ISSUE TWO: AUGUST-OCTOBER 2009

w w w . a r a b i a n a e r o s p a c e . a e r oT H E M A G A Z I N E F O R A E R O S P A C E P R O F E S S I O N A L S I N T H E M I D D L E E A S T A N D N O R T H A F R I C A

GULF’SSOVEREIGN

FLIGHT TEST SPECIAL REPORTPAGE 46

AIR TRANSPORT

Majali onleavingRoyalJordanian

DEFENCE

The storybehind the F-15 SEand Saudi

PAGE 22PAGE 19

FOCUS

Kuwait –gettingback tobusiness

PAGE 52

FLIGHT SUPPORT IMMIGRATION

Universal Weather and Aviation may be a UScompany, but it has its sights set firmly on the MiddleEast – and it has an ace up its sleeve. At its Shannon,

Ireland, office it is able to offer business jet travellers theability to pre-clear US immigration. As of July this year theairport was able to offer the service for commercial operatorsand in September the business aviation facilities will be in fullflow and operational.

This means that when the aircraft departs Shannon for theUS it is considered a domestic flight. So no hassles and farless time wasted when passengers arrive.

Universal’s managing director for Ireland, BrendanO’Grady, says a lot of interest is coming from the MiddleEast for this service both from existing and new clients alike.

The appeal also lies in the privacy that the airport offers.The US pre-clearance for biz jet travellers has its owndedicated channel.

In fact, the airport is so keen on keeping its customers’privacy a top concern that when US President Barack Obamaflew through Shannon it wasn’t until three or four days laterthat the local press got wind of it, reports the airport’s cargo &technical traffic development manager Joe Buckley.

“We’re certainly interested in making operators in theMiddle East aware of this,” says Buckley.

Space is not an issue either. The airporthas a 3,200m runway and canaccommodate the Space Shuttle, soAirbus’s superjumbo A380 can use it too.

There are a whole host ofdifferent flight support

companies competing forbusiness in the Middle East.

Phil Nasskau looks at what theydo differently to provide the

perfect services, amidsteconomic conditions that are

constricting the world’s business.

Universal passportto business growth

75

Continuedon Page 76

FLIGHT SUPPORT

76

Another advantage for travellers is that when arriving inthe US and if connecting flights are needed, there is no needto change terminals and baggage is checked to the finaldestination.

The upgrade to offer the full suite of pre-clearance comesafter a relationship that started in 1980 when the airport wasable to offer immigration clearance. “We think this isparticularly interesting for Middle Eastern operators.There’s much less hassle if you are travelling to the US,”Buckley adds.

In addition, Universal also offers its suite of flight and tripsupport in the Middle East. O’Grady explains: “We are aone-stop shop. There is nothing that cannot be arranged. Weknow our business and have been doing it for a long time.

As much support as they need“All it takes is one phone call, email or fax and customers canhave as much or as little support from us as they need – fromweather to handling to booking hotels or cars.”

For Dubai-based Palm Aviation, the key to repeat successand business is also being a one-stop shop, with exceptionaland personal service, according to chief executive SamerDabbagh.

He says flight operations staff are happy because of thepersonal service they receive from Palm.

“We can help our customers with remote or difficultlocations such as central or western Africa.

“It’s one of our strengths to provide our services there,and not use a third party like other providers do.

“We take care of everything when others can’t,” saysDabbagh.

And, although the market may be down because of thefinancial crunch, Dabbagh adds Palm is still very strong inthe Middle East.

“We’re still busy and going as planned.” For Palm Aviationthe focus is very much on providing a complete package.“Operators like to use one service provider for everything –they don’t like to have to expect any problems,” saysDabbagh.

For that reason, Palm will always have a dispatcher onstandby so that it can react to any customer requirements.

Dabbagh explains that because there are many supportcompanies the competition is good and healthy. “Itespecially helps us because it distinguishes our superiorservice and helps us to gain a bigger market share.”

He is also confident about the business. “The market isstill busy and there is growth. We’re always looking for newcustomers and operators, but there are challenges.

“For many operators now is the time to consider theirexpansion plans. The market will pick up and theexpansions, growth and investment will come back tobusiness aviation. But this won’t be until after theconsequences of this financial crisis,” he warns.

Dabbagh believes that the financial turmoil will change theflight planning and support environment in the Middle East.He thinks companies will suffer from the situation and thiscould lead to alliances or joint ventures in a bid to remainprofitable or even afloat.

Samer Dabbagh: “We takecare of everything whenothers can’t.”

SUPPORT FROM THE GROUND UPServices:■ Design & Construct■ Facility Planning■ Design Consulting■ Project Management ■ Ongoing Maintenance

& Training■ Finance & Lease Back

Products:■ Maintenance Hangars■ Paint Hangars■ Docking Systems■ FBO Facilities■ Landing Gear Pits■ Cranes & Teleplatforms■ Hangar Doors■ Specialised Equipment

■ Sydney

■ Abu Dhabi

■ Singapore

■ Hong Kong

■ Luxembourg

Aircraft Support Industries offer specialist solutions to all areas of the aviation industry to help meet their operational needs for all types of maintenance facilities, systems and equipment.With offices across the globe we are there to support you.

For further information contact enquiries@asiglobal.net or visit www.asiglobal.net

77

EXPANSION

For Dubai-based JetEx Flight Support, it isEurope that has caught the eye.

The company has announced a major moveinto the European marketplace with the openingof a new FBO facility at Le Bourget’s Terminald’Aviation d’Affaires building just outside Paris.

The development is the first stage in anambitious international expansion plan thatcould see JetEx developing a network of FBOsthroughout Europe and the Middle East, aslocations become available.

“We took a strategic decision to build ourfirst one at Europe’s busiest business aviationairport,” says JetEx general manager HolgerOstheimer.

The facility was opened during the Paris Air

Show in June by Paul Griffiths, chief executiveof Dubai Airports, who was representingDubai’s Sheikh Ahmed bin Sayeed AlMaktoum.

It features a VVIP area – dubbed Le Royale –for senior government officials, royal familiesand other dignitaries, as well as a VIP area, LeSalon, which has a lounge and meeting rooms.There are also pilot rest and briefing areas.

JetEx provides back-up services tobusiness aviation, freight and passengerairline operators and has the bulk of its marketin the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

This is the first time a Middle East companyhas established permanent operations in theWest.

JETEX BREAKS NEW GROUND IN THE WESTFor Dabbagh to set Palm apart from its competitors he

believes the challenge is to keep high demand in the MiddleEast and CIS while the support providers wait for Europeandemand to pick up.

“We have to watch the market and be careful of our futuresteps,” he says. “You have to stay in touch with customers andunderstand their plans and requests. This is what makes usdifferent.”

Meanwhile, for Hadid and its CEO Mohammed AbuLibdeh, its key selling point is its credit facilities forcustomers.

Extensive experienceAbu Lidbeh also believes that competition is a good thingbecause it highlights Hadid’s service ethic.

He says the company has extensive experience of Africaand that it can help customers who need to fly in to thoseregions.

However, he believes that opportunities in the market arechanging and that with the current economic climate “onlythe strongest will survive”.

Abu Libdeh says the company is happy to use third-partiesfor its customers but only when they have excellent customerservice standards. “If they can match what we’re looking forwe’ll keep using them. But, if we can’t find a location that hasservices up to our standards, then we’ll go in and open up ourown offices,” he says.

Abu Libdeh also reveals: “We are looking at the Far Eastfor expansion.”