ISSUE 231
NOVEMBER 2012
AfBAA announces leadership group
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ME & MY AIRCRAFT Super midsize jets
Latest models bring advanced technology to super midsize arena Pages 8-12
Italy regional review
Pages 13-14
Ambassador brings in a brace of King Airs
Chester-based charter operator Ambassador Direct has added two managed King Airs to its fleet; a 250 and a C90GTx. Howard Povey, at that time regional sales director at Hawker Beechcraft Corporation (now sales director, Marshall Aerospace), is pictured here with directors Geoff Benton, Andrew Jones and Keith Barrington. See full story on page 2.
The African Business Aviation Association (AfBAA) has launched four new membership categories as well as detailing its founding members. AfBAA already has fully funded commitment from 18 out of 20 founding members, including international and African businesses, and is now working through a selection process to finalise the last two. “We noted that a number of companies we would have welcomed as founding members were unable to apply originally for a variety of reasons. “As we value their input and the potential support they can offer, AfBAA will now encourage them to apply for ‘launch member’ status,” says Tarek Ragheb, founder and chairman. In addition, interested parties will be able to apply for the newlyformed ‘normal’ and ‘affiliate’ membership types. As the association looks to the future, a new leadership group has been formed which features leading figureheads from African business aviation nominated by the founding members. The board will be led by Ragheb, with Ivor Ichikowitz of Paramount Group, South Africa, as vice chairman and treasurer, who will be supported by four subcommittees each with their own remit and elected chairperson. Overseeing the association’s operations will be Rady Fahmy, former programme director, newly promoted to the role of executive director.
Amira Air targets US brokers with its expanding charter fleet Vienna-based Amira Air is expecting further additions to its extensive charter fleet, and has been promoting its services to US brokers by making a first appearance at the NBAA convention, hosted on the Avinode booth. The first new arrival will be a Citation Excel expected in the next few weeks, while an additional Challenger 300 and 605 are to be added to the fleet during the first quarter of 2013. The company says it has
noticed a growing demand from US clients wishing to charter aircraft to travel to and throughout Europe, and this was especially noticeable throughout this summer. By exhibiting at NBAA Amira Air is anticipating that this business will increase further, especially as it allowed the company to engage in discussions with clients and brokers, and demonstrate its fleet of aircraft. For non-stop transatlantic services the company can offer
two Global Express charter aircraft, one of them is a brand new Global 5000 Vision owned by Niki Lauda, the Formula 1 racing champion. In addition the company offers a Hawker 400XP as well as a CJ2+ for charter flights. Amira Air decided to strengthen its presence in the US to grow and intensify existing business relations and has set itself the task of becoming the “operator of choice in Europe” for stateside brokers and charter clients.
One factor that has helped Amira Air build business relationships with American and Canadian clients is the fleet of Challenger 300 aircraft the company operates. The aircraft, it says, are particularly suited to flights into Europe. Having a fleet of six Challenger 300 aircraft available for charter flights means that Amira Air is the largest charter operator of the type in Europe. See our Super Midsize Jet feature on pages 8-12.
Bernhard Wipfler, chief marketing officer of Amira Air, says the NBAA convention provided a great opportunity to see existing customers and introduce its services to potential new clients.
EUROPEAN BUSINESS AIR NEWS
2 NOVEMBER 2012
Ambassador brings in a brace of King Airs
Publisher and editor: .......... David Wright Sub editor: ........................ Kate Woods Designer: .............................. Chris Carr Advertising manager: .......... Mark Ranger Subscriptions: ................ Janet Edwards Administrator: ...................... Hilary Tyler
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Benedicte Heyerdahl is enjoying the challenge of business charter sales.
Hesnes utilises commercial experience in tough market Hesnes Air AS strengthened its sales and marketing department earlier this year by appointing Benedicte Heyerdahl, who has previous experience of logistics within various Norwegian companies, including the SAS-owned airline Wideroe. Heyerdahl is now relishing the challenge of expanding the market for Hesnes Air: “I am truly enjoying the world of private air charter. The biggest difference from working in a scheduled airline is that every day is different, and there are constantly
new places, people and tasks to explore. Another positive aspect, is that I feel closer to the market and the operation. “With regard to the market for our size of fleet, we find that there are many companies in this segment, so the competition is tough.” Hesnes Air is a private charter operator based at Sandefjord airport, Torp, and Gardermoen airport, Oslo. It operates one AS350 B3 helicopter, one King Air B200 and two Citation Encores.
Ambassador Direct Limited, based at Hawarden airport near Chester, UK, has recently taken delivery of two new King Air aircraft, a 250 and a C90GTx operated on behalf of owners. The company was set up in 2008 by directors Keith Barrington, Andrew Jones and Geoff Benton to operate and manage air transport for businesses across the north west and Wales. Ambassador provides a turnkey service including crewing, maintenance management and flight planning, simplifying aircraft operation for aircraft owners. About the delivery Barrington says: “We made the decision to recommend the purchase of two Beechcraft King Air models earlier this year following our conversations with two clients who were looking for affordable, efficient and easy to manage business aviation. “With these criteria, we had to look no further than the King Air 250 and the King Air C90GTx, which offer the perfect solution, providing quick short distance air transport facilities, at a low operating cost.” James Timpson, md of Timpson Limited and owner of the C90GTx, comments: “We have been really pleased with the performance; it’s the second King Air we have owned since 2008. We run a very lean head office, and need a reliable, easy-to-run aircraft that allows us to visit our expanding store network across the UK and Ireland. The King Air is the ideal business tool – it provides fast, efficient transport across the country to enable us to meet store colleagues face to face and make multiple site
visits in a day, while the shorter travel time means I am able to spend more time with my family at the end of the day. This makes the King Air perfect for our company and an obvious choice of business air travel.” Timpson has almost 1,000 retail stores throughout the UK. Says Barrington: “Both clients had previously used Beechcraft aircraft and were well aware of their strengths, so overall it seemed like a perfect fit. “I first flew a King Air in 1970 and have always found them reliable, and little else can compete with them either operationally or financially. Furthermore, from our own perspective, Hawker Beechcraft models are easy to maintain and have a good lifespan, and we have the added advantage of having Hawker Beechcraft Limited based locally at Hawarden airport. With the King Air 250 based at Caernarfon airport and the C90GTx based at Hawarden, this means that help is close at hand should either client require maintenance or upgrades at any point during the contract.” Barrington adds: “These two purchases have opened up new windows of business for our clients. A business trip which would once have meant three or four days away from the office can now be completed in under a day. The increased flexibility allows our clients to quickly reach business in areas they had not previously considered, for example in Scotland or the south west, while it also gives the opportunity for them to strengthen existing relationships with clients across the UK.”
TOP FBO SERVICES COMING TO
ST. PETERSBURG ussian business aviation is enjoying constant growth and has been the bright star of the business aviation market in Europe. Moscow’s Vnukovo 3 has been the main terminal for the Russian private jets as well as one of the top terminals in Europe. As the demand for private jet travel increases, the need for the better infrastructure becomes a necessity; better runways, better VIP halls, better services, and surely better terminals that may service business aviation on the top level, is a must.
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Saint Petersburg, the northern capital of Russia, has been one of the most demanding locations in the past couple of years. Without proper infrastructure to service private jets, it was very difficult to provide adequate services, but thanks to JetPort SPb, a local handling agent, services were rendered at the very top level, even though the infrastructure was not in place. This has been the case for many regional airports in Russia with the old Soviet infrastructure; most of the airports are not suitable for modern day business aviation. This is exactly why Pulkovo 3 will pave the way for the future of business aviation in Russia and expand its boundaries beyond Moscow.
Currently the Business Aviation Center is under active construction and is expected to start operations in the near future. The surface area will total 100,000 sq.m with the ramp accommodating more than 20 aircraft parking places, hangers, passenger terminal, and other infrastructure, especially designed to suit the needs of business aviation. The passenger terminal will have a surface area of 4,000 sq.m. The first floor will serve up to 1,500 passengers per day; the second floor will be serve as Administration offices. The Passenger terminal is designed to meet all the requirements of passengers: arrival and departure zones, pre-flight security and customs control, duty free store, bar, meeting rooms, and most importantly, qualified staff and a professional approach. Following the success of Vnukovo-3, the project of the Saint Petersburg terminal is following a similar pattern (both have been designed by the same architect). This will offer the same high quality standards in passenger and aircraft handling and in the future Pulkovo 3 will become one of the top locations in Russia.
For more information, please visit www.jetport.ru
EUROPEAN BUSINESS AIR NEWS
NOVEMBER 2012 3
Sloane prepares AW109S for 2013 start as The Children’s Air Ambulance launches service Sloane Helicopters is preparing to launch operations with an AgustaWestland AW109S on behalf of The Children’s Air Ambulance (TCAA). The company recently flew the special liveried and dedicated helicopter in for a launch party at the Barclays London Heliport, carrying Alex Toft, director of operations and clinical services of The Air Ambulance Service and TCAA ambassador pop star Simon Le Bon of Duran Duran. Simon Hutchins, manager of the heliport, greeted the guests when the helicopter landed from Coventry airport, the operations base of the TCAA. Applauding the initiative, The Reuben Foundation has pledged its support to TCAA, commenting: “We recognise the crucial service provided by The Children’s Air Ambulance across London and the UK and are pleased to give our support and welcome them to the Barclays London Heliport.” TCAA will transfer critically ill children from general hospitals to paediatric intensive care units across England and Wales, or help move specialist paediatric teams to enable children to receive the specialist treatment and care they need as soon as possible, cutting transfer times. Commenting on the launch, Toft says: “It was a hugely exciting day for
At the launch party are Simon Hutchins on the left, with pop star and TCAA ambassador Simon Le Bon, centre, and Alex Toft on the right. With them are the Barclays London Heliport team and young guests.
us. After months of planning, we’re now entering a two-month phase of training and fundraising – our crew will be visiting five children’s transfer groups across the UK for familiarisation purposes – before beginning to undertake missions in early 2013.” Le Bon adds: “The Children’s Air
Gama to add operations centre in Glasgow Gama Aviation is making a major investment in a base at Glasgow airport which will include an operations centre, with a local team further supporting the provision of services to the Scottish Ambulance Service King Air and NHS Scotland. Opening in spring next year, the centre will comprise a dedicated hangar, handling terminal and maintenance capabilities. Gama Aviation was recently selected to be the dedicated provider of air ambulance services to the Scottish Air Ambulance service for a further seven years until 2020. The development of a Gama Aviation executive terminal will afford operators a new transit/tech stop between north America and the Middle East in particular.
Eurojet and Smart team up for Guinness charters
Ambulance is a fantastic new service that is desperately needed throughout the UK. Each year, thousands of seriously ill children need urgent care at specialist hospitals. This service relies completely on charitable donations from the general public. It is my intention to do all I can to raise
the profile of TCAA and to help raise the money that is so crucial to keeping the service running.” The service needs a further £545,000 to begin delivering the service in England and Wales, with £134,000 required per month to maintain the service.
Fresh from receiving permission from the American authorities to fly over Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona, Eurocopter’s EC130 B4 has made its debut on Reunion Island, declared a world heritage site by UNESCO in 2010. The aircraft, one of the quietest in its class at 8.5 decibels below the ICAO standard, will carry out tourism operations and aerial work for Corail Hélicoptères. Founded in 2004, the company has a fleet of five Eurocopter helicopters for tourism, transport, aerial work, firefighting and air evacuation. A second EC130 B4 will join the fleet before the end of the year. Corail Hélicoptères carried more than 22,000 passengers in 2011 and now plans to add a link between Reunion Island and Mauritius. “Aside from the performance of a helicopter that boasts Eurocopter technology, the added safety of the fenestron rotor and exceptional cabin visibility, the EC130 B4 is out in front when it comes to reduced sound levels,” says Alfred Chane Pane, ceo of Corail.
GlobeAir chooses DayJet software to streamline operations Austrian charter operator GlobeAir has selected DayJet Technologies to provide its operations software, based on its ASTRO system with Solver fully integrated optimisation engine. The decision follows consideration of systems which would provide a robust solution to facilitate adapting operational plans on a regular basis, as well as in real time. “DayJet Technologies plays a key role in helping us achieve our vision of expanding our position as a market leader in the niche of customised business flights,” says Bernhard Fragner, ceo of GlobeAir. “Using the ASTRO system will enable us to make integrated and informed decisions in real-time so
that we can grow our business and provide our customers with world class service.” GlobeAir says it has the world’s largest fleet of modern Citation Mustangs, and is IS-BAO as well as Wyvern certified. “We are proud to have been chosen as GlobeAir’s partner for this key element of its growing business,” says Roei Ganzarski, president and coo of DayJet. “It is very satisfying to see how we are enabling a complex business to make informed, integrated and intelligent decisions in real-time as their environment changes, so that they can better serve their own customers and themselves.”
Corail’s EC130 B4 will be joined by another shortly.
“Our selection of this helicopter is part of the programme we have set up to share the splendour of Reunion Island with tourists from all over the world, and to protect that heritage through our aerial work and firefighting operations.” Eurocopter vp Europe and Central Asia Olivier Michalon adds: “In addition to flight safety and technological excellence, environmental performance is a core aspect of Eurocopter’s innovation strategy.”
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planning, and close liaison with both our clients, and also our partners Eurojet who will be operating the aircraft for us,” says business development manager Mark Sale. “Smart has demonstrated its ability to provide a complete package by also arranging the vip limousine transfers in the UK and Dublin as well as hotel arrangements for our client’s staff,” he says. In March of this year, Eurojet opened the Business Aviation Centre at Birmingham airport, and a section of the promotional online advertising, featuring a Guinness-branded Citation, was filmed at there in August.
Worldwide connections & super-fast transit to Central London
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Guinness drinkers can win the chance to fly to Dublin.
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Eurojet Aviation has teamed up with aircraft broker Smart Aviation to help deliver a major new promotional campaign for a global drinks brand. Launched in October and operating for nine weeks up to December, the ‘Guinness Class’ campaign will see a Eurojet Citation fly up to five fans of the famous stout from locations around the UK to Dublin every Friday and Saturday evening. Eurojet md Graeme Campbell says: “We are very pleased to work alongside Smart Aviation in realising a challenging and very innovative campaign. As winners are selected without warning from one of 1,000 participating pubs throughout the UK, our crew and operations staff have to be ready to arrange a flight to the winners’ location (somewhere in the UK) before making the onward flight to Dublin. This is an unusual project but one that’s well within the capability of our experienced team.” Smart Aviation says it was delighted to have been chosen to arrange the charters, on behalf of Diageo, global drinks company. “The project has involved months of careful
Corail’s quiet EC130 debuts at world heritage site
For further information, please contact Biggin Hill Executive Handling:
+44 (0) 1959 578 552 email: handling@bigginhillairport.com call:
www.bigginhillairport.com
Ground support that inspires confidence. That’s the new Universal Aviationsm London-Stansted. To learn more about our newly-remodelled FBO at London-Stansted, or any of our 48 locations in 20 countries visit universalaviation.aero or see us at exhibit #380, MEBA, 11-13 December, Dubai. Telephone +44 (0)1279 665 212 eurosales@univ-wea.com universalweather.com
CLOSE TO THE HEART OF LONDON
4 NOVEMBER 2012
EUROPEAN BUSINESS AIR NEWS
Milverton to chair European flight attendant committee A European flight attendant committee has been appointed to oversee the 2013 Cabin Crew Symposium which will be held at the EBACE show in Geneva next year. Paul Milverton, Gama Aviation cabin service training and safety manager, has been selected to chair the committee until 2016. “I am flattered and delighted to have been offered the opportunity to chair this new European initiative and look forward to leading the way for the 2013 symposium,” he says. “I very much look forward to working with my fellow committee colleagues to create a symposium that is as effective, instructive and popular with European-based business aviation cabin crew as is the NBAAsponsored Flight Attendant’s Symposium in the USA. I would like the symposium to be an educational resource providing essential support and networking opportunities for attendees that want to enhance their delivery of cabin safety, security and service excellence.” The increasingly global nature of business aviation activity demands the highest levels of training for crews charged with the safety and security of both passengers and aircraft. With cabin crew playing a critical role in safety, security and operational processes, the third annual EBACE
As vice chair Daniel Hulme will focus on catering excellence.
Paul Milverton looks forward to leading the way as committee chair.
Cabin Crew Symposium will seek to address a wide range of issues including passenger and crew safety, alongside aspects such as on-board catering and service delivery. Milverton’s selection recognises his exceptional expertise in all matters relating to in-flight service delivery, particularly in Europe and the Middle East.
Prior to joining Gama in 2007, Paul had served in the Royal Air Force. His military career included 15 years as an air steward with the RAF’s 32 (Royal) Squadron, of which for 12 years Paul had the honour of acting as personal air steward to HRH the Prince of Wales, over a remarkable total of 650 royal flights. Vice chairman of the committee
will be Daniel Hulme, managing director of Alison Price On Air. Hulme will represent all aspects of on-board catering, utilising his extensive experience working with and training flight attendants in a catering capacity. Alison Price On Air spent nine months consulting with flight attendants prior to developing its award winning product.
Aviation Link receives first ever 777-200LR for Middle East customer
Ross Group brings Blackhawk for the Caravan to Kenya Since its introduction just over a year ago, 25 operators from six continents have installed Blackhawk’s XP42A upgrade package for the Cessna 208B Caravan. One off these new installations is operated by Mark Ross, president of the Ross Group in Nairobi, Kenya. Ross is a well-known aviator and writer with 25 years of experience flying passenger and humanitarian missions throughout remote areas in East Africa. As part of a joint venture with Blackhawk, he will now promote Blackhawk and the
XP42A upgrade package to the nation’s aviation community, providing marketing support and flight demonstrations after installation is completed. “Every member of the Blackhawk team, including our partners and affiliates around the globe, shares enormous pride in the XP42A and its remarkable record,” says Jim Allmon, Blackhawk president and ceo. “We are delighted to add Mark Ross to our team because he will greatly facilitate market development throughout East Africa.”
b.airline appoints Air Partner for sales in Germany Salzburg-based b.airline has put Air Partner exclusively in charge of charter sales in Germany for two Munich-based Citations. “Due to the close cooperation with b.airline we will have exclusive access to two marketable and modern aircraft,” says Air Partner’s director international offices Birte Püschel-Kipke. The CJ2 and Citation X accommodate six to eight passengers and have a range of 2,600km and 6,000km respectively. Air Partner cooperates with 50 different private jet airlines and carries out around 600 flights a year for private and business clients in Germany. “This is our second collaboration with a private jet operator on an exclusive basis,” adds Püschel-Kipke.
The company recently completed the training of its 80th flight attendant as part of its ongoing educational programme aimed at improving catering services in the skies. “I am delighted to have been selected to vice chair and I’m very much looking forward to developing the vision that exists for supporting the flight attendants,” says Hulme. “Often undervalued, the flight attendant is the conduit between the client and our business, so to best understand our vision for food, and strengthen our relationships with the client, it is crucial that they are well informed. The committee plans to work closely with them and to garner support from the business aviation community to help them win the respect they rightly deserve.”
George Galanopoulos receives LEA’s award from Wendy Murphy of Direct Air Charters.
London Executive picks up third BACA award London Executive Aviation has been judged ‘best general aviation operator’ for a third time in the prestigious Baltic Air Charter Association Excellence Awards. The award was decided by BACA members, who were asked to nominate the organisations they consider best in class. BACA represents more than 125 companies, including air brokers, charter airlines, airports, business aircraft operators, consultants and others involved in air charter, scheduled flying and air cargo. LEA md George Galanopoulos says: “We are absolutely delighted to receive this recognition from our respected industry colleagues, the most demanding group of judges one could imagine. Despite the toughest industry recession ever, LEA has continued to invest right across its business – in our fleet, our
service provision and in training and technology. Today’s award is a welcome vindication of our commitment to excellence.” BACA members chose Titan Airways as ‘best passenger charter airline’; Rizon Jet as best handling agent/FBO; and gave its ‘global excellence award’ to Avinode. The latter is awarded to an overseas company that has performed and delivered above and beyond the call of duty. “Avinode is delighted to receive this award,” says md Oliver King. “For 10 years, we have combined cutting edge technology to bring buyers and sellers of business aviation across Europe together to fulfill our company mission of making air charter available. Business aviation is an important industry in Europe and Avinode is proud to have been recognised by the members of BACA in this way.”
Aviation Link of Saudi Arabia has taken delivery of the first BBJ 777200LR (long range) to be completed for a private customer in the Middle East. The aircraft was handed over from AMAC’s facility in Basel, Switzerland, following 19 months of completion work that required more than 500,000 man hours. Described as unique, the aircraft features 29,000 kgs of interior cabin weight and various spaces including private hallway, master bedroom, master lavatory, private lounges, majlis, cabanas, guest areas, staff areas and galleys throughout the cabin. In-flight entertainment options are many and varied, including audio video on demand, up to 64" monitors and BluRay players. “The principal set very high standards for this elegant interior,” says Bernd Schramm, AMAC Group coo. “We are extremely pleased we were able to meet the demanding and challenging requirements specified.” Schramm points out that AMAC’s relationship and regular communication with Boeing were key to the on-time completion. “AMAC is proud that we were able to re-deliver our first widebody completion project in time and on budget to the highest satisfaction of our customer,” he said. In May this year, the company was approved by Boeing as a warranty service centre. The partnership with the OEM will continue as AMAC begins completion of a BBJ 747-8 at the end of October. When the aircraft was first delivered back in 2010 it was chosen to meet the customer’s requirement for a widebody aircraft capable of connecting virtually any two cities in the world non-stop, while carrying a full cargo load. Aviation Link worked closely with Boeing at the time to ensure the aircraft was built specifically for vip cabin conversion.
NOVEMBER 2012 5
EUROPEAN BUSINESS AIR NEWS
Cello strengthens its commercial team at an exciting time
JoinJet tops up its order with three more Hawkers Nordic charter and management operator JoinJet has placed an order for the first Pro Line 21-equipped Hawker 800XPR, which will be the second of the model in its fleet. The company also has on order a Hawker 4000 and a Hawker 400XPR. The Hawker 800XPR programme offers airframe modifications such as the replacement of the existing TFE731-5BR engines with more powerful -50R engines and the addition of genuine Hawker winglets. JoinJet also elected to add wi-fi capabilities, a medevac interior, a flight data recorder, as well as new custom paint and interior selections to its aircraft. Delivery is expected first quarter of 2013. “The 800XPR programme delivers the range, proven reliability and exceptional passenger comfort that will help JoinJet continue to provide exceptional air lift and meet the growing demand for charter services from business owners across the Europe, Middle East and Africa regions,” says Christi Tannahill, Hawker Beechcraft senior vp, global customer support. “JoinJet’s commitment to our Hawker 400XPR and 800XPR programmes is a testament to the significance and value propositions of the upgrades.” Capable of producing 5,000 pounds of thrust but flat rated to 4,660 pounds, the Hawker 800XPR’s
new TFE731-50R engines create a robust interstage turbine temperature margin that results in improved performance and durability. Through the incorporation of 70 design and material improvements, the TFE731-50R engines deliver a seven per cent reduction in specific fuel consumption while increasing maintenance intervals. The result is a 32 per cent reduction in Honeywell’s minimum Maintenance Service Plan costs due to major periodic inspections of 3,000 hours and core zone inspection intervals of 6,000 hours as compared to 2,100 and 4,200 respectively on the original engines. The 800XPR upgrade qualifies for zero-cost enrollment in Honeywell’s MSP. The new engines also deliver a number of green advantages, such as lower noise levels and reduced carbon emissions. The Hawker 800XPR upgrade provides improved hot/high performance. Climbing directly to FL410 at maximum takeoff weight in 25 minutes, the Hawker 800XPR will reach FL370 three minutes faster than the Hawker 800XP. The direct climb capabilities, combined with the aircraft’s improved fuel efficiency, translate into true extended range and faster block times. JoinJet also operates an Envoy 3, which is featured in our Super Midsize Jets feature on pages 8-12.
Francisco Sanz, aircraft management director, will see three fleet additions over the coming year.
Light jet joins heavy stablemates at Executive Executive Airlines’ has added the first light jet to its AOC, having previously focused on large cabin and long range aircraft. The Citation Mustang will be joined in 2013 by two Gulfstream G550s. Passenger figures released by AENA (Spanish Airports and Air Navigation Administration) back up Executive Airlines’ claim that it is the leading Spanish business operator, in 2011 achieving the highest number of passengers at more than 12,400.
Charter airline Cello Aviation has strengthened its commercial team with the addition of Martine Williams as account executive. Williams brings nearly 20 years experience in the aviation sector to the Birmingham-based company that has seen bookings more than double since last year. “It is a very exciting time to join Cello, which is clearly going places,” she says. “I shall be working with brokers and customers in the UK and Europe. We have a great product with great people and I know from my own experience how important the crew that delivers front line service is.” Starting out as cabin crew, Williams moved into sales where she worked for European Aviation and most recently with Strategic Aviation in Gatwick. As part of its second anniversary celebrations Cello’s vip BAe 146 has been flying the skies of Europe sporting a giant pink nose in support of the Breakthrough Breast Cancer charity.
Bond makes maiden flight for offshore wind farm Gloucestershire-based Bond Air Services has carried out its maiden flight in support of Greater Gabbard offshore wind farm, making it the first helicopter operation of its kind in the UK. Located 25km off the Suffolk coast and with 140 turbines, Greater Gabbard is currently the world’s largest offshore wind farm. Bond will provide helicopter services to deliver maintenance technicians by hoist to the turbines of the wind farm. The company anticipates that wind farm operators and turbine manufacturers making the similar choice of including helicopters in their operations and maintenance strategy will benefit from increased productivity. Stephen Rose, offshore wind generation manager at Greater Gabbard Offshore Winds Limited, says: “Safety is our number one priority at all times, and using helicopters means we can get greater access to the turbines in conditions which would be impossible by boat.”
Helicopters can access wind turbines when conditions at sea are difficult.
The service operates daily from a purpose-built facility at Lowestoft Port using a Eurocopter EC135T2i.
Additionally, Bond has signed a £26 million seven-year contract with Midlands Air Ambulance Charity (MAAC) to continue provision of air ambulance service cover across six counties in the West Midlands. Bond will support the contract for three Eurocopter EC135T2i helicopters on a 365 days a year basis, including back-up support to ensure service availability. To allow full night HEMS operations, MAAC intends to upgrade one of the aircraft to a night visionequipped EC135T2e aircraft. Chief executive Hanna Sebright says: “We are extremely pleased with the decision to continue our longstanding relationship with Bond Air Services and look forward to the introduction of our new aircraft. The night flying capability of this aircraft is particularly exciting, allowing us to extend the service we offer.” Parent company Bond Aviation Group has taken delivery of the first of 16 S-92 baseline helicopters from Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. Sikorsky is to
customise the helicopters for offshore oil operations. “Our group is committed to safety as the utmost priority for our customers, and the S-92 helicopter represents the latest technology in terms of design and safety,” says ceo Richard Mintern. “This, combined with its payload, speed and range capabilities, makes the S-92 an ideal choice for Bond and for our customers. These first two aircraft will be operated by our new business in Norway, Norsk Helikopterservice.” The S-92 helicopter is one of the largest in its heavy offshore class, easily carrying 19 passengers and luggage. Since entering service in September 2004, the S-92 fleet has grown to more than 150 aircraft. The parent company of Bond Aviation Group has been established under the new name Avincis Mission Critical Services. Unveiling the brand from its London headquarters, the company will manage operators Inaer, Bond, Australian Helicopters and Norsk Helikopterservice.
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Martine Williams joins Cello at an exciting time.
As well as making a donation, the airline is organising a collection on board and at its offices. In keeping with its ethos of using local businesses as suppliers, the company has arranged for local vip car company Diamond Chauffeur Services to provide top end cars including Rolls Royce and Bentley to back up its vip charter service.
Cello’s BAE 146 sporting its pink nose.
EUROPEAN BUSINESS AIR NEWS
6 NOVEMBER 2012
AirMed meets MoD demand for paediatric transfers In January, the UK Ministry of Defence awarded a contract to Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust (OUH) and Air Medical Limited (AirMed) for the provision of 24/7 clinical advice and aeromedical support for all of its neonatal, obstetric and paediatric cases around the globe. Since then, the air ambulance service based at Oxford airport has carried out many missions including transporting a baby with a heart murmur for cardiac assessment, a toddler for neurological assessment and an extremely premature baby for specialist care. As well as providing initial clinical input and ensuring 24/7 on-call advice is available, a number of the cases have been brought to the OUH for assessment and ongoing specialist care. AirMed’s neonatal medical director Dr Charlotte Bennett is a consultant neonatologist at the trust’s newborn intensive care unit and works closely with a number of colleagues from the trust who provide an on-call service for AirMed. She says: “The relationship we have with AirMed means we can
AirMed operates neonatal transfers for the MoD, but also for other clients. On this occasion, obstetric patient Kelly Fisk (centre) was accompanied by neonatal medical director Dr Charlotte Bennett with obstetric fellow Sally Collins, and flown by Capt Phil Burton and flight officer Doug Paton.
provide a highly responsive service to time critical emergencies. Together with AirMed and the MoD we are able to offer specialist
care to military families whose babies become sick or deliver prematurely here in the UK or while posted overseas.”
AirMed and the OUH have plans to deliver a consultant-led neonatal transfer service to NICUs across the UK and around the world.
Oryx adds helicopter transfers to fit customer needs Biggin Hill-based aircraft management and air charter company Oryx Jet is now offering helicopter charter as an additional method of transportation and onward carriage to complement its existing fleet of executive jets. Oryx Jet ceo Mike Russell says: “We are excited to include helicopters within our growing fleet. Trips can be completely customisable to our clients’ specific requirements, allowing us to continue to provide an unparalleled vip service. This may well
Oxyrx Jet’s plans may include free helicopter transfers from London aiports for its charter customers.
include free helicopter transfers for our charter customers from many London airports to and from Biggin Hill. “Offering more choice to private business and leisure charter services locally and internationally, our privately-chartered helicopters can replace long waits in traffic, thus increasing productivity, while covering a great distance in a fraction of the time.” The company’s existing Hawker, Falcon 50, and Challenger 604 fleet is complemented by the addition of single and twin turbine engine helicopters. The AS355 Twin Squirrel fleet consists of a F2 and the N model which are night capable IFR helicopters. The EC120B is a singleengine helicopter which features a wide bodied cabin, a state-of-the-art ergonomic cockpit and a sizeable hold, the company reports. Russell adds: “All our aircraft have a reputation for excellence. Being able to offer the comfort of private helicopter travel to our customers ensures we can offer what our clients want the most – safety, security, speed, reliability and privacy. We are confident the latest additions to our fleet will prove popular with air charter customers old and new and be chosen by clients for both business and leisure trips.”
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Faster business on the agenda in Prague The CEPA Expo, to be held in Prague on 28-30th November, will focus on ‘acceleration’ and ways of speeding up the processes involved in doing business in the industry. The conference will be analysing ways of bridging communication methods to improve the potential for success in the private aviation market. Speakers at the event will include Avinode’s md Oliver King who will be analysing the status of the charter market; which regions are growing fastest; and providing detailed forecasts for 2013. Other speakers will include ceo of Atron Nick Fitzpatrick, chairman of Opera Jet Martin Hudec and cofounder of PrivateFly Carol Cork. A panel led by the Ogilvy’s ceo Dita Stejskalova will explore the industry’s growing use of social media to interact with clients. The panel will consider whether this new platform strengthens or dilutes luxury brands. Commenting on this year’s conference, CEPA chairman Brendan Lodge says: “The content demonstrates the realistic and focused approach that CEPA has to genuinely aiding private aviation business in central and eastern Europe. The relevant panels and speakers will give delegates the best insight into how to improve their chances of success in this increasingly important part of the world.”
Kenya’s Phoenix Aviation appoints Strahammer
The new uniforms are modelled by Titan Airways’ cabin crew David Maxwell, Danielle Bayles wearing the skirt, blouse and waistcoat option and Rebecca Hess who models the dress. Picture credit: Richard Martin, Titan Airways BAe 146 first officer and professional photographer, www.aspectphoto.co.uk
Titan Airways cuts no corners on uniforms Titan Airways’ cabin crew are now sporting stylish new uniforms, designed specifically to complement Titan’s striking corporate identity. The sleek new look, created by corporate uniform specialist Field Grey, was designed to embrace Titan’s distinctive style and debuted in November. The individual items are deliberately simple in cut with both the garments and the coordinating accessories said to be of uncompromising quality. The men’s uniform comprises a smartly tailored single-breasted dark grey suit worn with a white shirt and purple tie, while female cabin crew have the option of either a dark grey skirt, blouse and waistcoat, worn with a purple neckerchief to complement the men’s ties, or a tailored dark grey dress, again worn with a purple neckerchief. “From the outset, Field Grey impressed us with their professionalism and their ability to transform our vision into reality,” says inflight
services manager Kim Braithwaite. “We’re thrilled with the results.” Janice Turner, creative director of Field Grey, adds: “We were absolutely delighted to be selected to design and create a new uniform for the Titan Airways cabin crew. We enjoyed working closely with Titan throughout the research and development process to realise their vision and provide their high quality airline with a high quality uniform to match. We’re extremely pleased with the finished collection and are very excited to see the new uniforms hit the runway.” Titan Airways will be celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2013, and has a fleet comprising 12 aircraft: three Boeing 737-300QCs, one Boeing 737 – 300F, two BAe 146-200QCs, one BAe Avro RJ100, three Boeing 757-200s (two having joined the fleet in 2012); a Boeing 767-300ER and the new CJ2+. Several of the aircraft are QC (quick change), which enables utilisation for either passenger or freight transportation.
Phoenix Aviation, a private executive air charter company based in Nairobi, has appointed Fritz Strahammer as chief operations officer. Strahammer brings to his new role a wealth of experience with almost four decades working in the field of aviation. As a captain and instructor for Lauda Air/Austrian Airlines on the Boeing B737, B767 and B777, he rose to the position of director of flight operations, a position he held for 15 years. The merger of Lauda Air and Austrian Airlines was one of the many projects under his leadership. He worked as a pilot at Nairobi’s Wilson airport for approximately ten years before joining Lauda Air, four of which were for AMREF Flying Doctors, a long-time partner with Phoenix Aviation.
Fritz Strahammer joins Phoenix.
The company expects his extensive training and experience to build upon the reputation for excellence in operations, safety and customer service for which Phoenix claims to be renowned in the Eastern African region.
EUROPEAN BUSINESS AIR NEWS
NOVEMBER 2012 7
NetJets goes on tour with the Global 6000 NetJets Europe has been on a European preview tour taking in London, Geneva, Moscow, and Istanbul ahead of the introduction of its latest fleet addition, the Global 6000. The aircraft will offer the longest range and largest cabin in NetJets’ fleet when it takes delivery of its first example later this year, part of an order placed in 2011. The jets are to be part of the company’s global ‘Signature Series’ initiative, and it has been involved in their design from start to finish, ensuring they maximise passenger comfort, efficiency and privacy in the air. The Global 6000 will be sold in shares starting at 50 hours a year priced at US$3.1m for a 1/16th share, with strong demand already reported; 75 per cent of the first two aircraft has already been sold. “Despite a slow-moving macroeconomic environment, large cabin aircraft have been the strongest performer in our portfolio, and customers will be very excited at what the Global 6000 adds to our offering,” comments Marine Eugene, sales director of NetJets Europe. “With the long range capabilities of the aircraft, alongside its operating efficiency, interior comforts and reliability, it will be ideally suited to European corporations and individuals looking to expand and do business in high growth markets in the BRIC economies and beyond.” The layout of the aircraft offers a
private stateroom at the rear and a customised forward crew rest area and galley, to allow total privacy to passengers in the main cabin. The cabin itself features large windows and seats up to 14 passengers comfortably for journeys up to a flight range of 13 hours. Enhanced soundproofing cuts aerodynamic noise and improves sound quality at full air speed. Given the long range of the jet, which can travel from London to São Paulo non-stop, NetJets Europe is also launching an extension of the service area for its Global aircraft customers, saving them positioning fees on flights to cities in India, Kazahkstan, China, Angola, Nigeria, South Africa, the Middle East and Brazil. This will deliver savings of up to 35 per cent in the operating costs for those flights. Entrepreneur and philanthropist John McCall MacBain agrees: “Bombardier products have a reputation for quality, and NetJets’ design philosophy is outstanding. The extended service area adds to the value and efficiency we get from the service and will be invaluable as my family and personal obligations span several continents.” NetJets Europe has already seen strong demand and will take a further two Global 6000 aircraft in the first half of 2013 and then assess demand. As part of the original purchase, NetJets has orders for the Global 7000 and Global 8000 aircraft.
Celebrating with Embraer Aircraft engineers and contract team members are FlairJet duty ops manager first officer David Taylor (third from left) and ground ops director and safety manager Captain Mike Chamberlain (seventh from left).
FlairJet ponders a second base for 2013 FlairJet has enjoyed its busiest year yet, notching up its 20th Embraer aircraft acceptance or delivery at the end of September. The London Oxford Airport-based charter and management company has, since 2009, taken responsibility for delivery flights or acceptances of eight Phenom 100s, 10 Phenom 300s, a Legacy 600 and an Embraer Lineage, for itself and third party customers. FlairJet personnel have carried out the technical acceptance of seven new aircraft so far this year, most recently a Phenom 300. Following
technical acceptance at the end of September, the aircraft arrived in the UK after a four-day, 8,000nm trip from Embraer’s Sao Jose dos Campos facilities. The route took in Belem, Barbados, Fort Lauderdale, Bangor and Goose Bay prior to the transatlantic crossing to Keflavik and the final legs to the UK. Acceptance and delivery was carried out by Capt Mike Chamberlain, FlairJet’s ground ops director and safety manager, and first officer David Taylor. “This was a textbook acceptance and delivery. We were blessed with generally good weather and the
Twitter appeals help find flights for young cancer patients
Harold Stoddard, quality and safety manager of Rizon Jet (centre), receives the award from local auditors Nexus, represented by president and ceo Abdullah M Al-Sayed and vp safety and quality William Mermelstein.
Rizon Jet’s aviation safety rating is a Middle East first Qatar-based Rizon Jet has received the internationally respected Aviation Research Group/US (ARG/US) Platinum Safety Rating at its Doha facility. The rating is the result of independent evaluations and a weeklong audit, facilitated by NEXUS Flight Operations Services, the first facilitator of the rating audits in the Middle East region, that assesses the candidate’s flight operations against industry best practices. Rizon Jet says it is the first and only aircraft charter operator in the Middle East and North Africa to achieve ARG/US Platinum rating, which confirms the company’s commitment to excellent safety standards and providing outstanding service with unparalleled facilities. Captain Hassan Al-Mousawi, ceo, says: “Our clients demand excellence, and achieving the highest aviation safety rating has been our priority. We are now one of a few Platinum-rated operators outside the US, and indeed the only one in the MENA region, and are confident this will help us to stand
out in what is a highly competitive marketplace.” The rating requires a welldeveloped and fully implemented safety management system, which includes a clear and workable emergency response plan, as well as effective policies, procedures, and record-keeping for all major operational and maintenance aspects. “The rating is recognition for our consistently high flight safety standards, achieved by our dedicated and professional team in Doha. We strive for excellence in every aspect of our business, but safety is of paramount importance in this industry and we are proud to be acknowledged for our efforts,” adds Al-Mousawi. Forecasting a growth in demand for private business and leisure jet charter, Rizon Jet’s fleet comprises two Challenger 605, and a Hawker 900XP, with UK affiliate Oryx Jet providing access to additional aircraft, including two helicopters.
Air Charter Scotland has added a factory-new Citation CJ2, based at Luton, to its charter fleet and recently performed a life-saving mission when it teamed up with Edinburgh-based Jetlogic, flying 12-year-old cancer patient Vanessa Riddle home safely to Scotland following a stem cell transplant in Germany. Vanessa is battling relapsed stage four neuroblastoma, a rare and aggressive childhood cancer. A concerted fundraising effort meant that Vanessa was able to go to Tübingen, Germany, for the transplant that is expected to dramatically increase her chance of long-term survival. Following treatment, Vanessa’s low immune system meant that a flight on a commercial airline presented a high
Vanessa flies home safely aboard Air Charter Scotland’s jet.
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infection risk. Following a Twitter appeal, Air Charter Scotland provided a Citation to carry Vanessa home. Derek Thomson, ops director, says: “After a discussion between our company and Jetlogic, we offered our services to bring Vanessa and her family home. Vanessa is a brave and inspirational young lady who is fighting a very tough battle; I am just pleased that we were able to help make her return home a safe one.” York-based FlyMeNow is another charter company that responded to a plea for assistance via Twitter, flying seven-year-old Jamie Inglis to Germany for medical treatment. Jamie has a rare childhood cancer that has weakened his immune system and, like Vanessa, a private flight offered Jamie the safest way of getting to Stuttgart for stem cell treatment. Commercial director Andrew Whitney says: “Jamie is from our backyard and there is hope and a light at the end of the tunnel for him, which is why we are proud to be able to help. We organise a lot of what you might call mercy missions, but this has definitely been our most important mission of the year.”
aircraft behaved impeccably,” reports Chamberlain. “We even managed to tweet our progress throughout.” FlairJet ceo and founder David Fletcher adds: “This was very special for us being our 20th Embraer aircraft acceptance. Over the last three years we have built up a fantastic relationship with Embraer; we are proud to have been there at the outset with the Phenom programme.” FlairJet reports that by being profitable, it has bucked the trend in Europe’s light jet fraternity, and is considering a second UK airport home in 2013.
TAG to fly 400XT for Swiss private owner The second 400XT aircraft to be accepted for European registration will soon be delivered to a private buyer in Switzerland and will be managed by TAG Aviation, says Nextant Aerospace. Achieving EASA certification is expected imminently, as the first deliveries of the 400XT are being made to Europe. To date, 40 per cent of all 400XT sales have come from outside of North America, with a substantial portion of those from the Eurozone. “Last year, we announced final FAA certification of the Nextant 400XT in the US. Now we are proud to be closing in on a comparable approval from the European Aviation Safety Agency, which will immediately make the 400XT available for service throughout Europe,” says Kenneth C Ricci, founder and chief executive officer of Nextant Aerospace. “The 400XT is truly a business jet for the European traveller because of its exceptional range. We are confident that this approval will further boost sales in Europe – already proven to be one of its strongest markets.”
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8 NOVEMBER 2012
EUROPEAN BUSINESS AIR NEWS
CHARTER BROKER NEWS...
Dassault’s Falcon 2000LXS is set to enter service in 2014.
responsible for managing the charter brokerage, having previously worked at The Charter Company. Based in Zug, Switzerland, sister company Vertis Aviation focuses on the operations side of the business which sees the company forming marketing alliances with preferred suppliers and leading aircraft operators to create a premier fleet of aircraft that can be offered for private and corporate charter. Ruan Courtney
ACS shuffles executive jet team Air Charter Service has appointed Ruan Courtney, who has been with the company for 15 years, as group director of executive jets. He will be using his experience to manage the company’s growing global executive jets team as well as overseeing the rollout of the company’s new jet card – the Lindbergh Card. Working with Courtney will be Gavin Copus, who takes up the position of business development director of executive jets after moving back to the UK from the company’s Hong Kong office.
365 Aviation to add online calculator Sarah Grimes, who joined 365 Aviation in August this year, reports that the company is continuing to expand, and has further plans to recruit additional staff into 2013. “We have recently revamped the web site, which is just about complete now and will be actively marketing the new site and online quote calculator in the coming weeks,” she says.
Vertis Aviation opens in London Swiss-based Vertis Aviation has appointed Julian Burrell as md of its new London business, due to launch in December. He will be
Air Partner boosts Russia/CIS desk Air Partner has appointed Anton Frolov as a senior account manager for its Russian and CIS desk in London. Frolov was previously with Chapman Freeborn and will work with Air Partner’s sales and customer relations team in Moscow. Director of Air Partner Private Jets David Macdonald says: “Huge wealth creation in the BRIC economies means we are seeing growth across the emerging markets, as well as the development of new hubs for private jet activity in Russia and the former CIS.”
ACT prepares twentieth airlift to EIBTM Air Charter Travel is preparing to provide its 20th ‘hosted buyer’ flight to EIBTM, the meetings, incentives, events and business travel industry event in Barcelona at the end of November. Over 250 UK-based hosted buyers will travel on a Thomas Cook Boeing 757-200, and experience the benefits of flying private charter with dedicated check-in desks, onboard service and onward transport to hotels. “This presents us with an excellent opportunity to showcase the benefits of flying by private charter and demonstrates the added value it can bring to a product launch or business trip,” says ACT md Tim Procter.
Latest models bring advanced technology to super midsize arena The top ten by numbers
ME & MY AIRCRAFT Super midsize jets The online charter marketplace Avinode is predicting that the super midsize sector will be the worst affected of all by a downturn in European air charter during 2013. It suggests that super midsize charter flight hours might fall by as much as 9.1 per cent, although northern Europe could be less affected than the southern countries. This is in stark contrast to the United States, where it believes charter demand for super midsize jets will increase next year. EBAN’s readers fly 845 super midsize jets throughout the EMEA region, and for this report we asked some of them to tell us about their experiences. CHALLENGER 601/604/605
Anne Mascioli, Chris Vandenplas and Véronique Degryse celebrate.
Chapman Freeborn marks 15 years in Belgium Chapman Freeborn opened its Ostend office in 1997 to support its international cargo flights, but the team branched out and developed a local client portfolio, becoming one of the leading charter brokers in Belgium. Country manager Chris Vandenplas says: “It’s a great achievement to reach 15 years in Belgium and we can look back with pride to many of the interesting charter projects we have been involved in over the years. “While the global economic conditions are challenging at the moment we continue to do well, thanks in part to our diverse range of services, but also the hard work and dedication of our team.” Over the years, the Belgium team has played an important part in international aid airlifts including for the Asian tsunami in 2004, the Haiti earthquake in 2010 and numerous charter operations to Africa in response to famines.
A handful of the original Challenger 600 model remain in service in South Africa, Bulgaria, Germany, Ireland and the UK, with retrofitted winglets, but the majority of the EMEA fleet are the subsequent variants with factory winglets produced after 1983.
1. Challenger 601/4/5
209
2. Falcon 2000
160
3. Legacy 600/650
104
4. Challenger 300
77
5. Citation Sovereign
69
6. Falcon 50
65
7. Challenger 800
41
8. Envoy 3
32
9. Gulfstream G200/Galaxy
31
10. Citation X
25
EBAN tracks aircraft ownership by its readers throughout Europe, the Middle East, Russia and Africa. This table indicates the ten most prevalent super midsize jets in service. Challenger 601s are still relatively common, in service with the Czech police and the government of Gambia, as well as a host of charter companies. Hangar 8 has four of the variant under its wing. But the majority of the EMEA fleet comprises the more recent 604 and 605 models. The largest fleets are in the hands of TAG (five 604s and six 605s) and VistaJet with ten of the most recent model. Other specialists include Elit’Avia in Slovenia, ExecuJet
What qualifies as a super midsize jet anyway? In the absence of universally-accepted definitions, EBAN and its handbooks of business aviation have come to their own conclusions as to which business jets fall into which category; midsize, super midsize and long range – and it has not always been easy. Cabin volume is the most important measure, but range and speed also cannot be ignored. So, at the margins we have the Hawker 800 in the midsize category (see our issue March next year), while the comparablysized Citation X has edged into this report about super midsize jets. At the other end of the cabin spectrum, the Challenger 800 finds itself in the super midsize because it lacks the range to compare alongside the long-range jets, and it could easily be argued that the large cabin and 3,000nm-plus range of the Embraer Legacy also make it a strong contender in that category. If in doubt about how the various aircraft compare, remember that all business aircraft are listed on the www.handbook.aero web site, with specifications and details of maintenance support, charter operators and training organisations.
Middle East, Arab Wings, Air Lazur in Bulgaria and Hangar 8 again. The programme has reached a significant milestone with the entry into service of the 200th Challenger 605. The aircraft was handed over to its anonymous owner during a ceremony at the factory in October, with hundreds of proud employees in attendance. “The Challenger 600 aircraft series was a trailblazer in business aviation and is now the largest fleet in the category worldwide with over 850 aircraft in service,” says Steve Ridolfi, president of Bombardier Business Aircraft. Operators will soon be able to take advantage of an upgrade to the 605 designed to enhance safety and reduce the necessity to divert in poor weather, following the US FAA’s approval of the Rockwell Collins head-up guidance system for the type. When the runway environment is sensed and projected on the HGS, 605 operators can continue on final approach below minima to 100 feet above ground level before needing sight of the runway.
“The Challenger is a versatile aircraft ... the backbone of our fleet.” The aircraft’s manufacturer, Bombardier, goes to great lengths to obtain operator feedback with its customer advisory boards, and so EBAN is delighted to take on board the opinions of Europe’s only voting representative, Martin Spiegl of Germany’s Imperial Jet Europe. “Most of the members are from the US,” he says. “I am the only member in Europe and as I also cover the Middle East, there are only two of us representing that region.” He is a member of the advisory board for the CL600, CL800 and Learjet series, and is keen to encourage others to join. “The board was a bit US-centric, but now has members from the Middle East, Mexico and elsewhere,” he says. The board’s meetings are webcast for customers. Imperial Jet Europe has one each of the 604 and 605 models, and Spiegl
NOVEMBER 2012 9
EUROPEAN BUSINESS AIR NEWS
Customer input was invaluable in soon to launch G280 Gulfstream will deliver the first G280 aircraft before the end of the year to an unnamed US-based manufacturer with a worldwide presence, following the FAA certification achieved in September. Originally known as the G250, the new model replaces the G200, which itself had evolved from the IAI Galaxy. As with all Gulfstream aircraft, the G280 was designed with considerable input from Gulfstream customers who participate in the company’s customer advisory board. “Their contributions were invaluable in creating a super midsized aircraft that flies so far and so fast,” says Pres Henne, senior vp programmes, engineering and test. “The G280, with a top speed of Mach 0.85, has already set four city-pair speed records. We anticipate it will set many, many more in the months and years to come thanks to its advanced wing design and its fuelefficient Honeywell HTF250G engines, each of which delivers 7,445 pounds of thrust. The significant range and speed increase compared to the G200 is achieved while burning less fuel. “In addition to the aircraft’s tremendous performance capabilities, it offers the most comfortable cabin in its class with the Gulfstream-designed cabin management and audio/video distribution systems, industry-leading sound levels, 19 super-sized windows and in-flight access to the baggage compartment. We’re extremely proud of this aircraft and know our customers will be, too,” Henne says. The aircraft has the longest seating area in its class, the company says, and a total cabin length of 25 feet, 10 inches. This additional space provides for a larger lavatory, an improved galley and increased storage. Customers can select from three interior floor plans, which seat from eight to 10 and berth up to four. All of them offer significant storage capabilities, with total storage of up to 154 cubic feet (4.63 cubic metres). The significantly larger lavatory is
is very satisfied with the level of manufacturer support he receives: “There are great field service representatives, good technical support and increased parts availability in Europe. “We are quite happy with the reliability and the technical support of the aircraft. We are encouraging Bombardier to work on the extension of the maintenance intervals, as the 604/605 platform is well-proven and we are confident that enough data is available to extend the maintenance intervals, which would help all owners and operators to save maintenance costs. “It is a versatile aircraft, almost all missions needed are possible, and is the backbone of our fleet.” In terms of value for money, Spiegl believes there is room for improvement. “Technical publications are expensive compared to other manufacturers, and the iPad solution is more expensive than the paper versions.” The aircraft’s best aspect is, he
Aircraft on the horizon: Gulfstream
G280 ME & MY AIRCRAFT Super midsize jets
Me & My Aircraft throughout 2013 MARCH Midsize jets JUNE Twin turboprops NOVEMBER Very light jets We are keen to hear your views. Log in at www.ebanmagazine.com and you will find voting forms for each type in your fleet. It takes moments to complete, and the more replies we receive the better our final reports will be. Your user number and pin is on the back of the mailing sheet included with your magazine, or request a reminder on the web site.
Make your opinion count!
The Gulfstream G280 was on show in Europe at EBACE earlier this year. Here the crew celebrates following the aircraft’s landing in Geneva. From left: Chip Leonard, international demonstration pilot; Brett Rundle, chief pilot, mid-cabin; Jeanette Brewer, manager, flight crew cabin operations; and Butch Allen, chief production test pilot, mid-cabin.
accented by two windows, a contemporary sink with raised ledge, a full-length closet and a vacuum toilet system with overboard venting, the only system of its kind in this class of aircraft. The cabin contains a larger, ergonomically designed galley that features an extra-large ice drawer with gasper-cooled storage, a sink with hot and cold water, and increased storage capacity. Further contributing to the extraordinary cabin environment is an advanced environmental control system that provides 100 percent fresh air and a low cabin altitude: 7,000 feet (2,130 m) at FL450 and 6,000 feet (1,828 m) at FL410.
feels, its reliability and comfort; while the worst thing is fuel efficiency: “It would be about time to have better fuel efficiency, although the engines are the most reliable. “We operate the two models in the same way, but given the advanced technology, it is easier to support a 605 than a 604. For example, all charting is electronic on the 605 while on the 604 we are shipping vast amounts of paper around the world to update our Jeppesen charts. Also for passenger comfort, the 605 is slightly more advanced in terms of inflight entertainment and Airshow.”
“Taken together, these amenities significantly reduce fatigue, increase mental alertness and enhance productivity,” Henne says. The aircraft has new seats, measuring 21 inches (53 cm)
Martin Lener of Tyrolean Jet Services operates his G200 from a “floating base”.
FALCON 2000 The second most prolific super midsize jet in the EMEA region is Dassault’s Falcon 2000 in all its variants. There are a handful of operators in South Africa and Saudi Arabia, but the type is yet to make its mark throughout the rest of Africa and the Middle East. However, it is popular in all corners of Europe. Fractional operator NetJets has
17 on the Portuguese register, while Air Alsie in Denmark leads the way among charter operators with a managed fleet of no fewer than ten examples. Sirio in Italy operates eight and TAG Aviation seven, while Saudi Arabia’s National Private Air Transport Services, Spain’s Audeli and Switzerland’s Jet Aviation nurture four each.
between the arm rests and featuring new styling details, a telescoping headrest with optional flexible wings, an articulating seat pan for full-flat berthing and an optional recliner-style leg rest.
These larger fleets mostly feature a mixture of the original Falcon 2000s and its later variants, the EX and LX. Dassault has now launched the Falcon 2000LXS, offering improved airport performance, payload and cabin comfort compared to the 2000LX which it will replace in 2014. The 2000LXS will allow operators to access more airports because of new full-length inboard slats which are said to give the aircraft categoryleading airport performance and balanced field length. It will offer a range of 4,000nm (standard aircraft, full fuel, six pax, NBAA IFR reserves, 85 per cent Boeing Annual Winds), will climb directly to 41,000 feet in 19 minutes, and will need just 2,260 feet of runway to land. This is no longer than that needed for a turboprop aircraft, says Dassault. City pairs possible will include New York to Berlin; Paris to New York or Delhi; and Dubai to Hong Kong or London City. The cabin sound level within the
Falcon 2000LXS has been lowered by two decibels compared to its predecessor. It will be delivered standard with an entirely new FalconCabin HD+ cabin management system that places more controls and greater convenience into the hands of passengers. The system provides high definition viewing on monitors up to 22 inches with functions that can be controlled from anywhere in the aircraft via an iPod Touch or iPhone. A dedicated application allows passengers to control video playback, operate optional electronic window shades and adjust the lights, temperature and other cabin parameters to their liking. The AirCell Axxess II satcom system will be included as a standard feature, as will EASy II in the cockpit. It should be certified in the first half of 2013 with deliveries beginning in 2014. Guido Schallmo, chief pilot and flight department manager of ThyssenKrupp Dienstleistungen GmbH, is satisfied with every aspect of his Falcon 2000 EX EASy: He appreciates the modern cockpit, very good performance, the aerodynamics and nice cabin. “We are very happy with our Falcon, especially the reliability,” he says. “We got the HUD when we took delivery of the aircraft in April 2007 and we use it every time for all take off and approaches. We were also the first Falcon 2000 EASy operator worldwide who got the Cat III A (HUD III) certification.” If Schallmo has any criticism of the 2000, then it is simply its “high price”. Mehmet Yuksel Hocaoglu of Swan Aviation agrees on the cost issue, but is very satisfied with the performance and reliability of his Falcon 2000LX. However, Jeroen van Wees of Metterwoon/Flying Group, responding to our survey earlier this year, is Continued on next page
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ME & MY AIRCRAFT Super midsize jets
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very satisfied with the value for money offered by the 2000EX EASy and 2000LX, citing their excellent range, comfort and climb performance. He considers them to be “flexible, high class, comfortable, state-of-the-art aircraft.” He has just a few small criticisms: The 2000 can sometimes have minor, but irritating, electronic glitches; the type rating is not convertible to Falcon 900 EASy; and it has a small cargo door. LEGACY 600/650 The relative newcomer in business jet manufacturing, Embraer, has made remarkable inroads into the super midsize fleet and has now delivered
EUROPEAN BUSINESS AIR NEWS
Future models offer larger cabins and longer range While Cessna’s most recent announcements have involved the Sovereign and Citation X, its all-new designs, the Latitude and Longitude, continue to make progress. These two may share the same passenger payload and the company’s widest ever cabin, but they have very different capabilities. The Latitude will have a range of 2,500nm and a price tag around $14.9m, while the Longitude will extend the Citation boundaries right up to 4,000nm at a cost of $26m. over 100 Legacy 600/650 aircraft into the EMEA region. These have permeated throughout the region,
Aircraft on the horizon: Citation
Latitude and Longitude
Cessna has also been listening to its operators: “Our customers were pleased when we increased the
range of the Latitude from 2,000 to 2,300 nautical miles early this year, but we need to stay competitive in
with examples around Europe, in the Middle East and around Africa. They are especially prevalent in the UK, but
also in Russia and Nigeria. London Executive Aviation has seven on its fleet, and there are
the marketplace and as we talked with more customers getting to 2,500 nautical miles was imperative,” said Bob Gibbs, vp international sales, South America. The Latitude is scheduled for its first flight in mid-2014. The Citation Longitude will be powered by two Silvercrest engines. Scott Ernest, president and ceo of Cessna, says: “The Longitude sets itself apart with the largest Citation cabin, intercontinental range and a price point unmatched by other business jets with similar performance. “This super mid-size jet sets a new standard for cabin efficiency, connectivity and stylish comfort.” Entry into service is expected in 2017. several operators with five, including ABS Jets in the Czech Republic, TAG Aviation and Prestige Jets in the UAE. The 650 model, introduced just a couple of years ago, can already be found in Morocco, Nigeria, Russia, Saudi Arabia and the UK. Embraer’s latest innovation is to extend its new eTechPubs iPad app beyond the Phenom aircraft to include the Legacy 600 and 650, eliminating the need to carry a 40lb flight bag filled with paper manuals. “With this new app, operators will also have all the information they need to operate and service their aircraft in the palm of their hand,” says Edson Carlos Mallaco, vp customer support and services. “This, and other apps we are developing, are part of our strategy to support a paperless cockpit by putting support solutions on tablets and other mobile devices. This effort also includes developing a paperless maintenance base.” Operators with a valid technical manual revision service can use the eTechPubs app to download all technical manuals to a single iPad as part of their subscription. It also works without an internet connection. Slovenian Legacy 600 operator Zdenko Dremel is happy to congratulate Embraer on the progress
Tyrolean Jet Services’ G200 is available for worldwide charter.
made in building a customer support network. “Maintenance support has advanced from 2007 (and before) when it was at a low level with few authorised service centres, to well organised, widely spread European and US support now. This means Embraer has slowly but constantly been improving its overall customer support,” he says. Not that support is often required, as the Legacy is a tough aircraft that seldom leaves an operator in an AOG situation: “Mostly you will be able to make a tech flight in accordance with MEL to a suitable maintenance service. It is a very independent, airliner-based business jet,” says Dremel. Despite having unreliable galley equipment, needing a slightly longer runway, flying lower than the competition and requiring longer pre- and post-flight crew work because of its airliner construction
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EUROPEAN BUSINESS AIR NEWS
AIRCRAFT NEWS... AW119 enters the digital era AgustaWestland has launched the AW119Kx, the latest evolution of its single engine helicopter, with Garmin G1000H integrated flight deck and the avionics including synthetic vision, moving map, highway in the sky and obstacle/ terrain avoidance systems, to improve situational awareness and increase safety. Certification of the AW119Kx is scheduled in the first quarter of 2013.
More King Airs can have vision enhanced
Martin Spiegl of Imperial Jet Europe provides a valuable European perspective as a member of Bombardier’s advisory board.
and systems, the Legacy scores highly with Dremel for its “amazing threezone passenger cabin, the best baggage space in its category, acceptable range, and crew and passenger-friendly equipment. “If we consider today’s market prices, then the investment in a new Legacy 600/650 is high,” he says. “But used, at a few years old, the Legacy 600 could be the best buy in an aviator’s life! Used market prices are well below the real operational value and your commercial potential. The Legacy 600 is built for the charter market.” He does have one word of warning, though. “This is a complex business jet, not for beginners without corporate or commercial experience. It’s not a ‘one man band’ aircraft. You need an aviation organisation team behind you.” The Legacy would benefit, he believes, from a new and uncomplicated water supply system for galley and toilets, the latest modern e-charts and avionics, and a lighter passenger and maintenancefriendly interior of seats, sofas and sidewalls like the BMW Design in the Legacy 500. Dremel proposes that the Legacy 600/650 will be eclipsed by a rising new star – its younger modern brother the Legacy 500, which will have lower operating costs and top technology. “But if a good Embraer is replaced with a better Embraer, then Embraer is still a winner, isn’t it?” he concludes.
“A few years old, the Legacy 600 could be the best buy in an aviator’s life!” Depreciating value is a concern for Legacy 600 operator Ammr Shaladi of Vibroair Flugservice, who believes that his asset may have fallen by up to 35 per cent. But he is satisfied with every other aspect of the aircraft: “It is clear and easy to operate, with nice range and relaibility in terms of maintenance,” he reports. A final, anonymous, owner gave his verdict on the aircraft, reporting satisfaction overall, with the wide cabin a positive feature, and the cost of spare parts the negative. CHALLENGER 300 There are single Challenger 300s flying in Saudi Arabia, Mauritius and South Africa, but otherwise the fleet in our region is firmly centred on Europe and Russia. It is notably popular in Germany.
Astronics Corporation has received an amended STC expanding the number of King Air aircraft that can be equipped with the Astronics Max-Viz-1500 enhanced vision system to include all King Air models equipped with any videocapable multi function display. The system permits pilots to see clearly at night and up to eight to 10 times farther than the unaided human eye in many conditions of obscured visibility.
Gulfstream boosts support
Bombardier’s Challenger programme has reached a significant milestone with the entry into service of the 200th 605.
They are mainly operated in ones or twos, but there is a substantial fleet of six in the hands of Amira Air in Austria (see front cover story). This is likely to be surpassed in the future as NetJets has recently placed an order for up to 150 of the type, and some of these are heading for the European fleet. Operators reporting back in our survey, such as Guy Arend of Premiair SA, are very satisfied with the aircraft, with one anonymous reader praising its overall balance of price, capabilities, cabin and cost of operation, while being less enthusiastic about its noise levels and windows. SOVEREIGN Eight years have passed since the introduction to service of Cessna’s Citation Sovereign, and in that time it has found favour all around Europe, but especially in Germany and Turkey. There is one in Jordan and one in Saudi Arabia, and the African continent boasts four in South Africa and no fewer than ten in Egypt. The latter is host to the largest fleet in our region; the five Sovereigns flown by Smart Aviation Company include the first to have been equipped for medevac operations. At the recent NBAA Convention Cessna displayed an enhanced model for the first time, with increased range, updated technologies and improved capabilities. This features Garmin G5000 avionics, range increased by 150nm, Pratt & Whitney PW306D engines, new cabin amenities including the integrated Cessna Clarity cabin management system, in addition to improved seat design, improved short runway performance, integrated automatic throttles, winglets and improved ground cooling performance. Line flow has already started on the New Citation Sovereign, and entry into service is expected in the early third quarter of 2013. The New Sovereign will also be available with a utility configuration, with options to carry payload, people, Continued on next page
Gulfstream Product Support has continued to add capabilities around the world, while preparing for the entry-into-service of two new aircraft, the G650 and G280. Gulfstream has strengthened its customer support in Europe by adding a Field and Airborne Support Team (FAST) member in Paris. The maintenance engineer is based at Le Bourget, and is the fifth on the continent.
Ascend certified for five more aircraft Rockwell Collins’ Ascend Aircraft Information Manager, the secure data transfer and maintenance management system for Pro Line 4, Pro Line 21 and Pro Line Fusionequipped aircraft, was recently certified for Cessna CJ1+, CJ2+, CJ3, CJ4 and Hawker Beechcraft B200 series King Air aircraft. The company expects to announce additional AIM certifications for Citation XLS+ and Premier I/IA aircraft by the end of the year.
The AW119Kx was unveiled at the Air Medical Transport Conference in Seattle.
equipped, it will offer Level D fullflight simulators and an integrated suite of flight training devices and advanced classroom settings to provide both pilot and maintenance training for multiple Bombardier business aircraft platforms.
Legacy 500 prototype nears first flight As the first prototype of the Legacy 500 midsize jet completes preparation for its maiden flight, expected in a matter of weeks, Embraer Executive Jets continues work to ensure the programme will be mature when the aircraft enters service in 2014. Meanwhile, the second and third Legacy 500 prototypes continue ground testing. “The Legacy 500 will have all product support in place worldwide before entry into service,” says Edson Carlos Mallaco, vp, customer support and services. “This is part of our effort to offer high level support. One of our goals is to have Embraerowned and authorised service centres prepared to receive the Legacy 500 on its first day.”
Gulfstream G150 sets city-pair records Gulfstream’s G150 has set four new city-pair speed records, flying from Savannah to Barbados; Barbados to Cape Verde, Sal; Cape Verde to Libreville, Gabon; and Libreville to Cape Town, South Africa. The 100th G150 has been delivered, and is now operating in Europe.
Airbus introduces ACJ318 Enhanced Airbus has begun offering customers the ACJ318 Enhanced, with new features and a catalogue of optional extras. It has more elegant cabin decor, new seats and high-definition in-flight entertainment, with optional fuelsaving Sharklets, a shower and a cinema lounge.
Bombardier and CAE train in Amsterdam Bombardier and CAE are to establish a second Bombardierdedicated training centre in Amsterdam, scheduled to open in 2014. Bombardier has also appointed CAE as the authorised training provider for business jet pilot and maintenance training in Europe, and named CAE as worldwide ATP for Global 5000, 6000, 7000 and 8000 jets. The facility will begin by offering pilot and maintenance training on Global 5000 and 6000 aircraft equipped with the Vision Flight Deck, and then expand progressively based on demand. When fully
Dassault set to deliver 500th Falcon 900 Dassault’s 500th Falcon 900 is in final assembly in BordeauxMerignac. The 900LX will initially serve as a demonstration aircraft, and is scheduled to be handed over in early summer 2013. Since its first flight in September 1984, the Falcon 900 series has accumulated more than 2.6 million flight hours.
Latest BBJ saves fuel Boeing is to offer the BBJ MAX 8 and the BBJ MAX 9, based on the latest commercial 737 variants. The MAX 8 will use CFM’s new LEAP-1B engines and the Boeing-developed advanced technology winglet. These will provide customers with a 13 per cent fuel-use improvement.
Together, these features should translate to a range of 6,325nm, 14 per cent more than the BBJ 2. The MAX 8 will share the same cabin size with today’s BBJ 2. The MAX 9 will have a 6,255 nm range with an even larger cabin. Plans for a BBJ MAX 7 are being studied.
GippsAERO appoints EAS GippsAERO, the utility aircraft manuacturer, has signed an agreement today appointing European Aircraft Sales as its authorised dealer for Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Bjarne Jorsal, co-owner of EAS, says: “We are excited about the opportunities in our region for GippsAERO and its unique product.”
HondaJet production begins Honda Aircraft Company has commenced production of the HondaJet. “An assembly line is in place, major aircraft components including the fuselage and wing have been produced, and we have started assembly of the first customer aircraft,” says president and ceo Michimasa Fujino. The company recently completed the first in a series of remote testing to validate the HondaJet aircraft’s performance under extreme temperatures. Hot-weather flight tests were conducted in Yuma, Arizona, and included critical case tests for both aircraft systems and infrastructure. To assist in remote location testing of the HondaJet, a 42-foot custom telemetry vehicle entered service in October. The truck was designed to duplicate the telemetry capabilities at Honda Aircraft’s world headquarters in Greensboro, NC, and is a fully self-contained system used to monitor aircraft data during flight testing. The truck has six workstations for analysts to monitor real-time test data within a 200 nautical mile range of the aircraft and allows year-round operation at remote sites.
Cessna recommits to Jet Aviation services Cessna has renewed the appointment of Jet Aviation’s operations in Dusseldorf, Germany, and Zurich, Switzerland, as Citation authorised service facilities. Joe Hepburn, Cessna senior vp, customer service, says: “With more than 1,000 Citations operating in Europe, our focus is on providing current and future customers with the best aftermarket support in the industry. Jet Aviation has been an effective customer support partner for Cessna.”
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Aircraft on the horizon: Learjet ME & MY AIRCRAFT Super midsize jets
Continued from previous page
or both, depending on the requirements of the mission. Capt John Bean of The Private Jet Company welcomes the introduction of the Garmin flightdeck, as he is not a fan of the Honeywell system. He believes the current Sovereign “is a fantastic all-rounder, extremely suitable for long or short flights.” FALCON 50 Out of production for some four years now, Falcon 50s remain in service around Europe and Africa, as well as in the UAE. They are popular with governments especially, and flown in this role in France, Gabon, Libya, Morocco, Portugal, Serbia, South Africa and Sudan. European operators will soon be able to take advantage of an important retrofit upgrade, in the form of performance-enhancing winglets. The FAA granted STC approval for the Aviation Partners Inc winglets in September following an 18-month development programme and exhaustive flight testing. The first Falcon 50 equipped with blended winglets was on show at EBACE earlier this year. It benefits from drag reduction, and corresponding range increase, of five per cent at Mach .80 and more than seven per cent at long range cruise. The aircraft arrived in Geneva from Seattle’s Boeing Field with a stop
Improved cabin comfort aboard the Falcon 2000LXS.
in Keflavik. Pilots Dave Hurley, Bo Corby and John Reinhold reported a significant improvement in initial cruise altitude and fuel burn on the initial leg of the trip. “We are excited to be showcasing the rebirth of the Falcon 50,” says Joe Clark, API founder and ceo. “Between blended winglets and the other modern upgrades available for the 50 we expect to see this airframe around for a very long time to come.” CHALLENGER 800 The Challenger 800 and its current incarnation, the 850, are derived from the CRJ200 airliner, and have entered service around Europe and the Middle East. The leading operator is VistaJet in Austria with four of the type, but there are others; Imperial Jet Europe, Kogalymavia in Russia, TAG and ExecuJet. Charles Will reports general satisfaction with the Challenger 850 which he operates. It benefits from a large and spacious cabin, but has relatively poor range and climb capability: “My aircraft is the only Challenger 850 I know of not to have
85
Production begins as 85 stays on target for service next year Production of the new Learjet 85 aircraft has officially begun as the programme successfully exited the aircraft level critical design review. Development and production teams in Wichita, Kansas; Montréal, Québec; Belfast, Northern Ireland; and Querétaro, Mexico, are actively engaged in the manufacturing validation phase. “We have made solid progress,” said Ralph Acs, vp and gm, Learjet, Bombardier Business Aircraft. “Our manufacturing sites are ready, production has begun, we have been successfully building parts and we are ensuring that all quality standards are met for the Learjet 85 aircraft’s entry into service in 2013.” In Wichita, the first phase of expansion is complete and the site is ready for the start of final the extra fuel tanks fitted in the rear baggage area. So the range is relatively poor for that size of aircraft; even less than the CRJ, from which it is derived, because it is so much heavier (empty weight). “Installing internal tanks on a completed aircraft could be done, but
Essential reading wherever you are Handbook of Business Aviation in Europe The reference book for fixed wing and rotary business aircraft owners and operators in Europe and the Middle East. www.handbook.aero
Handbook of Business Aviation in Asia Pacific The reference book for fixed wing and rotary business aircraft owners and operators in the Asia Pacific region. www.handbook.aero
Global Business Jet Yearbook The reference book for long range business jet owners and operators worldwide. www.gbjyearbook.com
aircraft. But it would be very expensive to operate if we did not have the support from our regional airline with expertise in the 328 jet.” Sundberg believes the best attributes of the Envoy 3 are its cabin, low noise and baggage volume, while the negatives are slow speed and low maximum altitude. Long range fuel tanks and the London City modification are desirable upgrades. Earlier this year we also heard from Chris Tamerius Antrobus of Swiss-Jet AG, about the Envoy 3 in its operation at the time. He was also generally satisfied with the aircraft, but alluded to high replacement part prices and poor support for the landing gear. G200/GALAXY
Ample under-seat storage.
assembly. Phase two of the expansion plan, which includes building a new production flight facility, is scheduled to begin in 2012, while phase three – the paint facility and new delivery centre – is on track to be completed in 2013. Launched on October 30, 2007, with a customer-driven clean-sheet design, the Learjet 85 aircraft is positioned between the midsize Learjet 60 XR and the super midsize Challenger 300 jets. at a heavy cost in terms of down-time and money. In other words, I would like it – but the owner wouldn’t!” Martin Spiegl of Imperial Jet Europe benefits from the extra range of the Challenger 850ER. “There is loads of line maintenance available due to CRJ200 communality,” he says. “Field service representatives and technical support are very engaged, and dispatch reliability is up to airline standard, which is exceptional for the business jet segment.” The aircraft is very efficient, but heavy on the interior, which limits the payload with full fuel, he adds, and expensive spare parts like windshields have different part numbers than on the CRJ200, although they are the same parts. “This routes the spare parts business back to Bombardier, as I cannot buy parts from big commercial airlines. and so the pricing stays high. “It is a good aircraft with a great cabin for reasonable money, if the range is not needed.” ENVOY 3 The home of the Dornier 328 – from which the Envoy 3 is an adaptation – is Germany, so it is no surprise that the largest population of the type is located there. Kristoffer Sundberg is the charter manager at JoinJet A/S, the charter division of Sun-Air of Scandinavia. Sun-Air has a commercial fleet of Dornier 328s in airline configuration, and this is a positive benefit for JoinJet and its Envoy 3. “328 Support are very expensive and slow to deal with. So it is to our great advantage that we have one of the biggest spare parts stocks in the world for the Dornier 328 jet,” he explains. “As we have bought our Envoy at the right time in the market we do believe it is a great value for money
About to be superceded by the entry into service of the Gulfstream G280 (see sidebar story), the G200 started life as the IAI Galaxy when it entered operations in 1999. Yet to find its way into African service, the aircraft is used in the UAE and around Europe. Austria and Switzerland are home to several each, while Spain hosts the largest fleet operator in the region: Executive Airlines. Tyrolean Jet Services operates a 2011 factory-new G200 on its AOC for worldwide charter. In its early history this aircraft has already been operated on various long range tours to the US, Canada, the Caribbean and even to Brazil and Argentina. The usual flight profile is more Europe-related, where the TJS G200 is being operated on the “floating base” system, which works well in order to avoid too many ferry flights. Gulfstream’s customer support is excellent, the company says, and assists TJS’ own in-house CAMO and Part 145 maintenance facility. The aircraft is reported to perform well and is supported by two captains, two co-pilots and two cabin attendants on permanent positions. CITATION X There are more than 25 Citation X aircraft around the EMEA region, from Angola to Finland. They are most frequently solus aircraft of their type, but the German air force transport unit has three. When the plans were drawn to improve on the Citation X systems and performance, that aircraft was to be called the “Citation TEN”. Through the design and certification process, the Citation TEN has claimed the title of world’s fastest business jet, but customers have told Cessna that they prefer the new aircraft retain the Citation X name. “You can see customer input present throughout the entire process,” says Roxanne Bernstein, senior vp of marketing. “We’ve implemented customer input with various designs, we value customer feedback with services, and we also listen to the customer when it comes to guidance with naming our aircraft. Customers value the performance and system improvements with the updated aircraft, the fact that the New Citation X is the world’s fastest business jet with a top speed of Mach 0.935, and they value the original name. So Cessna has decided that, moving forward, this aircraft will be called the New Citation X.” ■
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O P E R AT I O N S N E W S . . . Air Chef becomes Air Culinaire Worldwide Business aviation inflight catering provider Air Chef Holdings, LLC, announced that it has rebranded all of its divisions under one new name, Air Culinaire Worldwide. “Before our rebrand, we had different names that were known for separate things by our clients,” says president Paul Schweitzer.
Jeppesen streamlines online services
Interjet Italy’s Captain Maurizio Tampellini and maintenance manager Giuseppe Fiaccabrino in Astana, with a receptionist at the Astana Grand Hotel in typical Kazakh costume.
Taxation and recession are major hurdles for Italy’s business aviators ITALY REGIONAL REVIEW
Business aviation in Italy by the numbers 70 business aviation airports Major business aviation airports* 1. Milan Linate 2.Rome Ciampino 3.Naples Capodichino 4.Milan Malpensa 5.Torino Caselle
LIML LIRA LIRN LIMC LIMF
LIN CIA NAP MXP TRN
* ranked by the number of handler, charter, maintenance, sales and training organisations based at each.
119 business charter operators Leading fixed-wing charter operators** 1. Eurofly Service 2. Miniliner 3. Aliven 4. K-air 5. Icaro
Leading helicopter charter operators** 1. Inaer Italia 2. Airgreen 2. Elifriulia 4. Elilombarda 5. Air Corporate ** ranked by number of aircraft for charter
aircraft maintenance organisations 78 business Leading maintenance centres*** 1. Centro Tecnico Aeronautico 2. Helicopters Italia 3. Airgreen 4. Eli-Fly 5. Helico *** ranked by number of aircraft types covered
I
647 business aircraft on the Italian register
Data extracted from the Handbook of Business Aviation in Europe, and the EBAN reader roster.
You have to be resilient, optimistic and super-efficient to be in business aviation in Italy. The country is back in recession and expected to remain so through next year, and has a government forced to raise taxes wherever it can to reduce an unmanageable deficit. There are taxes on private aircraft either registered in Italy or domiciled in the country for 45 days and based on the aircraft weight; and there are taxes on commercial flights based on a flat fee per passenger. According to EBAN’s distribution data there are currently 647 business aircraft on the register (jets, turboprops, turbine helicopter and cabin-class twins), and this compares with 703 back when we did our first review of Italy in 1992. This lamentable lack of growth in the sector is not just a result of weeding out the ageing piston twins; there are now 126 business jets compared to 188 two decades ago. Could Italy be the only country in Europe with a smaller jet fleet than 20 years ago? So the based operators are having a hard time, but that is not the whole picture. In fact, business aviation movements at Italian airports have held up fairly well during the past three years. There was a sudden decline of about ten per cent in 2009 but, since then, Eurocontrol figures reveal that the number of business aviation movements are stable at around 185 per day. Milan Linate and Rome Ciampino remain by far the most popular destinations with over 30 movements a day. Business aviation traffic at Turin airport has suffered most, and is currently under half of the 2006 level, while Olbia in northern Sardinia has maintained its traffic with little decline over recent years at all. One of the longest-standing operators in the country, preparing to celebrate its 30th anniversary next year, is Interjet Italy. It was founded in Bologna to provide fast transport for Mr Cremonini, owner of the Cremonini Group’s canned beef, fresh
meats, highway and train, restaurant, ham production and export businesses. “We started with a Piper Navajo, then a Citation I, then for 18 years a Falcon 10,” says Capt Maurizio Tampellini. “Since 1993 we have had an Italian AOC so we can work for other companies and spread the fixed costs. From 2005 to today we have owned a Hawker 800 XP2, which is equipped with API winglets and was the first of its type to be EASA certified. “Our activity connects Europe, Asia and Africa, and our longest flights this year were weekly trips to Maputo, Luanda, Almaty and Astana,” he adds. “The most recent aircraft is a King Air 350 – in our fleet since February – to fulfill short to medium trips when we are far away with our Hawker.”
“The market is moving towards last minute bookings” The recent economic conditions have forced the company to realign its activities. “In the past 15 years we flew roughy 500 to 550 hours each year with the Falcon 10 and later with the Hawker, but from 2009 until today our activity has dropped to 330-370 hours,” reports Tampellini. “This is down by 45 per cent due to the world crisis and I don’t know when business will recover, so we have reduced our crew to just two pilots instead of four as previously. “The most important employee here is our maintenance manager, Giuseppe Fiaccabrino, an energetic man doing everything in the hangar and office, and on the aircraft. He fixes everything.” Another of Italy’s business jet operators is Rome Ciampino-based Air One Executive with its fleet of Falcons: 20, 2000 and 2000LX. “We are involved more and more in price competition and decreases to meet the expectations of our clients,” Continued on next page
Jeppesen has introduced an online destination to manage critical information, from install management to Jeppesen flight planning and other product access. The MyJeppesen.com gateway serves as the launch point for the new FlitePlan Online flight planning solution for business aviation operators and allows users to view and manage JeppView subscription installations per device and generate usage reports. Operators are able to access premium technical support, receive chart change notices and view chart cycle calendar information through the site’s multiple-application panel display.
WFS launches Ascent World Fuel Services has launched the Ascent global fuel brand for FBOs, with a new logo and enhanced programmes and benefits such as reliable fuel supply, equipment leasing, credit card processing, the Alliance Contract Fuel Card Program, the FlyBuys Reward Program, FBO marketing assistance, personnel training solutions and product liability insurance protection.
Avfuel Contract Fuel and the AVTRIP pilot rewards programme. Axel Ienna, director, corporate aviation for London City airport, says: “We’re a competitive business and have clear business goals; enhancing the service we offer to customers and stakeholders, polishing the passenger experience and attracting new customers from outside our traditional catchment area, which are amply served and promoted by our place in Avfuel’s global network.”
Marshall appoints Povey for aircraft sales Marshall Aerospace is creating a dedicated aircraft sales and brokerage business, and has appointed Howard Povey as sales director. He will be based at Cambridge and brings more than 25 years’ of professional aviation experience with particular expertise in aircraft sales, customer support and business development gleaned at Hawker Beechcraft, Raytheon Aircraft Company and BAE Systems. The business is already marketing its first aircraft for sale on behalf of a UK owner, a 2008 King Air C90GTi. The announcement of the new business arm comes as Steve Jones assumes responsibility for all business aviation-related activities at Marshall Aerospace, including the overall responsibility for the development of business aviation strategy, the management of hangars and ramp facilities and the FBO which is currently franchised operationally to ExecuJet.
Innotech-Execaire arrives in the UK Innotech-Execaire Aviation Group has opened an international sales and customer support office at Inflite’s Jet Centre at Stansted airport. The office will provide in-service maintenance sales support, as well as complete capabilities for pre-owned aircraft sales and acquisition.
Jet-Care adds engine trend options Jet-Care has launched three new engine trend programmes as part of its Gas Path Analysis engine portfolio. The programmes, for the PW305 and PW307 as well as the CFE738 engines, will afford operators the opportunity to use Jet-Care beyond the engine programmes already in place. “Following a recent customer satisfaction survey we received a significant number of inquiries from operators who have recently acquired Falcon 7X aircraft, asking if they could continue trend monitoring with Jet-Care for their new engines” said md David Glass. The GPA service targets the detection of engine core deterioration and associated faults by monitoring and trending engine data therefore enabling clients to monitor the health of their aircraft engines.
London City joins Avfuel London City Airport Jet Centre is to join Avfuel’s network of branded FBOs, offering fuel savings through
President Banyan Air Service Don Campion and Segun Demuren, managing director and ceo of Evergreen Apple Nigeria, seal their partnership.
Nigeria’s first FBO calls on US expertise Evergreen Apple Nigeria, the first fully fledged FBO and MRO for business jets in Nigeria, is to work closely with Banyan Air Service, the Florida FBO operator. The partnership will see Banyan transferring its experience and skills to EAN by sharing knowledge, resources and contacts with the aim of supporting and developing EAN’s customer focused service strategy. Says Segun Demuren, ceo of EAN: “We are a fledgling business and the first in the market to respond to the needs of a growing business aviation fraternity in our country. We are delighted to start sharing best practice and resources with Banyan as we evolve and fine tune our operation.”
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EUROPEAN BUSINESS AIR NEWS
ITALY REGIONAL REVIEW
Continued from previous page
says ceo Rocco N Cellucci. “Furthermore, the market is moving towards last minute bookings, so advance booking policies are extremely difficult to implement.” He is pleased with the Falcons: “The overall performance is extremely satisfactory, leading us to continue with this family of aircraft. In particular, our clients prefer the Falcons to other aircraft for their flight performance and comfort. Basically this is a benefit that frequent flyers are willing to pay for.” Cellucci has noticed significant effects from the recent downturn: Increasing aircraft sales, with no substitution with other aircraft; price reductions on charter sales; increasing exploitation of empty leg sales; more last minute requests and heavy shopping by clients; and increasing tax pressure from the latest luxury tax. “All this is connected to the credit crunch and lower growth expectations in the near future,” he says. “The most important team player is the team spirit of every single employee of the company. All focused on empowering the company targets and expectations.” A more positive outlook is reported by Alessandro Papis at Elilombarda Srl, who has recently won a multi-year contract for offshore helicopter activity in Italy for the ENI Group. In September it brought into service a pair of AW109SP helicopters believed to be
Rocco Cellucci of Air One Executive believes customers are attracted by his all-Falcon fleet.
the first of the type to be equipped and configured for this type of offshore role. Elilombarda has also extended its AOC to fixed wing operations, basing a Citation Encore+ at Milan Linate airport. Maggiorino Acuto, president of Air Service Center, is more typical, reporting that flight hours have decreased for his fleet of seven Eurocopter AS350 and one Agusta AW109. Flying a variety of passenger, survey, photography, aerial works, sightseeing and training missions, Acuto’s main priority is to survive the crisis. Roberta Fidora, sales executive for Executive Blue, says that its pair of
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Executive Blue’s two Piaggio Avantis are strategically located.
home-produced Piaggio Avantis are carrying out business, leisure, freight and emergency medical flights from their respective bases at Milan Linate and Rome Ciampino. “Executive Blue is the general aviation department of Blue Panorama Airlines,” she explains. “We started in 2004 with one Avanti based in Rome and in 2009 we increased the fleet with the second. We consider the two airport locations strategic for business flights in Italy, all the Mediterranean area, the northern and eastern European countries. “Recently we flew to an incredible place in Spain which is a game reserve and the only available airport did not provide fuel and other basics. The organisation of the entire flight was a challenge for all our team from the beginning to the end. “When the flight was over and passengers were satisfied and we finally reached our goal we were all very happy. “These flights are important for us. Every flight is tailor made and has a different story to tell, but from complicated and intricate flights the staff’s skills and knowledge improve.” In the past year, Executive Blue has increased its revenue and flying hours. “The result in terms of revenue is an increase of 14 per cent. But predicting final months of 2012 is difficult, and even more so for the upcoming year,” adds Fidora. “Italy has been badly affected by the economical and financial crisis and traffic statistics have been
negative throughout the year. Last but not least the introduction of the luxury passenger tax by the Italian government last May has not improved the situation. The result has been a definite change in clients’ activity. Many Italian customers that flew GA occasionally in the past for leisure have just found alternative solutions. Nowadays leisure clients mainly arrive from the eastern countries, particularly Russia and the countries in the Balkan area, and fly to all the famous Italian holiday spots. “Our main clients are business clients of major Italian companies and Italian and international brokers, which we consider important and relevant intermediaries.” Executive Blue has dedicated offices at both base cities, in Milan city centre and at Rome Ciampino airport. “We are extremely sensitive to the customer’s needs and to the market demand. To increase business in this field, major attention has to be given to all the smallest details. Our flights are tailor made and not one is similar to the other! We like to consider ourselves artisans of luxury.”
From luxury to law-enforcement: The Italian government earlier this year placed an order for two AW139 twin helicopters, partially funded by the EU FRONTEX programme aimed at supporting coordination and development of the European Union’s border management. Also included in the contract was a comprehensive support and training package for crews and maintenance personnel, plus options for an additional six helicopters to be exercised within late 2012/early 2013. These aircraft will be used to perform a range of duties including law enforcement, border patrol and other public utility applications.
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The two helicopters on order are expected to be delivered in the first half of 2013 and based at Pratica di Mare Airbase, close to Rome. The AW139 has also been chosen by and is in service with the Italian Coast Guard, Guardia di Finanza (Customs and Border protection) and the Italian Air Force. The Italian Police joining the list of Italian government’s operators of the AW139 will enable it to benefit from the advantages of existing logistics, support and operational synergies in delivering rescue and patrol missions across the nation. The Italian Police AW139 configuration will also feature HD FLIR, satellite communication system, searchlight and mission console. For a final overview of the Italian business aviation scene we consulted Tom Engelhard, Air Partner’s head of private jets for continental Europe. “The business aviation market generally is experiencing a challenging time at the moment, largely due to the impact of the macro-economic environment. However, the Italian market is being especially hard hit with the introduction of a ‘luxury tax’; in the year to date, business aviation is down 9 per cent in Italy, compared to the European average which is down four per cent.
“The luxury passenger tax has not improved the situation” “Air Partner’s Italian office, however, has been defying the wider industry trends. Bookings have remained relatively stable at around the same level as last year. The company’s JetCard has proven to be a particularly popular product; clients pay an upfront fee and, unlike other schemes, there are no hidden or additional costs – in Italy, this means there is no further luxury tax to pay on additional costs. “Popular holiday destinations are, as ever, the south of France, Sicily and Sardinia. On the corporate side, eastern Europe is becoming an increasingly popular destination, as businesses expand their offering in that region. In particular, Air Partner has seen growing demand for its services in Russia and the former CIS, with the development of new ‘hubs’ for private jet activity.” ■
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The 2012/13 EBAN Handbook of Business Aviation in Europe is out now, and gives details of many more Italy charter operators. It also lists business aviation facilities and services including airports, FBOs and maintenance centres. The details can be accessed online through a search of aircraft operated or the airport bases. For more information please visit www.handbook.aero
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A One of the country’s longest-standing operators, Interjet Italy is nearly 30 years old.
EUROPEAN BUSINESS AIR NEWS
NOVEMBER 2012 15
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Aircraft for sale Special packages are available for advertising aircraft for sale in EBAN and on our web site (www.ebanmagazine.com). Picture adverts (40 words of text plus colour picture) cost £75 each. You can also choose our new display advertising option for larger inventories.
BOMBARDIER
Challenger 604
Citation S/II
1999, D-AFAA, S/N 5397 | EU-OPS 1.
1985, Airframe TT: 8,576, Cycles: 6,755, TSO: 1,304, Pro Line II, GNS-XLS, GPWS, CVR. New windows 2007, RVSM, Freon air, cosmetics refreshed & Perma-guarded. $995,000 As-Is, WhereIs, How-Is. Tel: +1 403 291 9027 John Hopkinson & Associates. Web: www.hopkinsonassociates.com. Email: sales@hopkinsonassociates.com
Available for sale or lease. 6,945 hours. GE OnPoint, MSP Gold, 3-FMS, 12 pax interior refurbished in November 2011. Contact: Thierry Huguenin - FAI rent-ajet AG at tel: +49 911 36009 375 or +1 561 771 1322 FAI rent-a-jet AG. Web: Challenger 604
www.rent-a-jet.de. Email:
VP-CAP, The owner has appointed Innotech as its new exclusive broker. Impeccably maintained CL604. The interior is configured to offer both a comfortable business working environment with excellent rest facilities and delightful family & dining environment with large rear monitor for entertainment. It has an excellent operating pedigree– worth a viewing. Andrew Pearce Tel: + 44 7557-237730 Innotech Aviation. Email: andrew.pearce@innotech-execaire.com
JetSales@fai.ag
Citation Ultra CRJ 200LR
2001, D-ACRN, S/N 7486. EU-OPS 1. Available for sale or lease. 19,568 hours. 50 pax interior configuration w/aft lavatory and divider. Contact: Thierry Huguenin. Tel: +49 911 36009 375 or +1 561 771 1322 FAI rent-a-jet AG. Web: www.rent-a-jet.de. Email: JetSales@fai.ag
Citation Ultras available. Honeywell Primus 1000 3-Tube EFIS, Honeywell GNS-XLS FMS, Honeywell MKVII EGPWS, Honeywell TCAS II w/Change 7, w/ski tube. Recently Permaguard. Recently refreshed interior. Fresh phase 1-5. Zero engine option. Tel: +1 403 291 9027 John Hopkinson & Associates. Web: www.hopkinsonassociates.com. Email: sales@hopkinsonassociates.com
You can now place job advertisements free of charge on the EBAN web site – part of our extensive web portal which receives around 25,000 unique visitors every month. These text adverts are cross referenced to information on your company from the Handbook of Business
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GENERATE DEALS
Challenger 604
S/N 5364, 5,903 TTAF, engines on condition. Collins ProLine IV, Honeywell EGPWS, Collins TCAS II w/Change 7. Dual Collins FMS-6000 FMS w/dual GPS4000, DVD, VCR, 9 Pax. Tel: +1 403 291 9027 John Hopkinson & Associates. Web: www.hopkinsonassociates.com. Email: sales@hopkinsonassociates.com
Falcon 900EX Learjet 55
1984, D-CUNO, 1984, S/N 108 | EU-OPS 1. Available for sale. 12,669 hours. MSPGold. Single point refuelling. Dual GNS-XLS w/GPS. New overall white paint. 7/8 pax w/enclosed aft lavatory. Contact: Thierry Huguenin - at +49 911
ISSUE 231
NOVEMBER 2012
AfBAA announces leadership group
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ME & MY AIRCRAFT Super midsize jets
Latest models bring advanced technology to super midsize arena Pages 8-12
Italy regional review
Ambassador brings in a brace of King Airs
Chester-based charter operator Ambassador Direct has added two managed King Airs to its fleet; a 250 and a C90GTx. Howard Povey, at that time regional sales director at Hawker Beechcraft Corporation (now sales director, Marshall Aerospace), is pictured here with directors Geoff Benton, Andrew Jones and Keith Barrington. See full story on page 2.
The African Business Aviation Association (AfBAA) has launched four new membership categories as well as detailing its founding members. AfBAA already has fully funded commitment from 18 out of 20 founding members, including international and African businesses, and is now working through a selection process to finalise the last two. “We noted that a number of companies we would have welcomed as founding members were unable to apply originally for a variety of reasons. “As we value their input and the potential support they can offer, AfBAA will now encourage them to apply for ‘launch member’ status,” says Tarek Ragheb, founder and chairman. In addition, interested parties will be able to apply for the newlyformed ‘normal’ and ‘affiliate’ membership types. As the association looks to the future, a new leadership group has been formed which features leading figureheads from African business aviation nominated by the founding members. The board will be led by Ragheb, with Ivor Ichikowitz of Paramount Group, South Africa, as vice chairman and treasurer, who will be supported by four subcommittees each with their own remit and elected chairperson. Overseeing the association’s operations will be Rady Fahmy, former programme director, newly promoted to the role of executive director.
36009 375 or +1 561 771 1322 FAI renta-jet AG. Web: www.rent-a-jet.de . Email: JetSales@fai.ag
1999, S/N 048. This aircraft has an excellent pedigree, having been operated on UK registry since new. Operated by TAG Aviation UK on behalf of a London FTSE listed group for last ten years. Maintained to highest standards. No damage history. Major 2C check and Landing Gear Overhaul January 2012. Andrew Pearce Tel: 447557-237730 Innotech Aviation. Email: andrew.pearce@innotech-execaire.com
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Amira Air targets US brokers with its expanding charter fleet Vienna-based Amira Air is expecting further additions to its extensive charter fleet, and has been promoting its services to US brokers by making a first appearance at the NBAA convention, hosted on the Avinode booth. The first new arrival will be a Citation Excel expected in the next few weeks, while an additional Challenger 300 and 605 are to be added to the fleet during the first quarter of 2013. The company says it has
noticed a growing demand from US clients wishing to charter aircraft to travel to and throughout Europe, and this was especially noticeable throughout this summer. By exhibiting at NBAA Amira Air is anticipating that this business will increase further, especially as it allowed the company to engage in discussions with clients and brokers, and demonstrate its fleet of aircraft. For non-stop transatlantic services the company can offer
two Global Express charter aircraft, one of them is a brand new Global 5000 Vision owned by Niki Lauda, the Formula 1 racing champion. In addition the company offers a Hawker 400XP as well as a CJ2+ for charter flights. Amira Air decided to strengthen its presence in the US to grow and intensify existing business relations and has set itself the task of becoming the “operator of choice in Europe” for stateside brokers and charter clients.
One factor that has helped Amira Air build business relationships with American and Canadian clients is the fleet of Challenger 300 aircraft the company operates. The aircraft, it says, are particularly suited to flights into Europe. Having a fleet of six Challenger 300 aircraft available for charter flights means that Amira Air is the largest charter operator of the type in Europe. See our Super Midsize Jet feature on pages 8-12.
Aviation, so that candidates interested in applying are fully briefed before sending in their application. To find out more about this new service, or to book a position to appear in EBAN magazine, please contact Tricia Rotheram on +44 (0) 1279 714516 email tricia@ebanmagazine.com
to meet every business need Bernhard Wipfler, chief marketing officer of Amira Air, says the NBAA convention provided a great opportunity to see existing customers and introduce its services to potential new clients.
Pages 13-14
Coming up in EBAN December - MEBA show issue - Business aviation at the crossroads: Europe and the Middle East - Business aviation in Iceland
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