle East-based clients.”

UAS provides trip support services across every continent. “We are strategically positioned with headquarters in Houston, Johannesburg, Hong Kong and Dubai. In addition, we have several regional offices including Nigeria, Kenya and Beijing. We also have ground support in Cameroon, Ghana, the Ivory Coast, Gabon, Ethiopia, China and India and UAS

18 MEBA Convention News • December 9, 2014 • www.ainonline.com

additional units and nearly 85 percent of additional values, the company estimated.

“The strong desire for largercabin aircraft with greater range and advanced avionics is seen again in this year’s survey,” Sill said. “We are also seeing some improved interest in light and midsize jets this year.” In fact, the Honeywell forecast notes that the midsize and smaller jets recovered some share for the first time in several years, reflecting improved prospects for in-production aircraft and stronger interest in newer models in this class.

In its latest forecast, Honeywell sees a realignment of near-term regional market shares, with business jet demand from North America slipped two percentage points to 59 percent over next

five years after increasing for the first time since 2010 in last year’s outlook. “New aircraft acquisition plans in North America are still significant given the region’s overall size,” Sill said. “Coupled with projected gains in fractional fleet deliveries, North American demand should still support industry volumes as some of the traditional higher-growth regions work through another year of reduced growth rates.”

Europe is expected to be the next-largest market for business jets in the next five years, accounting for 18 percent of new deliveries, up 6 percentage points from last year’s outlook. Latin America is projected to account for 17 percent of the near-term demand, followed by Asia and the Middle East each at 3 percent. o

representatives within every continent to ensure that no matter where our clients fly to or from, they can expect the same high level of service,” Husary said.

He singled out several locations that were proving attractive today. “Dubai is still very popular. Many India-based operators have regular flight

activity to the UAE. We also see an increase in general aviation traffic from China to the U.S. Brazil is probably one of our top-10 destinations for traffic. Mainly operators from the U.S. are flying in and out of Brazil, but we also have European and South African clients operating there.” o

Flight planners at Dubai-based UAS International Trip Support see current flight restrictions for military operations as only a temporary setback for business aviation.

This Airbus ACJ319, operated by MJet, is on display in the MEBA static aircraft area, on behalf of Airbus Corporate Jets.

TAG tracks bizav trends by talking to customers

DAVID McINTOSH

by Ian Sheppard

ACJ319 gives ‘wings to lifestyles’

by David Donald Airbus Corporate Jets has had a strong presence in the Middle East, reaching back to the mid-1980s. To help cement that presence the company is displaying an ACJ319 at MEBA. Illustrating the ability to provide various zones within its capacious cabin, the 19-passenger aircraft operated by MJet is configured with a full-service galley and several different lounge areas, including berthable seating, and a bedroom with en suite shower/bathroom facilities at the rear of the cabin. Austria-based MJet added the ACJ319 to its charter fleet in February this year.

“Business jets are widely used in the Middle East by

companies, individuals and governments, most of which want to carry larger groups and all of which want to give wings to their lifestyles, which is why Airbus corporate jets have done so well in the region,” said Airbus COO Customers, John Leahy.

“Our wider and taller cabins deliver something that you just cannot get in traditional business jets, and that’s a better travel experience.”

Being based on the globally successful Airbus single-aisle airliner, the ACJ family offers very high levels of reliability, and access to a comprehensive worldwide support network.

The ACJ offers fly-by-wire controls, a feature that is only

just being adopted by traditional business jets, as well as Cat 3B full autoland capability.

Meanwhile, the Toulouse, France-based Airbus Corporate Jet Centre has appointed Vincent Tchengang as its new head of services sales. Having previously served with ACJC as customer support director, Tchengang then became Africa/Indian Ocean regional sales director for parent company Airbus. Now he heads a team of sales directors covering cabins, airframes and engines for ACJC, as well as taking personal responsibility for Africa, Australia, eastern Europe and south Asia. o

Middle East flyers love their WiFi

by James Wynbrandt The Middle East business aviation market “is the most sophisticated user of in-flight connectivity,” according to Steven Egli, chief commercial officer at OnAir, the in-flight mobile phone and WiFi service provider. Geneva-based OnAir (Stand 565) provides mobile connectivity solutions to more than 60 customers on five continents including airlines, governments, and operators of large cabin business jets and executive configured airliners. Its systems can be installed during aircraft completions or as a retrofit.

“The business jet market typically leads the way with any technology innovation, and connectivity is no exception,” Egli said. He noted that corporate jets

and executive airliners depend on connectivity in both the cabin and cockpit, the former keeping aircraft owners and passengers working as seamlessly “as if they were in their offices,” while enhancing the efficiency of flight operations from the flight deck.

OnAir is an Inmarsat Distribution Partner for both SwiftBroadband and GX Aviation services. Its more than 375 roaming agreements position it as the only provider to offer consistent global coverage specifically designed for mobility for both in-flight cellular and WiFi services, according to the company. Here at the show, OnAir is displaying its branded products including Internet OnAir, a WiFi hot

spot; OnAir Play, for streaming on-demand entertainment content; and Mobile OnAir, a cellular network solution.

“One of the key differentiators of Mobile OnAir is that it gives any passenger the ability to use their mobile phone exactly as they do on the ground,” Egli said. “That includes the same simplicity and privacy, without anyone needing to know where you are, which can be extremely important. Confidentiality is preserved.”

OnAir has also been developing an e-Aircraft concept with parent company SITA, which in addition to its other services, aims to incorporate maintenance and aircraft health monitoring capabilities. o

TAG Aviation and TAG Farnborough Airport are here (Stand 400) to promote enhanced support and customer service offerings across the group for business aviation clients. TAG is also highlighting the recently-completed refurbishment of the company’s FBO at its main base in Geneva, Switzerland. Franck Madinger, TAG Aviation Europe president engineering and FBOs, told AIN “We did a complete refurbishment in the summer and have added space and more facilities for crew, and facilities for our passengers. We have put privacy and comfort first.”

Madinger said that the company has seen increased activity this year as it also broadens its engineering capabilities to include refurbishment, in particular utilizing a new hangar it has in Sion, in the Swiss Alps.

“We are in the process of delivering a Global Express refurbishment…the aircraft was done in Sion for an African customer,” he explained. “And we’re doing a full refurbishment for Dassault of a Falcon 900LX.” These capabilities were added through an acquisition, “as part of our one-stop-shop strategy,” he added–the company bought an interior modification company at the beginning of 2014.

“We do heavy maintenance and have all the associated skills– we even have painting in Geneva and Part 21 was approved at the beginning of this year, so we can do very big modifications including satcom.”

Avionics modifications have long been a TAG specialty, and Madinger said the company recently signed a customer for another Pro Line 21 avionics upgrade, on a Falcon 2000EX. This will be carried out in early 2015. “Last year we became the first company to perform a Falcon 50EX upgrade in Europe,” he added. “We are also quite active on the EaSy II mod–Geneva has modified more than 45 aircraft since the beginning of the program, it’s a major modification.”

Madinger stressed however that the company would be “very cautious” about growing too much but he noted that “clearly the trend is towards bigger aircraft so we want to

be able to respond to demand, to find more hangar space. In all out locations we have plans to develop.” He noted that Geneva and Farnborough (TAG Farnborough Engineering) were the company’s two heavy maintenance bases, with the rest of the “network” (Paris and Sion, for example) having mainly line maintenance capabilities.

“For this we are always talking to our customers–we have some specific line stations [for single large customers], one in Africa [Togo] and one in France.

“We could do this in the Middle East too,” he noted. TAG does not have its own Middle East facility but Madinger said “We work with many partners there,” due to having many Middle East-based customers.

Another big focus for TAG Aviation has been greater capabilities to cater for AOG situations, so the company has bolstered its teams for this purpose and also has mobile repair teams.

Other activities in the TAG Group include a growing fleet of managed and chartered aircraft at TAG Aviation Asia, and in its European fleet, plus a range of enhancements at TAG Farnborough Airport, a popular destination for Middle East operators.

Charter a 757

TAG Aviation is now offering a Boeing 757-200ER for charter after it entered into a contract with TCS Expeditions and modified an aircraft to VIP airliner configuration. “It has leather seats and will be available in either a 58- or 72-seat configuration,” said Graham Williamson, TAG Aviation president Aircraft Management and Charter Services. He added that the contract has a term of six years starting in January 2015.

“We wanted to create a new product, something really special. It will also have high-end catering and Ku-band Wi-Fi [satcom].”He added that, “The intention is to grow the fleet, with a second and third aircraft through 2015 and 2016. The 757 has enormous potential to develop a new market.” o

www.ainonline.com • December 9, 2014 • MEBA Convention News 19

API’s Falcon 50 winglets get EASA nod on eve of MEBA Aviation Partners Inc. (API, Stand 651), just prior to the opening of MEBA 2014, received a supplemental type certificate from EASA for its high-Mach blended winglets fitted to the Dassault Falcon 50 and 50EX. With this STC in hand the company now has both FAA and EASA approvals for its winglets on all Falcon 50, 900 and 2000 aircraft.

API has experienced a healthy response to its Falcon winglets since the first was certified in May 2009. Now more than 40 percent of the in-service Falcon 2000 fleet and more than 20 percent of the Falcon 900 fleet have been outfitted with API winglets.

The Seattle-based company has optimized its original Blended Winglets for higher cruise speeds, and they are

installed as standard on the Falcon 900LX and 2000LXS/S models in production. When fitted to the Falcon 50 the high-Mach surfaces reduce drag by 5 percent at Mach 0.8, with a corresponding increase in range of a similar proportion. At optimum long-range cruise speeds the winglets provide a 7-percent range increase, while reducing emissions and operating costs.

API is also promoting its split-scimitar winglets (SSW) for the Boeing 737 range, which will shortly to be available for the BBJ2 and BBJ3. An STC for the BBJ1 is expected early next year. The SSWs have already been certified on the 737-800 and -900ER by Aviation Partners Boeing, API’s joint venture with the airframer. Nearly 200 airliners are now flying with SSWs. Compared with the original API blended-winglet configuration for the 737, the SSW provides an additional 2.5to 3-percent range increase, equating to a further range extension of 200 nautical miles or more. o

DAVID McINTOSH

by David Donald

VERTICAL MOBILITY Bell Helicopter sees promise in the Gulf region for its developmental Model 525 Jet Ranger, here at MEBA in mockup form. The company is exploring potential VVIP interior configurations.

AMAC Aerospace: Swiss Excellence in Business Aviation

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maintenance work on a variety of smaller aircraft. Total floor space extends over 21,000m² The two large hangars comfortably accommodate multiple narrow and wide-body aircraft, Boeing B747s, B777s, B787s, Airbus A340s, A330s and extend to service an A380. The smaller hangar simultaneously serves two narrow-body aircraft, Boeing Business Jets and/or Airbus A318, A319, A320 or Gulfstreams and select Bombardier jets.

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20 MEBA Convention News • December 9, 2014 • www.ainonline.com

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AfBAA endorses Global Jet Capital

by R. Randall Padfield Financing is often one of the most critical decisions for buyers of business aircraft. To help its members in this regard, the African Business Aviation Association (AfBAA) recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Global Jet Capital (GJC), a new U.S.based finance company focused on business aviation, that designates GJC as a “preferred provider of financing solutions.”

Announced immediately prior to the MEBA show here in Dubai, the agreement is expected to help make it easier for AfBAA members to obtain financing for new and preowned business jets.

“The growth in private aviation in Africa represents a significant opportunity for Global Jet Capital,” said Shawn Vick, chairman of GJC’s executive committee, “and this agreement and partnership with AfBAA is a major step in moving forward to grow this market.” Vick has formerly held senior positions with Hawker Beechcraft, Gulfstream, Bombardier, British Aerospace and Landmark Aviation.

Other members of GJC’s executive committee include Bill Boisture, formerly with Hawker Beechcraft, Gulfstream, NetJets and Butler Aviation, as an executive director and chairman; and David Rowe, founder and managing partner at AE Industrial Partners (previously known as AeroEquity and where Boisture and Vick also are partners). Rowe was formerly an executive vice president with Gulfstream Financial Services and GE Capital.

“We see an opportunity in the market,” Vick explained, “because [traditional banding] sources have taken a step back [from business aviation] and others have placed significant hurdles in the lending process so that the provision of lease financing or debt financing has proved to be challenging.”

Therefore, many businesses and individuals, who have a requirement for large cabin and long-range aircraft, have had to use their own capital to buy their aircraft, and then look for financing after the purchase, he said.

“Global Jet Capital’s assetbased approach to private aircraft financing is a significant boost to the African market,” said Tarek Ragheb, chairman

of AfBAA. “Africa has great opportunities and growth potential for private aviation, but the market faces significance challenges. This partnership with [we] will help

AfBAA members and our market tremendously.”

GJC, which has the financial capacity to fund more than $2 billion in aircraft, offers operating and interim leases,

finance leases, mortgage loans, progress payments and mezzanine financing for both new and preowned private jets.

Officially launched this October at the NBAA Convention in Orlando, Florida, GJC is a partnership of GSO Capital Partners (a Blackstone company in partnership with Franklin Capital Partners),

The Carlyle Group and AE Industrial Partners.

Currently with 80 members, AfBAA was launched in 2012 with the goal of representing the interests of the business aviation community in Africa. Ragheb and Rady Fahmy, executive director, work with the association’s founding members to lead development of the group. o

www.ainonline.com • December 9, 2014 • MEBA Convention News 21

DIAMONDS IN THE GULF

DAVID McINTOSH

Diamond Aircraft is here with examples of its DA40 single and DA42 twin piston aircraft. Both are equipped with Garmin G1000 glass avionics panels. The DA40 has a maximum range of 785 nautical miles (1,454 kilometers). The DA42 is available with either avgasburning engines or Austro Engines' AE300 turbo-diesels, which operate on diesel or jet fuel.

Rockwell Collins shows its cabin control systems

by Matt Thurber Rockwell Collins is here at MEBA 2014 highlighting improvements in its Venue cabin management and entertainment system, Airshow moving-map and audio-video on-demand (AVOD) streaming solution.

Venue is available in new aircraft, such as Dassault Falcons (where it is branded as the Falcon Cabin Management System HD+) as well as aftermarket installations. Because it incorporates a fiber-optic backbone for system control and data communications, the system can be easily upgraded as new features become available.

“Our core competency is integration,” said Jay McGrath, Rockwell Collins marketing manager for VIP and VVIP business jet cabins. “We have an amazing backbone designed around open systems.” That not only means that products from third-party vendors such as Rosen (monitors), Emteq (lighting), PPG (window shades) or Securaplane (cameras) can easily be added, but Venue product improvements can also be incorporated via a simple software upgrade, without having to dismantle the interior furnishings.

“Our philosophy was that no single vendor will be the best in anything,” he explained. “We focus on integration and strategic partners to integrate on our backbone.” Once a vendor’s product is integrated into Venue, it becomes part of the

Venue “superset” and can easily be added in any Venue installation. “We develop it once and re-use it in a much more economical fashion for customers in the future,” he said.

Venue has been installed on about 20 Gulfstream and 20 Bombardier Global jets, according to McGrath, and a total of about 450 business aircraft. The largest jet with a Venue system is an Airbus A340, and one was retrofitted last year and recently entered service, while Rockwell Collins just announced that another A340 customer has selected the Venue system, to be installed next year. “That’s where Venue seems to be doing really well, in the larger aircraft segments,” he said. The smallest aircraft with a Venue system is a King Air 350 twin turboprop.

instead of just a cabin remote control to be used by a crewmember. Switch panels at seats and on monitors are still available in case the wireless mobile device fails.

“Everyone wants to go wireless,” McGrath said, “so we strongly recommend a hybrid solution with some installed switch panels and monitors, so if there is a problem with wireless, you don’t lose control of the cabin.”

Rockwell Collins recognizes that inflight entertainment systems are mission-critical for Middle East operators, which tend to fly long distances. The Venue system’s distributed architecture prevents loss of the entire cabin management/entertainment system, because a failure will be limited to one seat or seating area. “System availability should be the biggest area of focus when you’re going to invest in a cabin system,” he said.

The Airshow system can also be displayed on mobile apps.

This feature was first released on iOS devices but will be available on Android in January as well.

Aircraft operators that want to stream movies and other content or play music in the cabin have two choices from Rockwell Collins. The Skybox system basically replicates the iOS and iTunes environment, delivering digital rights management (DRM)protected content for passenger enjoyment. This includes early window content such as newly released movies that are still showing at theaters and not available on DVD. Skybox can store up to one terabyte of content and deliver up to 10 streams of content simultaneously.

The other choice is the Rockwell Collins AVOD system, where passengers can bring their own content on USB devices to play in the cabin. The AVOD system uses

the Boxee home theater software, which is now owned by Samsung. Because this content can be shown on any DNLAcompliant device, passengers can view movies on Apple, Android, Kindle and Surface devices. The AVOD system can deliver 12 to 16 streams simultaneously, depending on whether the content is standard or high definition. For a larger aircraft, two AVOD loops can be installed to serve twice as many passengers.

In 2016, Rockwell Collins will release a new content model, which will make DRM content available on all types of devices, whether iOS, Android, etc. This new system will support streaming of early window movies, according to McGrath, as well as Internet television delivered by satellite. “We realize that wireless is here to stay and we’re developing next-generation features,” he said. o

Preferred Cabin Supplier

Here at MEBA, Rockwell Collins (Stand 625) also announced that it has selected Falcon Aviation Services of Abu Dhabi to as its preferred cabin supplier, for installation of Venue systems in VIP and VVIP aircraft.

While Venue system control via Apple iOS devices has been available for three years, Rockwell Collins now offers control using Android devices.

This feature is available starting in January. Another new feature is the ability to assign control of cabin lighting, sound and entertainment features to a single seat

Falcon Aviation Services of Abu Dhabi has been selected as the preferred cabin supplier for Rockwell Collins Venue VIP cabin management and entertainment systems. Available for three years, Venue is controlled with passengers’ Apple iOS devices.

22 MEBA Convention News • December 9, 2014 • www.ainonline.com

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Jetcraft’s Gold Coast office open for business in Australia

Jetcraft has several preowned aircraft on show at its MEBA static display area.

Aircraft trading group Jetcraft Corporation is opening a new office in the Gold Coast region of Australia. The U.S.based group is partnering with five-time Grand Prix motorcycle racing champion Mick Doohan, who now runs FBO and air charter businesses Platinum Flight Services and Global Jet at Gold Coast Airport. Doohan, who is a helicopter pilot, will be Jetcraft’s authorized sales representative for Australasia.

According to Jetcraft (Chalet P2), which also has offices and sales representation at 16 other locations worldwide, Australia and New Zealand are expected to generate around 225 new business aircraft sales worth $5.5 billion over the next decade.

“Our [expansion] strategy has always been to find the right partner first and then identify the right opportunity so that we can operate globally but have a local relationship with clients at the same time,” Jetcraft co-owner Jahid Fazal-Karim told AIN. He said that

Doohan, who previously acquired a pre-owned Bombardier Challenger 604 aircraft through Jetcraft, is “a big personality who has access to a lot of highnet worth individuals.”

According to Jetcraft, Australasia has proved to be a very good market for longrange aircraft and the company has sold several Bombardier Global models in the region. “But on the preowned side of the market there has also been demand at the lower end with buyers [with budgets] between $2 million and $15 million,” added Fazal-Karim. “We have missed out on some transactions in the past because we didn’t have a presence there.” He would like the new sales office to achieve 10 transactions each year.

Middle East Stable

Fazal-Karim said that the Middle East market continues to be relatively stable, although he did acknowledge the impact of political turmoil in some countries.

Saudi Arabia has consistently remained

London Biggin Hill Airport launches Heli Shuttle service

by James Wynbrandt & David Donald London Biggin Hill Airport (Stand 515) announced at MEBA 2014 the launch of the London Heli Shuttle, connecting Biggin Hill with London Heliport in Battersea. The service is being operated by Castle Air using a dedicated fleet of six-passenger AgustaWestland AW109 helicopters.

For £2,300 ($3,584) plus tax, including a door-to-door chauffeur car service, the heli shuttle will whisk travelers between the two points in six minutes, saving as much as two hours per day over a roundtrip transfer by ground vehicle, and offering

what Biggin Hill suggests is the shortest time from touchdown into central London from any business aviation airport.

Service will also be available to and from Vanguard Helipad on the Isle of Dogs, offering easy access to Canary Wharf, the O2 arena, the ExCel exhibition center and London City Airport.

With a dedicated point-of-entry and preapproved clearances service at Biggin Hill, passengers can literally step from their arriving aircraft on to the helicopter. Castle Air’s large fleet can cater for

The newly launched London Heli Shuttle will whisk passengers between Biggin Hill Airport and downtown London in approximately six minutes.

24 MEBA Convention News • December 9, 2014 • www.ainonline.com

DAVID McINTOSH

by Charles Alcock

the largest national market in the region but Jetcraft has been pursuing opportunities elsewhere since solidifying is position by acquiring the aircraft sales division of ExecuJet Aviation on 2013.

“On the buyer side the situation is still quite stable, but the question now will be what impact the drop in oil prices may have,” said Fazal-Karim. “We are certainly starting to see nervousness in some oil-producing countries and we have a lot of clients with interests in that industry.”

Globally, Jetcraft sees the strongest demand from preowned aircraft coming from North America these days.

“We have seen a slow down in Asia, mainly due to the political situation there, such as the recent election in Indonesia and the clampdown on luxury products in China,” commented Fazal-Karim. “But we have seen a true recovery in North America and we see more diversification there because it is a more mature market where they see the value in different sizes and types of preowned aircraft. For the industry as a whole it’s good to start seeing better levels of demand and pricing. Now everyone is waiting for the European market to recover. o

last-minute bookings, making the service highly flexible. All three FBOs at the airfield have welcomed the addition of the helicopter service, which can be booked directly or via the FBOs. “The London Heli Shuttle will enable our customers to gain more control over their time and ensures that their transit to and from London is as efficient as possible,” said Robert Walters, the Biggin Hill airport’s business development director.

“We want our customers to make London Biggin Hill Airport their gateway of choice for access to and from London and the South East.”

Biggin Hill is seeing a growth in traffic, particularly from the United States.

Middle East traffic volume remains constantly high, and some of the airport’s 65 aviation tenant companies are looking to expand their Middle East business further. Among them is the Dassault service center Jets, which is expanding and renewing approvals from Middle East authorities.

Following government assurance of a long-term business aviation future at Biggin Hill, and in recognition of its growth potential to handle greater traffic in the years to come, the airport is investing in developments such as GPS approaches being installed at each end of the runway, in place of the ILS that is installed at only one end. The GPS approaches are expected to be ready for operation in around 12 to 18 months.

In the meantime, Biggin Hill is awaiting the full outcome around the end of January of a public consultation to extend its operating hours. The airport has applied to operate from 06:30 to 23:00 on Monday to Saturday (extended from

07:30-21:00), and 08:00 to 23:00 on Sundays and public holidays (extended from 09:00-20:00). The extra hours will allow Biggin Hill to better compete for the earlymorning transatlantic arrivals, and for the late-evening Middle East departures. o

BOMBARDIER ANNOUNCES CL605 DELIVERY Bombardier Business Aircraft (Chalet A23) announced here at MEBA 2014 delivery of a Challenger 605 aircraft to Istanbul-based MNG Jet, an aircraft management and charter company with a fleet of ten aircraft.

“We are thrilled to add another Challenger 605 business jet to our current fleet of aircraft in Turkey,” said Khader Mattar, Bombardier’s regional sales v-p for the Middle East, Africa and Turkey.

“The Challenger family of aircraft is very popular in the Middle East and account for over 60 percent of Bombardier’s deliveries in the region.”

The Bombardier lines of Learjet, Challenger and Global jets enjoy about a 25 percent share of the ME’s business jet fleet, according to the Canadian manufacturer.

“Given the quality and proven reliability of the Challenger 605 aircraft, MNG Jet is very pleased to be adding this Bombardier business aircraft to its fleet of jets,” said Ugur Kalkan, CEO, MNG Jet. “We believe this aircraft is perfectly suited for travel within the Middle East and look forward to operating it in Turkey.”

–J.W.

Women are filling critical roles in Middle East aviation scene

by Amy Laboda Contrary to what most of the world thinks about women’s roles in the Middle East, there are women in just about every occupation within the aviation industry here. And also contrary to common thought, women have been working within aviation in the Middle East for a long time.

The region’s first woman pilot was Egyptian Loftia Al Nadi in 1933. Dr. Nabila Al Awadhi became the first female Emirati aviation medicine physician, Nawal Al Suwaidi became the first female Emirati cabin crew member, and Noufa Al Afeefi became the first Emirati woman to be an air traffic controller.

Captain Aysha Al Hamili was the UAE’s first woman pilot and has been its permanent representative at the International Civil Aviation Organization. In the news most recently is 35-year-old Maj. Mariam Al Mansouri, who led a squadron of UAE F-16s through a bombing raid against ISIL in northern Syria. The UAE is one of five Arab nations (along with Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Qatar and Bahrain) in the international coalition attempting to halt the spread of ISIL. Today, women own and direct companies that support business aviation in UAE, as well. On the ground at MEBA here at Dubai World Central (DWC) is the newly official chapter of Women in Aviation, International (Stand 333), a non-profit organization with a mission to increase diversity throughout aviation.

WAI accepts both women and men from all careers in aviation as members.

The group, which just last month had its papers approved for incorporation by

UAE officials, is directly represented by its president, Mervat Sultan, finance manager of Ramjet Aviation Support, based in Ras al-Khaimah, UAE. Ramjet handles everything from catering to AOG and handling to full aircraft charters out of Ras al-Kaimah. Sultan, a native Syrian who emigrated to Saudi Arabia and then the Emirates, was one of the first Emirati women to earn a flight dispatcher’s license.

She also holds a private pilot’s certificate, achieving her childhood dream to fly.

Government Support

The UAE government was especially supportive of Sultan’s desire to launch a WAI chapter. “The government really encouraged us,” she said.

Last year the group brought a photo retrospective of women involved in aviation around the world to the Dubai Air Show. This year’s presence is perhaps even more satisfying because of the official WAI chapter status and because of the many members attending the show, according to Sultan.

“Last May 2014 we had a meeting with the International Association of Women in Aviation (IAWA) and discussed the opportunity to run our first conference together with IAWA in 2015 at the Dubai Air Show,” she said. IAWA members encompass most of the women holding executive positions in aviation worldwide.

Among the women participating in this year’s MEBA conference is also a strong showing from the Arabian Section of the Ninety-Nines, an international women pilot organization founded

FUTURES DAY GIVES STUDENTS A VIEW OF BUSINESS AVIATION This year’s running of the MEBA show includes one day dedicated to the next generation of the region’s business aviation workforce. Known as “Futures Day,” tomorrow’s event will include seminars, talks and interactive sessions on the show site. Close to 500 undergraduates from five universities in the region have been invited to participate.

“There’s never been a more exciting time to join this industry,” said Ali Al Naqbi, founding chairman of the Middle East and North Africa Business Aviation Association (MEBAA). “[Futures Day] is a chance for upcoming industry leaders to interact closely with potential future employees.”

Exhibitors have been encouraged to host students at their stands and at their aircraft in the static display area. “There is a great need for talented graduates to get into the ­aviation sector, which requires thousands of new recruits across all disciplines simply to maintain current growth rates,” said Al Naqbi. “We hope those taking part will provide helpful information to those students who will become the business aviation professionals of the near future.”

MEBAA also encourages local universities and other educational establishments to expand their current curricula to accommodate subject matter pertaining to the business aviation industry, such as flight planning, aircraft handling and technical services. MEBAA already supports educational facilities by encouraging and arranging student internships, academic scholarships, research paper competitions, student-networking events, career fairs, and aviation professional days, such as Futures Day at MEBA 2014.

Al Naqbi concluded, “The demand the industry is facing in the near future will force us as an association to work closely with the governments and original equipment manufacturers to provide scholarships for the young students. Futures Day is one of the first steps that the association is taking to introduce young students to the business aviation industry.” –M.P.

Women perform a variety of tasks in the UAE military, including combat flying.

in 1929. It differs from WAI and IAWA in that only women pilots can be full members. That said, the group is growing. It held its annual meeting in Bahrain this past October, according to its section governor, Alia Twall, a first officer with Royal Jordanian Airlines who is currently training on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Twall is one of just 20 women who are now flying or have once flown for the airline.

All of these women’s groups have members in common. Their community outreach work–be it bringing orphans to an air academy for an introductory simulator session, as the Ninety-Nines did in Bahrain; or WAI’s “Daughter Days” and educational session; or the groups’ generous scholarship offerings–is all making a difference. Whereas once women were such a small minority among pilots and mechanics that they did not even register at 1 percent, they now make up as much as 2 percent of mechanics worldwide, and in some places, as much as 5 percent of airline pilots. Even still, the number of

women holding the coveted airline transport certificate needed to fly as a captain on jet airliners is quite low, well under 10,000 individuals worldwide.

At the show representing WAI, but also joining the Ninety-Nines, was Kristina Tervo, one of those few women holding ATP jet ratings. She is director of Ras al-Khaimah-based Wolsten Sky, which supports commercial and business aviation clients with trainers and type-rated business jet pilots on contract. “There is talk of a joint meeting in the future.

Hopefully we’ll be able to do that this year,” Tervo told AIN. “Definitely there is power in unity, so it is nice these organizations are planning to work together,” she continued.

It is said that the more diverse the company, the more productive the company. From WAI’s perspective, diversity in all walks of aviation, in the Middle East and points beyond, is coming. And that, by extension, is a good thing for business aviation. o

Part of the mission for Middle East women in aviation is reaching out to youngsters.

26 MEBA Convention News • December 9, 2014 • www.ainonline.com

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Azure scale Dreamliner shows ‘buildable’ concept

by James Wynbrandt Completion center Greenpoint Technologies (Stand 437) is showcasing its Boeing 787-9 Azure 1/20th scale model Dreamliner, which is making its debut appearance in the Middle East here at MEBA 2014. A wonder of largescale miniaturization, the model gives an outside-in look at the Azure’s open living space with its forward master suite, private office, and two aft mini suites for guest accommodations. All the features and appointments of these interiors, as well as the center gathering area’s entertainment lounge and formal dining room, which surround an artistic sculpture, are rendered in fine detail.

An aft spa-serenity room features all the equipment necessary for airborne exercise and relaxation.

Greenpoint calls the Azure interior a “buildable” 787-9 design, one that accounts for critical decompression venting requirements specific to this airframe. It was created by the Greenpoint Design Team along with lead designer Julie Myers, an established Seattle designer and educator who has partnered with Greenpoint since 2011.

The team worked closely with engineering and certification to define the technical integration of each component, including ceiling design, sidewall attachments, window integration, IFE integration, plumbing systems, electrical load analysis, and rapid decompression and structural substantiation. The result is an interior that conceals the technical, interior and systems integration within the airframe.

The designers sought to incorporate the innovative principle of the “Modern” design movement, expressed through lines and texture: When exposed to light, the design elements project a confidence and reflective quality that revolve around the deckplan, evoking a sense of expansiveness and luxury. Each space is dedicated to the highest level of function, decorum, and collaborative exchange, with technology present in each room for privacy or entertainment.

For coverings and cabinetry the design team selected elements such as Ebony, Fig Sycamore, Karelian Burl Birch and marble for their inherent natural qualities, as well as for the visual elements of their complex patterns, depth, and movement

in multiple direction. Accents of polished metals balance the organic interior elements and offer an experience of reflection.

Azure’s inspiration began with “the love of the 787’s open architecture and large windows,” according to the designers, and grew to encapsulate “the client’s energy of curiosity, entrepreneurship and adventure. Our client profile appreciates the progressive design of motion and technological advancements, layer by layer the interior unfolds into a unique landscape of engineered artistry.”

The model design recently won the International Interior Design Association Northern Pacific Chapter’s “In Concept” category, which recognizes unbuilt interior projects and realized project designs. Meanwhile, Greenpoint is ready and able to create a full-scale version of the Azure as it’s displayed here at the show. The company, a division of Zodiac Aerospace,

Greenpoint’s miniature Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner model demonstrates what the company would be able to do with a full-size aircraft completion. The dining area, above, shows off accents of polished metals, as does the main entry area, right.

took on its first 787 project this year, and will launch a second in 2015. The 787 Dreamliner represents the next generation of interior completions, presenting unique challenges due to its composite fuselage, and requiring special training and tools.

Meanwhile, at its ­ Kirkland, Washington headquarters, Greenpoint recently began certification flight-testing for a head-of-state 747-8 completion. Greenpoint calls this “a monumental step for the Boeing VIP 747-8 program,” noting that this will be the first executive configured

747-8 to take flight after full interior completion. Deliveries began to completion centers in 2011, and Greenpoint’s aircraft was the fifth delivered by Boeing, received in 2011.

“It’s incredible to see her fly again, after being cooped up in the hangar for so long,” said Greenpoint chairman Jon Buccola. The company was “days from delivery” after a 36-month project, Buccola said in mid-November. “It will be a joyous occasion for all of us but most of all our client, who is eager and ready to put this airplane to use.” o

World Fuel boosts its Gulf presence

by Curt Epstein Global aviation services provider World Fuel Services (WFS) is here at MEBA (Stand 605) displaying its range of flight support products, ranging from aviation fuel distribution to flight planning, and to promote its own network of fixed-base operators (FBOs).

The Air Elite Network is a group of high-end FBOs founded in 2011, which must meet a stringent set of requirements for admission, such as the quality of their passenger and crew facilities as well as the services and amenities they offer. The Middle East region has two such locations,

both of which are in the UAE: Jet Aviation’s facility at Dubai International Airport, and Royal Jet at Abu Dhabi International Airport. Both offer quadruple rewards points in WFS’s FlyBuys customer loyalty program.

“Our Air Elite FBOs provide a consistency for our customers flying to the Middle East and our Middle Eastern customers flying to the U.S. and worldwide,” said Caroline Pennington, the Miami, Florida-based company’s director of business aviation market development for Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

“The Air Elite Network has been

Customers enjoy the passenger lounge at Royal Jet’s facility at Abu Dhabi International Airport.

28 MEBA Convention News • December 9, 2014 • www.ainonline.com

growing and adding new members since it was established; we hope to continue this upward trend by adding locations in this region and worldwide.” Presently there are 34 locations in the network around the globe.

According to Pennington, business aviation activity in the Gulf region has been good of late, with fuel sales growing steadily over the past year. “A number of airports are being built in the region, which has us hopeful that this will stimulate further growth over the next few years,” she said, adding that while aircraft in the region are growing steadily larger, they are also becoming more fuel-efficient.

“Middle Eastern customers are especially discerning and require flexibility, while becoming increasingly price conscious,” she noted. “Our flexible approach to credit aids our efforts to meet these customer preferences.”

The company’s AVCARD is accepted for a variety of aviation services including fuel, catering, aircraft charter, pilot training and maintenance at more than 7,500 locations in more than 200 countries worldwide.

WFS works with numerous suppliers and is present at most major commercial and business aviation airports. For its contract fuel customers in the region, the company offers 24/7 dispatch and full support through its Dubai-based office staff. Its AvPos point-of-sale software has been developed for FBOs and fuel outlets accepting World Fuel’s Avcard, and can be used anywhere, including the ramp.

WFS bolstered its general aviation offerings earlier this year with the announcement that it has signed an agreement to purchase Colt International, another contract fuel and international trip-planning provider, for approximately $63 million. Together the two companies have a strong presence in the region. “We look forward to welcoming the Colt team to World Fuel Services,” said WFS chairman, president and CEO Michael Kasbar. “Colt will further expand our global presence in contract fuel and international trip-planning services, driving strategic synergies in our growing general aviation business.”

WFS says the Gulf is one of the fastest-growing regions for online trip support from its BaseOps brand. “We can support almost any aircraft operator at almost any location in the Middle East,” said Pennington. o

DAVID McINTOSH

are the additional range it will offer compared with the Airbus ACJ family. It is also impressed by the new BBJ’s superior cabin comfort, for which it promises a cabin altitude of just 6,500 feet when cruising at 41,000 feet.

Comlux president and CEO Richard Gaona told AIN that, after being in talks with Boeing for almost five years, his team opted to go for the BBJ Max because Airbus has still not resolved whether or not it will offer a re-engined version of its Airbus Corporate Jet family, based on the A320 Neo airliner program. “I am sure Airbus will react [to the commercial threat posed by the BBJ Max] and they can certainly match this with the Neo,” said Gaona, a former Airbus executive.

Asked whether he thought Comlux’s switch to Boeing would prompt Airbus to commit to offering a re-engined ACJ Neo model with extended range, BBJ president Capt.

Steve Taylor commented: “I can’t understand why Airbus hasn’t launched the ACJ Neo, but I’m very happy with their business decision.”

Ahead of this week’s MEBA

Improved Range

The main attraction for Comlux is the superior range offered by the re-engined BBJs– up to 6,550 nm (with eight passengers). With the same payload, an ACJ319 offers just under 6,000 nm range, while an ACJ320 has just 4,300 nm.

Comlux believes the additional range will be especially appreciated by Middle Eastern charter clients. The operator is also attracted by the prospect of reduced operating costs, mainly driven by the reduced fuel consumption of the Max’s CFM Leap engines.

“For many years, Comlux was perceived as a subsidiary of Airbus [because it operated

Royal Jet to add nine jets uContinued from page 1

PETER SHAW-SMITH

yesterday announced a $700 million investment to boost its fleet to 20 aircraft by 2020. This would almost double its fleet. Today, Royal Jet operates 11 aircraft: six BBJs, two Gulfstream G300s, two Bombardier Learjet 60s and one Bombardier Global 5000.

At a press conference here at the MEBA show, the Abu Dhabi-based company also said it had postponed for at least another year a decision on whether or not to select a business jet version of Bombardier’s delayed CSeries aircraft.

Capt. Patrick Gordon, appointed Royal Jet acting CEO in October, said the decision on which aircraft manufacturers to work with for the remainder of the

Bombardier’s Khader Mattar (left), Royal Jet’s Patrick Gordon (center) and Boeing Business Jets’ Steve Taylor (right).

Comlux president and CEO Richard Gaona (left) signs a contract for BBJ Max 8 jets with outgoing Boeing Business Jets president Steve Taylor. The deal marks a shift for the European operator, which has mainly been an Airbus operator.

ACJs], but this proves it is not the case,” said Gaona. “This decision was driven by business, not by emotion.”

As 2014 draws to a close, Boeing told a MEBA show press conference that it has logged 13 new BBJ orders so far this year– representing its best sales performance in six years. Around 30 percent of these sales have come from the Middle East. Ten new BBJs have entered service so far in 2014, and Boeing is due to deliver a 777 next week and a 787 before year-end. o

fleet renewal program was still under consideration. The MEBA press conference did nothing to clear up months of speculation about which bizliner will ultimately replace the existing BBJs as the main component of the Royal Jet fleet.

Royal Jet nevertheless announced that it was “renewing” its collaboration with Boeing to take delivery of two new BBJs in the near future. Capt. Steve Taylor, the outgoing CEO of Boeing Business Jets, said Royal Jet’s “recent order” for two more BBJs would be delivered next year.

Royal Jet is also considering aircraft from Airbus and Gulfstream for future acquisitions. “We still have a very good relationship with Gulfstream; Airbus is still in the mix…at the present time we have enough airplanes coming through the end of 2016…[so] we don’t need to make that decision for probably another year,” Capt. Gordon said.

He reported that the company recently took delivery of a new Bombardier Learjet 60 XR and a Global 5000 business jet in October and November respectively. A second Global 5000 arrives in January to be followed by another Learjet 60 XR by May. “While we were initially expecting to receive the first deliveries of the Bombardier aircraft in the first part of 2016, due to the tremendous support from the

Boeing Introduces New BBJ Boss Boeing has appointed David Longridge (left) as the next president of Boeing Business Jets, succeeding Capt.

Steve Taylor, who has been appointed chief pilot of Boeing Flight Services.

Longridge is relocating back to Seattle from the UK, where he has been serving as Boeing’s sales director. He was previously BBJ’s sales director when the division was first formed n back in 1996.

Royal Jet’s fleet includes six Boeing Business Jets, and it has ordered two more. But future fleet renewal plans remain unconfirmed.

DAVID McINTOSH

uContinued from page 1

show, Airbus Corporate Jets president Benoit Defforge told reporters that the European airframer is working on a possible ACJ Neo program. The A320 Neo is due to complete certification in 2015 and, like Boeing with the rival 737 Max, is already supported by a large backlog of airline orders.

The BBJ Max 8 order is part of a fleet renewal process that Comlux started two years ago, when it invested in new Bombardier Global 7000 air­ craft. The cabins for the new BBJs will be completed by the Comlux America facility in Indianapolis.

DAVID McINTOSH

Comlux opts for BBJ Max

manufacturer, we have been able to take delivery of the first aircraft much earlier than planned,” said Capt. Gordon.

The Learjet 60/XR carries six passengers and is also being operated as part of Royal Jet’s medevac division. The Global 5000 takes 12 and can be reconfigured to sleep seven.

“We will deliver the second G5000 in the coming weeks and the Learjet 60 XR hopefully in the first four months of 2015,” said Khader Mattar, regional vice president, sales, Middle East and Africa, Bombardier Business Aircraft.

“I don’t think it’s sensible to be saying now what we are going to be buying four years from now,” said Gordon.

“The CSeries is still in the mix for all of these decisions as well. It all depends on how things develop over the next few years. We really don’t want to make any more decisions until we get these aircraft absorbed that we’re working on now.

Gordon said that the new 2020 target represented a shift from former CEO Shane O’Hare’s vision for Royal Jet. “I think we changed the direction of the company a little bit. When you set your goals, if you set too low a hurdle you can achieve it and cross it, but you have to set a higher hurdle. Our target is 20 airplanes. We think we can do it and the majority of them will be in [the] larger class of airplanes.” o

www.ainonline.com • December 9, 2014 • MEBA Convention News 29

Nextant logs first sale in Middle East region

by David Donald Nextant Aerospace (Stand 338) has secured its first sale in the Middle East region: a Nextant 400XTi is to be delivered to a customer in Saudi Arabia in February, making the Kingdom the twelfth country in which the company’s remanufactured Hawker Beechjet 400A/ XP has been sold. The sale follows a demonstration tour that was undertaken in the region a few weeks ago.

Handling the sale is JetHQ, Nextant’s Dubai-based regional sales agent for the Middle East and Turkey, which has recently named Ted Farid as its chairman. Farid brings his long experience in the business jet market with Cessna, Learjet

and, most recently, Beechcraft to the company.

By the end of the year Nextant will have delivered 50 400XTi aircraft; company officials see a bright market for the type in the region following this first sale. As well as business/private travel, there is perceived to be a considerable need for medical evacuation capability, for which the 400XTi (and Nextant’s G90XT) is ideally placed.

A medevac special-mission version is already available, which has just added approval from New Zealand.

With orders having passed 120, the 400XTi has achieved a penetration into the 400A/XP fleet of around 20 percent. While

With its new partner in the region, JetHQ, Nextant believes its 400XTi is the right aircraft for a number of Gulf operators.

there are still airframes available to be bought for remanufacturing, the company has noted that the appearance of the 400XTi has caused the prices of the older aircraft to rise. Nextant is increasingly seeing interest from existing 400A/XP owners looking to have their own aircraft remanufactured to 400XTi standards. One very important “owner” is the U.S. Air Force, which wants to update its fleet of T-1 Jayhawk trainers, which

are based on the Beechjet 400A. Nextant has responded to a request for information and is expecting a request for proposals in a few months.

In October the 400XTi fleet surpassed 33,000 flight hours.

Nextant’s maintenance network is achieving an average returnto-service time of around nine hours. Nextant held its first international operators conference at the October NBAA show in Orlando, Florida, to discuss operational issues.

DAVID McINTOSH

First Flight of G60XT Soon

The Softex V24L features Lycoming engines arranged with over-the-wing mounts, similar to the HondaJet’s.

Ukrainian light twin makes ME debut Making its Middle East debut here at MEBA 2014 is the eye-catching Softex Aero V24L, a light piston twin from Ukraine. The V24 prototype aircraft was first flown in 2012, and the type made its first international appearance at the Aero 2014 general aviation show at Friedrichshafen, Germany, in April this year. Softex Aero received certification for the aircraft on October 23.

Designed to fulfil a wide spectrum of roles, from training to light business transport to aerial survey and other special missions, the 1,300-kg (mtow) V24

has an innovative layout based on twin pusher engines mounted over the wings. Low, cabin-door sills for and upward-opening doors facilitate easy access to the four-seat cabin.

The airframe is composite, including the single-piece wing with drag-reducing winglets.

The cockpit is fitted with three Explorer touchscreens from South African company MGL Avionics. The aircraft features a Galaxy GRS 1200 parachute recovery system.

Although the prototype flew on the power of 100-hp Rotax 912 engines, the V24L version

on display here in Dubai features 160-hp Lycoming IO320s driving auto-feathering MT Propellers constant-speed airscrews. Softex Aero has also schemed a V24TP version powered by the 245-hp TP-100 turboprop from Czech company PBS Velká Bíteš.

With the Lycoming engine, the V24L offers a maximum speed of 200 mph, while the V24TP is estimated to be capable of 255 mph.

Takeoff run without flaps is 656 feet for the V24L and around 525 feet for the V24TP. Maximum takeoff weight for both versions is 3,086 lb. –D.D.

30 MEBA Convention News • December 9, 2014 • www.ainonline.com

Currently the company is preparing the G90XT for its maiden flight. The aircraft is a remanufactured Beechcraft C90 that integrates Garmin’s G1000 avionics, General Electric H75-100 engines and other new features into a re-lifed airframe. Nextant has been taking orders for the model since the book was opened at the EAA AirVenture show this summer and has recorded keen interest in the Americas, with its first order coming from a Latin American customer.

For some time Nextant has been flying a King Air C90A with Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-135 engines to act as a baseline against which the G90XT can be compared. This week the company is undertaking a first flight review with General Electric and Garmin, and the FAA conforming article is scheduled to fly before the end of the month. Nextant has set an aggressive certification program that should see the G90XT available in the first quarter of next year. STCs already held by Garmin and General Electric should help speed the process.

At October’s NBAA show Nextant displayed the flight deck of the G90XT, featuring two primary flight displays and a large central multifunction display. Among the features that will significantly reduce pilot workload are a digital pressurization system that automates cabin pressure control

by integrating it with the flight management system, and the Unison electronic engine control, which combines the operations of engine and propeller pitch into a single-lever operation. Other new elements in the cockpit include digital fuel control, synthetic vision and underspeed protection.

Thanks to the H75-100 engines and other refinements, the G90XT is expected to offer improvements in performance and economics. The engines allow a higher gross takeoff weight and hold their power ratings at higher altitudes. Specific fuel consumption is reduced by between 10 and 15 percent, leading to operating cost savings.

Maximum cruise is expected to be 273 knots, while range is expected to be 1,240 nm with four passengers and reserves.

Nextant’s first G90XT is configured with test equipment instead of a fitted interior. The company has designed a new composite cabin shell that maximizes internal space; acoustic insulation will be available as an option. A range of interiors is offered, from three- and fiveseat executive layouts to an air ambulance interior.

As for Nextant’s next remanufacturing product, the company has nothing to say right now, other than it will be “bigger.” However, it has established a customer advisory group with TAG Aviation, Jet HQ, Avic of China, Flight Options and Guardian Jet as founding members. Nextant plans to consult this group on market issues, which will assist the company in selecting the aircraft types that would be best suited for forthcoming remanufacturing programs. o

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