BUSINESS AIR NEWSE U R O P E A N

ISSUE 192 MAY 2009

Oasis Flight is launching from the UK’s Oxford airport targeting a perceived market for low-cost, flexible charter. From left to right are Robert Foster, managing director, Amanda Wood, director, Peter Thorn, safety manager, and Teresa Haigh, director sales andmarketing. The plans of md Robert Foster are detailed on page 3.

For details of how to enter, see page 3.For details of how to enter, see page 3.For details of how to enter, see page 3.For details of how to enter, see page 3.

Industry body Oil and Gas UK isforming the Helicopter AccidentIssues Task Group, following theNorth Sea crash of the Bond OffshoreSuper Puma in which two crew and 14passengers died. The announcementcame as the UK’s fleet of Super Pumasbegan returning to service aftergearbox modifications.

The group consists of seniorindustry managers, mainlyrepresentatives of the companiesdirectly involved in the disaster, andsome members of Oil and Gas UK Its aims are to act on behalf of the industry to share information and advice about helicopter accidentsand to define possible policies and practices.

The group will be chaired by BobKeiller, ceo of PSN, which lost workerJames Costello in the tragedy, and co-chairman of Oil and Gas UK. It willmeet at least once a month. Keiller

says: “We feel a need to come togetheras an industry in the aftermath of theappalling loss of life to review, discussand, if necessary, take action. Eventhough we may not always have earlyanswers to every question, we aredetermined to ensure that any lessonsare shared across the industry asquickly as possible.”

The crash came less than twomonths after a Super Puma helicopterwith 18 people on board ditched in theEtap field 125 miles east of Aberdeen.

All survived the 18 February incident.BP and helicopter operator Bond

Offshore have been conducting areview of all joint operations. Thewreckage has been moved to AAIBheadquarters in Farnborough. TheSuper Puma had been returning fromBP’s Miller oil platform off theAberdeenshire coast when it crashed.An initial report indicated there hadbeen a gearbox failure.

Oil and Gas UK confirmed that thetwo types of Super Puma in the 25-strong fleet operating in the UKwere returned to service after checksby ground staff and modifications togearboxes. Inspection and modifi-cations on the aircraft’s gearboxeswere carried out after Eurocopterissued an alert service bulletin.

The British Airline Pilots’Association has called for a safetysummit involving the industry,helicopters pilots and independent

safety experts and has written toScottish first minister Alex Salmond.

The Civil Aviation Authorityblocked the use of personal locatorbeacons on passengers in case theyinterfered with the more powerfulbeacon signal from downed aircraft.But Oil and Gas UK says that finding atechnical solution that would allowthe personal beacons to be safelyreinstated was a matter of priority.

Eurocopter says there are 638Super Pumas in service worldwide,including 136 working offshore. BondOffshore took delivery of the world’s700th operational Super Puma, citingthe helicopter’s safety, high speed,payload and reliability. The companyhas worked with Super Puma familysince 1983 when it began operatingthe AS332 L1. It regarded the choice ofthe EC225 as the logical next step inrenewing its fleet and ordered twowith an option for a third.

Super Pumas back in service with gearboxmodifications after North Sea crash

For details of how to enter, see page 3.

The Bond Offshore fleet has sufferedtwo North Sea accidents.

Gainjet believes the size and baggagecapacity of its new 78-seat corporateB757 gives it an advantage over BBJsand ACJs.

Ramsey Shaban, ceo, says anupgrade included the addition ofAviation Partners’ winglets and a total refurbishment of the interior,allowing for 78 club class seats with55 inch pitch.

“The B757 has a good transatlanticcapability with Boeing 180 minutesETOPS certification,” Shaban adds.“The 757 size and capacity adds anew dimension to this niche marketrequirement. We can carry 78passengers with ample luggage andfly more than 4,000nm. It beats theBBJ and the ACJ in terms of cabin sizeand baggage capacity.

“Not only that but this corporate757 can be used as a back-up todedicated corporate shuttleoperators and airlines.”

Gainjet has expanded its presencein London and in St Petersburg butthe company’s operations andmaintenance are based at the Athensheadquarters. Shaban says it is alsoexpanding into providing heaviermaintenance capability in Athens.

The company’s fleet also includesa BAe146 configured for 34passengers and a G550. Thesecomplement a 40-seat MD83 basedin Manston and seven G200s.

Gainjet is expecting the deliveryof a Phenom in June, a Falcon 2000LXin October and a G650 is on order for 2012.

Gainjet says its B757 adds newdimension to

long haul comfortThe Odense airport-based Air AlphaGroup reports full order books for thePC12-NG but is increasing its focuson arranging finance because of theeconomic downturn. Jesper CarvalhoAndersen, ceo, reports: “The orderbooks for the PC12-NG are quite fulland Pilatus is one of the few aircraftmanufacturers that still expects toproduce more aeroplanes this yearthan they did last year.” But Andersensays: “Given the current problems onthe credit markets, we are alsofocusing more on financing andhelping our customers identifyinnovative financial solutions.”

He points out: “Flying a singleengine aeroplane provides extremelyattractive operating economies. Theorders for the Pilatus keep growingbecause the acquisition costs atabout US$4 million, coupled with lowoperating and maintenance costs,provide our customers value which isnot attainable with other aircraft.”The latest version, the Pilatus PC-12NG, is more than 5 per cent fasterthan the previous version, he says.

The Russian market, Andersenconfirms, is important for the future.“There is, without doubt, a growingneed for aviation in Russia and weanticipate that the low acquisitioncosts and highly attractive operatingcosts will make the Pilatus a verypopular aircraft in the private andcorporate segment – as well as inniche markets such as air taxi and airambulance. By the end of this year,we should have 15 or 16 Pilatus PC-12s flying in Russia, and the numberof calls we receive is growing.”

Air Alpha has gained Russiancertification of the PC-12 NG.Andersen says: “The certification is acommercial breakthrough, since weare the sole distributor in Russia andthe Baltic States. As the distributor ofPiper aircraft in Russia, the BalticStates and Scandinavia, Air Alpha, hesays, has achieved Russiancertification of the Piper Seminole,Seneca, Malibu Mirage and Malibu.

Air Alpha focuseson client financeto make the most

of new orders

For details of how to enter, see page 3.For details of how to enter, see page 3.For details of how to enter, see page 3.For details of how to enter, see page 3.For details of how to enter, see page 3.

Synergy expands turboprop and jet fleets page 3

Bristow expands Norwayoffshore business page 4

FAI acquires majority stake in Swiss operator page 6

Charter operators fight backagainst recession page 8

AirMed celebrates acquisitionof Learjet 35A page 18

Air ambulance ale cheers fund-raising efforts page 21

SPECIAL FOCUSTurkish charter page 19-21review

Oasis targetslow cost thirstOasis targetslow cost thirst

ME & MY AIRCRAFTLong range and largebusiness aircraft page 10

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MAY 2009 3EUROPEAN BUSINESS AIR NEWS

Glen Heavens, md Synergy Aviation (left) and Ted Farid, vp new business development, at the handover.

BUSINESS AIR NEWSE U R O P E A N

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Synergy Aviation is continuing toexpand both its turboprop and jetfleets despite the global economicslowdown. Based at London FairoaksAirport, the company is bringing four aircraft into service in the firsthalf of this year.

These deliveries include a CessnaCJ, a second Super King Air, a thirdKing Air 200GT and a Cessna CJ2+which will be based at Oxford airport.

The company has also finalisedthe double stretcher configuration of a King Air and invested in new

facilities and handling operations at Fairoaks.

Synergy Aviation, founded in 2004 by the current md GlenHeavens, currently operates twoPiper Navajo, three King Airs, a CJand a CJ2+ for charter.

Synergy expands turboprop and jet fleets

PremiAir has launched a newhelicopter transfer service to meetprivate jet arrivals from the UK’s key“London access” business aviationairports and whisk passengers to theLondon Heliport in Battersea. “TheLondon Heliport Shuttle servicerecognises the fact that some 40 percent of PremiAir’s traffic nowconnects with private jet arrivals intoUK airports,” says David Langton,sales and customer service manager.

“It is a good time to launch as the heliport has had a major faceliftthis summer which coincides with 50 years of operation.” PremiAir isdedicating the alternatives of anAS355 Twin Squirrel helicopter, which seats up to four passengers, or a Sikorsky 76 vip helicopter, which can comfortably seat up tonine, to the service.

Airports served will include Luton,Farnborough, Biggin Hill, Oxford,

Stansted, Heathrow and Gatwick.PremiAir is targeting charter brokers,operators and regular business users.

The service operates with a fixed-price tariff, based on a one-way trip toor from the London Heliport. Charterrates start from just £1,695 plus VATfor a one way trip from Biggin Hill to London Heliport. PremiAir is also providing services to AAG Global network customers from May2009 after announcing it had becomethe first European member operatorof Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation-owned network.

The PremiAir fleet includes fiveSikorsky 76 vip aircraft and thecompany manages several otherexecutive helicopters for third party corporate or individual owners.“We have a 20-strong high qualityportfolio of executive helicopters,turboprops and business jets,” says Langton.

PremiAir dedicates AS355 andSikorsky 76 to new shuttle

PremiAir’s London shuttle service takes off.

Jetbird, which launches in Septemberwith four Phenoms from Cologne inGermany, has set up a new web sitewhich ceo Stefan Vilner says will befurther developed to incorporate thecompany’s on-line booking systemfor flights, events, package deals andancillary travel services such as carsand hotels. “A German languageversion of the website will also belaunched in May 2009,” he adds.

Vilner says: “Cologne was selecteddue to its proximity to majorEuropean business centres. The

base will serve the French and Italian Rivieras along with otherMediterranean destinations and the Adriatic.”

Jetbird refines launch web site

Jetbird: ready for launch.

A background in Bentley and AstonMartin luxury car dealerships is theunusual grounding for the manage-ment of a new charter operation using two Cessna 303 aircraft.

Based at the rapidly expandingOxford airport in the UK, Oasis Flight(see photo page 1) aims to be operatingwith its own AOC from mid-Mayoffering “affordable private air travel to Europe.”

Oasis Flight md Robert Foster toldEBAN that he had identified a need fora low cost, flexible charter option forhis extensive former customer base,which has defined the choice of cabinclass piston aircraft for this fleet.

The typical client will be a businessexecutive travelling to a European city,probably on a day return schedule.The Cessna can reach most centralEurope destinations from Oxford.Although it doesn’t offer the comfort ofa jet, Foster maintains the service andpricing that Oasis Flight will be able tooffer will more than compensate.

Despite offering smaller aircraftthan some customers had becomeused to, Oasis Flight intends offering afirst class service. “We know we can’tgive an easyJet experience on a privateflight” Foster says. He also doesn’twant Oasis Flight thought of as an airtaxi operation.

The business plan calls for theoperation of no more than four aircraftover the next five years, and the fleetwill continue to be based aroundpiston cabin class aircraft.

Oxford, Foster says, has a widerange of aviation businesses at theairport, and might provide mutualsub-contracting opportunities.

Oasis Flightaims to quenchthirst for lowcost services

VistaJet, which is putting seven moreaircraft into operation this year takingits operational fleet to 30, reports thatits most popular route is Moscow-Dubai. “There are six flights a daypassing through Moscow alone,” sayschairman Thomas Flohr.

The Swiss company plans tooperate a fleet of more than 100 jetsby 2012 based on the Challenger 605and 805, Learjet 60XR and 85 andGlobal XRS.

Flohr says: “Our service areaconsists of Europe, the Middle Eastand Asia, following the ‘old silk road’.Customers can now fly within, orbetween any regions in this area, withno positioning costs. We will continueto focus growth and development inour key markets: the Middle East,Europe and Asia. We are alsoconsidering a launch in India within18 months. We will continue to focuson growth and development in ourkey markets: the Middle East, Europeand Asia.”

ExpandingVistaJet highlights

popular route

Thomas Flohr: Indian launch considered.

Photo Brett Schauf.

4 MAY 2009 EUROPEAN BUSINESS AIR NEWS

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John Cloggie: £70 million Sikorsky S-92s investment.

Bristow Helicopters has expanded itsoffshore services capability inNorway after expanding its 49 percent stake in Norsk Helikopter to 100per cent ownership. Norsk Helikopterwill now operate as Bristow NorwayAS based at Stavanger airport, Sola.

Richard Burman, md BristowHelicopters, says: “Bristow Norwaywill continue to develop the localexperience and expertise that hasbeen established through NorskHelikopter over the last 15 years. Weare currently using our globaloperational experience to focus onthe opportunities for Bristow in theNorwegian oil and gas sector.”

Bristow has now fully bought outthe previous owners, the Ugland

family of Grimstad. Norsk wasestablished in 1993 and, under theBristow name, will continue tooperate as a Norwegian companywith Leif Overskott as the country’sarea manager. Bristow Norway AS has bases in Stavanger, Bergen,Brønnøysund and Hammerfest andprovides offshore helicopter transportand search and rescue services toclients in the energy sector, includingStatoilHydro, ConocoPhillips, BPNorge, Talisman Energy Norge, AkerExploration and Eni Norge. Thecompany also provides offshoreservices for several other companiesin the Norwegian energy market.

Separately Bristow Helicopters willprovide helicopter support for CNR

International (UK) Ltd, flying workersto and from the central North Sea’sTiffany platform located 150 milesnorth east of Aberdeen. The contractwill run for three years, with twofurther one-year options, usingBristow’s fleet of new, high technologyEC225 helicopters. Bristow previouslyheld the contract up to 2004. JohnCloggie, Bristow’s director of Europeanoperations in Aberdeen, says: “Theadvantage of the EC225 is that theextra payload offers clients a more costeffective means of transporting staff.”The company invested more than £70 million in a fleet of new Sikorsky S-92s based in Scatsta, Shetland, andhas also announced the establishmentof a Bristow training academy.

Bristow to use Norsk Helikopter acquisitionto expand offshore business in Norway

Dubai-based Elite Jets has brought asecond new G450 into charteroperation. Ammar Balkar, presidentand ceo, says: “Just like our firstG450, this aircraft arrived straightfrom the US manufacturing plantand had to undergo JAR-OPSmodification to meet the demandsof the regional market.”

He says the 14-seat G450 is a one-of-a-kind business jet thatexemplifies excellence in travel. “Ithas a next generation large cabinwith great intercontinental rangeand gives clients a luxuriousexperience through its extra addedfacilities and superb amenities.”Balkar says he is extremely pleasedwith both G450s. “Our clients truly enjoy with great pleasure theirtravel experience.”

Balkar points out that, with up tosix passengers onboard, the G450can travel up to 10+ hours, non-stop,from Dubai to destinations as far asTokyo, Helsinki, Dakar or CapeTown. “This allows passengers tocomfortably traverse both theAtlantic and Pacific, which makesthe aircraft ideal for southernhemisphere destinations.”

Superior in-flight catering, hesays, is made possible by facilitiessuch as the full service galley withbar and wet sink, equipped withluxury china, silver and crystal table-ware, microwave oven and coffeeand Espresso maker.

Other features include a private fully enclosed aft lavatorywith a 17” LCD monitor and115V/60Hz power outlet. “Furtherfleet expansions are coming up verysoon,” Balkar says.

Elite Jets reportsclient delight

with G450 luxury

Jörg Socko, ceo of Germany’sSaarbrücken-based Silver Bird, saysclients are responding favourably tothe longer cruising range andheightened comfort offered by thecompany’s first Legacy 600.

“With a cruising range of 3,250nmthe midsize jet flies non-stop from Frankfurt to Dubai, forinstance, or from Munich to New York with only one stopover. Up to 13 passengers can be carried in the comfort of a 1.75m highcabin,” he adds.

Socko says: “The passengers canenjoy having a conference and asleeping area at their disposal andare served from the excellent galleykitchen. There are telephones,airshow, DVD and CD players thatwill make the journey as pleasant as possible.”

The Legacy 600 expands SilverBird’s aircraft management division.The company currently operatesfour Learjets for ad-hoc charter andambulance flights. A G450 and aG550 will be joining the fleet over thenext few months.

Silver Bird clientsenjoy Legacy600’s range and comfort

Silver Bird’s Legacy 600.

Europe’s law enforcementorganisations continue to upgradetheir fleets. The Ministry of Justice ofCyprus has placed an order for twoAW139 medium twins for lawenforcement and SAR operations.This follows a previous order by theministry of defence of Cyprus inDecember 2008 for three AW139s.The ministry says that the 15-seatAW139 provides good performanceeven in demanding hot and highconditions. “The availability ofmodular role kits allows easy andquick conversion to and from variousconfigurations,” the ministry says.

The UK government’s home officeministry says the purchase of six newpolice EC135P2is through a £5mcapital grant for air support is part ofthe first joint procurement by six UKpolice forces – Suffolk, Cheshire,North Wales, Cleveland, Midlandsand Chilterns.

Though each of the six forces willreceive a new EC135P2i they will beused by up to a total of 18neighbouring police forces as part ofregional consortia, including aMidlands regional collaboration pilotproject, to trial more efficient jointpolice air operations. The home office says the EC135P2s will featurethe latest airborne law enforcementand police reconnaissance andsurveillance systems as well as inter-

operable communications. Daylightand thermal imaging cameras,Nightsun search lights, video down-link system and Tetra radios will alloweasy communication both withpolice on the ground and with theother emergency services, it says.

UK police forces say that

helicopters are increasingly useful infighting crime. Inspector Gary Smart, new unit executive officer withSouth and East Wales Police, hastaken charge at the air support unitbased in St Athan. He dubs theEC135T2i as the force’s mostsophisticated crime-fighting tool.

“Police aviation is no longer justresponsive, for example, searching for missing people and following carchases,” he says. “It is also proactive –using sophisticated surveillancetechniques including recording,filming and photographing.” He adds:“The Star Safire Camera is the jewel in

the crown. It has four cameracapabilities and can clearly recordsuspects and incidents from milesaway, so we can help colleagues onthe ground make an arrest and thenprovide the footage for evidence incourt to secure a conviction.”

The helicopter has alreadyrecovered £3.7 million worth ofproperty, including illegal drugs, inthe last year, carried out 350 missingpeople searches, 192 vehicle theftsearches, made 156 arrests, 150burglary searches, 136 policephotography missions, forced 75criminals into a corner enabling easyarrest, 71 drugs-related call-outs, 64vehicle pursuits, found 50 missingpeople, 25 theft from vehiclesearches, 19 public safety threat call-outs, and participated in 18 pre-arranged police operations. Theincreasing use of helicopters andfixed wing aircraft by police isproviding useful business for privatecharter operators.

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6 MAY 2009 EUROPEAN BUSINESS AIR NEWS

Gary Smart: praises sophisticated crime fighting tool.

Europe’s police prize helicopters in successful fight against crime

The Cyprus choice.

German operator FAI rent-a-jet has acquired 60 per cent of Swiss Challenger operator Nomad Aviation and is also building a new2,500m2 hangar combined with1,000m2 additional office space atNuremberg airport.

Chairman Siegfried Axtmann says:“FAI will bundle most of its activitiesin high-end executive charter aircraftand aircraft management within itsnew Swiss subsidiary while FAIGermany will focus on air ambulanceand NGO contract services.”

The reorganisation comes as

FAI brings into service a new Falcon900DX which Axtmann says is“loaded with more than $3 million inoptions and represents the latestcockpit and cabin technologyavailable on the market.”

The Falcon 900DX brings the FAIfleet to 11 aircraft complementing the Learjets 35A, 55 and 60 andChallenger 604.

FAI says it has invested more than€5m in the new hangar project atNuremberg with groundbreakingscheduled for September this year. Itwill be able to accommodate aircraft

up to the size of the BBJ.“FAI is one of the few companies

in general aviation not much affectedby the financial crisis compared toother operators and therefore willcontinue its fleet expansion byanother two jets before end of thisyear,” says Axtmann.

FAI plans to add two jets a year toits fleet for the forseeable future. Itrecently became a member of theMarfin Investment Group (MIG), oneof Greece’s largest buy-in firms, that istaking over Greece’s national carrierOlympic Airlines.

FAI rent-a-jet reorganises after acquiringmajority stake in Swiss operator

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Workshop attendees and representatives from Czech travel agencies join Grossmann Jet Services staff.

Private charter operations, fractionalservices and brokers are trying to defy the global recession bytargeting business growth regions,introducing jet cards, refiningdeployment of fleets and seekingnew sales outlets. With reports thatprivate charter business is as muchas 50 per cent down so far in 2009from levels in early 2008, operatorsare having to use initiative andingenuity.

Fractional provider NetJetsEurope launched the “SummerCard” for Middle Eastern customerswho are planning to spend theirvacation in Europe this summer. The jet card is valid from May until the end of October and istouted as providing “the flexibilityand convenience required by Middle Eastern customers that visitnumerous cities around Europeduring their annual summer break.”The cards are available in 12.5-hourincrements.

Lisbon-based private jet companyJet Republic is among companiesseeking new business outlets. It ismarketing its Private Jet Card throughtravel agents. “The price of the cardwill start at €130,000 with JetRepublic paying a one-offcommission of €5,000 to travelagents for each card they sell,” saysceo Jonathan Breeze. “Travel agentswill also be able to buy the card forthemselves and sell flight time toclients individually, earning five percent per flight in service fees.” Breezeadds: “For travel agents servicing theultra high net worth market, the cardprovides a market leading private jetproposition which clients who needto travel regularly or to remote partsof Europe should find appealing.”

Jet Republic’s Private Jet Cardprovides members with 25 hours of

flight time without any furthercommitment or expiry date, nolanding fees and no fuel surcharges.“It offers the benefits of privateaviation with the simple pricingstructure of a one-off payment,”Breeze says. “Card membership willgive access to a network of light,midsize, large and global aircraft,with flights available anywhere inthe world through Jet Republic’spartnerships with other operators.”Card members, he says, also receiveaccess to 24-hour global conciergeservices with a “virtual executiveaide” on-call day and night with thefull resources of the concierge’sworldwide network. In September2008, Jet Republic placed a $1.5billion order for 110 Learjet 60 XRaircraft. The first aircraft isscheduled to be operational fromOctober 2009.

Prague-based Grossmann JetServices (GJS) maintains that it is notfeeling the pinch in the currentfinancial climate. The company’s ownresearch, it says, indicates thatbusiness jet travel in Europe isgrowing at double the speed ofconventional air transport. “There are now around 3,000 businessaircraft in Europe, with this numberset to hit 4,600 by 2017,” says ceoDagmar Grossmann.

The company, she says, hasidentified the Czech market asparticularly underdeveloped andestimates it could hold potentialbusiness of around €20 million. “Totap into this, GJS has initiatedcollaboration with a number of localtravel agencies,” says Grossmann.

In February travel agencies wereinvited to a workshop which includeda discussion during which GJS pilot Michal Hudecek described howcrew training procedures for business

jets does not differ from those ofcommercial flights.

Air Partner, however, reports, thatresults for the six months endingJanuary 2009 saw sales down two percent to €107.1 million and profitbefore tax reduced 17 per cent to €3.2million. It says: “The private aviationservices market has reduced butlong-term drivers remain in placeand the company’s diversificationstrategy provides resilience. Clientsare increasingly insisting on qualityand financially sound providers ofaviation services.”

David Savile, ceo, says: "The teamat Air Partner has worked hard toproduce these results in extremelytough trading conditions. AirPartner’s experienced management,strong cash position, zero debt, goodcash generation and excellentdividend growth all position thegroup for the difficult tradingenvironment we are currentlyexperiencing. The board remainsconfident in the long-term driversand prospects of the group. It is alsoencouraging to see the progressmade across mainland Europe,through our key offices in France,Germany, Italy and Austria, assmaller local competitors havewaned. Industry statistics are toogeneralised to be a reliable indicatorfor specific markets but low season traffic levels are down by upto 50 per cent in the US and 20 percent in Europe, largely on lowercorporate levels.”

Savile adds: “‘We anticipate thatcorporate activity will remain low forthe second half, but we wereencouraged that ultra high net worthflying for the winter half termholiday was busy, creating evidencefor some optimism ahead of thesummer season.”

Private charter industry employs ‘beatthe recession’ marketing tactics

WaltAir Europe has brought a CitationCJ1 into service complementing itsrecently refurbished Super King Air300 and 350 as well as its CitationEncore+, Citation XLS and CJ1. Thenew aircraft will be based at MalmoeSturup airport in the south of Swedenwhere WaltAir has a hangar, loungeand office space.

“The aircraft has been on anotherAOC and we hope that some of theaircraft’s previous clients will follow itto us,” says WaltAir’s Lars Nordin. “Ofcourse we will try to make newcontacts with potential clients in thatarea and hopefully they will be able tosee the potential.”

Nordin says Malmoe Sturup is agreat strategic location near toDenmark, Poland and Germany. “Thebusiness demand will be mainlycorporate air travel,” he predicts. “Wealso hope to get some more businessfrom the hospitals in the region interms of transplant patients and

organ transports.”WaltAir says it has enjoyed

generally good experiences with theCitations and the CJ1 acquisition istimely since the company sold aCitation I last autumn. “We want toprovide our clients with the bestsolution for their specific needs so it is in our interest to have a range of aircraft,” Nordin says. Thenew CJ1 acquisition, he says, “isanother step forward in the ongoingrenewal of our fleet.”

The current world economy,Nordin reports, “has meant a smallcut back on revenue flights for us butit has not struck us very hard.” TheEncore+ and the XLS have provedvery popular with clients but WaltAirdoes not anticipate ordering anymore aircraft at present.

WaltAir was founded in 1996 and started flight operations with aBeech Baron 55. During 2003 WaltAir started managing its first jetaircraft, a Citation II, and is nowfocusing on offering a varied choiceof aircraft.

“A larger fleet also makes us moreflexible and provides redundancy ifone aircraft should for some reasonget technical or other problems,”Nordin points out.

WaltAir’s CJ1 to operate fromstrategic south of Sweden

CJ1 to be based at Malmoe Sturup.

10 MAY 2009 EUROPEAN BUSINESS AIR NEWS

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Our ‘Me and My Aircraft’ reader surveyand review continues, and this monththe spotlight falls on the long-range andlarge business aircraft sector. Wedecided to include business aircraft witha range in excess of 3,500nm and/or acabin of 2,500 square feet, althoughopinions do vary as to the true meaningof ‘long-range’.

As always, there are some aircraftwhich could feature in more than one ofour reviews. On this occasion, forexample, we decided not to include theChallenger 604 and Falcon 2000EX/LXeven though they have rangesapproaching 4,000nm, as they will beincluded alongside the other Challengerand Falcon 2000 models in our supermidsize review in December.

In this report we talk to some ownersand operators about the aircraft they fly, their strengths and failings. We asked about maintenance support, dispatch reliability, operatingcapabilities and value-for-money as wellas more generally for the best and worstaspects of the aircraft, and mostdesirable upgrades.

Only EBAN readers who we have beenable to verify as confirmed current usersof a particular aircraft type are givenaccess to that aircraft’s survey forms.

Next month we will be looking atsingle turbine helicopters, so if you wishto make your voice heard, please do lookout for our email with your login details.This feature is nothing without you!

Big is beautiful – but operators demandvery high standards from manufacturers

Me & My Aircraftthroughout 2009

JUNESingle engine helicopters

JULY Small jets

AUGUSTTwin engine turboprops

SEPTEMBERTwin engine helicopters

OCTOBERVery light jets

NOVEMBER Cabin class piston aircraft

DECEMBERSuper midsize jets

Make your opinion count!Whichever type of aircraft you own or operate, we are keen to hear your views. Log in atwww.ebanmagazine.com and youwill find voting forms for each typein your fleet. It takes moments tocomplete, and the more replies wereceive the better our final reportswill be. Your user number and pin ison the back of the mailing sheetincluded with your magazine, orrequest a reminder on the web site.

Don’t delay, take part today!

ME & MY AIRCRAFTLong range and large

business aircraft

Reliability among Global positivesBombardier launched the GlobalExpress in 1993 as a completely new design and the first flight tookplace in 1996. From 2005 the originalmodel was replaced by the GlobalExpress XRS which has an extra bellyfuel tank to increase range and twoextra cabin windows.

The Global 5000 is a lower-costvariant, with 48 inches shor terfuselage. It first flew in 2003.

Average pre-owned asking prices fora Global 5000 range from $29m to$40.92m, Global Express from $29mto $41m, and Global Express XRS from$41m to $52.587m.

There are Globals in 26 countriesaround Europe and the Middle East,often as a solus corporate aircraft, butalso in larger charter andmanagement fleets. Swiss-basedGlobal Jet Concept has examples ofthe original model, the XRS and the 5000, while ExecuJet and Comlux

also have mixed fleets.In our survey, the Global family of

aircraft received nothing but praisefrom EBAN reader operators for itsoperating capabilities, with which allare very satisfied. Some were also verysatisfied with the maintenancesupport, but it is here where opinionsvary considerably.

One Global 5000 operator, whoprefers his name is not reported, wasunhappy with maintenance support,saying: “There have been a lot ofissues that we have had with theaircraft such as the CES (cabinelectronics system), galley countertops and so on.” He considers themaintenance costs to be high, andsays that some items have neededrepeated attention.

He points to poor interiorcompletion, and items improperlydesigned or installed (such as thevertical blinds in the cabin). “Theowners drive Rolls-Royces andMercedes and expect similar qualityand reliability, and they are not

getting it,” he adds.The local Bombardier repre-

sentative, however, is “excellent”, andthe best attributes of the aircraft are its speed, field performance,passenger comfort and quiet cabin,he says.

Oleg Gurov of Springline also hasexperience of the Global 5000 andconfirms that maintenance issues arehis greatest concern, but he enjoysthe range and comfort. It is “loved byowner and pilots,” he reports.

Faisal Haddadin of DallahAlbaraka expresses similarly positivefeelings towards his Global Express,being very satisfied with its everyaspect but especially its range. Theonly negatives, the relative few pilottraining centres and steep costs.

Hans Pfeiffer of Triple AlphaGmbH is currently working on ETOPS180 approval and finds the GlobalExpress to be a “very reliable aircraftin every way.” He points to the goodcabin size and range, but castsenvious eyes at the enhanced crew

GLOBAL EXPRESS/5000

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Launched in May 2006, theLineage 1000 is the largest andmost refined executive jet inEmbraer’s portfolio. The aircraftis based on the Embraer 190commercial jet, which wascertified in August 2005, andreceived its own STC inDecember 2008. The certificationauthorises the jet to operateunder Extended Operations rules(ETOPS 120).

The cabin styling wasdeveloped in a partnershipbetween Embraer and the UK-based design office PriestmanGoode of London.

Besides elegant and relaxingambiences, the Lineage 1000offers a broad range of interiorlayouts for five different cabinzones, where passengers mayenjoy privacy for meetings,resting and meals. However, inaddition there is also a privatesuite with a shower. The finelyappointed cabin has threedistinct temperature zones and amaximum altitude rating of 7,000feet (2,134 metres).

To date, over 20 Lineage 1000jets have been sold worldwide.The first is scheduled to entercustomer service imminently.

It is priced at $42.95m, based on January 2006 economic conditions, in itsbaseline configuration for FAAcertification.

Embraer’s Daniel Bachmannpoints out that support in theMiddle East and Russia for the

Lineage 1000 includes theEmbraer-owned service centre inAlverca, Portugal and theEmbraer-authorised FalconAviation Services, Dubai, servicecentre in the UAE.

He adds: “Embraer hasprovided three main contactchannels to support customers,including emergency situations:dedicated field servicerepresentatives, service centresnetwork and contact center,available 24-7-365.”

Embraer holds advisoryboards with experienced marketprofessionals before the launchof a product and conducts focusgroup evaluations at aviationevents in order to collectcustomer and prospectperceptions.

Bachmann says: “Man-machine interface groups arecoordinated by the company to fine tune the cockpit layout,synoptics and systems manage-ment integration.

“A great majority of therecommendations received areimplemented during productdevelopment, with some wish-list items being scheduled foravailability after entry intoservice. Customer feedbackduring operation is evaluated bythe product engineering group.”

Targets include expanding theEmbraer customer supportstructure to ensure a quick andefficient service in all regionsoperated by Embraer clients.

One for the future... the Embraer Lineagerest area of the XRS model, which he

considers to be “outstanding”.The same thought had occurred to

Martin Lener of Tyrolean Jet Service,whose Global Express features an XRScompliant cabin, modified forincreased cabin pressure. Thecompany provides its own Part 145maintenance, and reports that earlyproblems with spare parts availabilitysix years ago have been rectified. The best aspects of the aircraft, he says, are the clean sheet design,state-of-the-art concept, highdispatch reliability and improvedcustomer support.

Another European operator, withexperience of both the originalGlobal Express and XRS models, begsto differ on some points and, despitebeing satisfied with maintenancesupport, says that some spares arenot readily available. “With multipleredundancy despatch is OK, but foran AOC aircraft with little flexibilityin the minimum equipment listthere are many ‘stoppers’,” he toldEBAN. The worst thing about theaircraft is: “Reliability, reliability and reliability.”

But he praises the aircraft’s “greatshort field capability and awesomeperformance over long ranges”. Thebest attributes are its cabin comfort,which is spacious and quiet at allspeeds, environmental control andbrakes which are “second to none”.

The most desirable upgrade, hefeels, are the Electronic Flight Bagand the third FMS.

The last, albeit anonymous word,goes to one EBAN reader who’s views of his XRS were typical of thereplies, showing him to be verysatisfied with dispatch reliability and

operating capability, and satisfiedwith maintenance support and value.So how do you improve a greataircraft? “By adding the new BR725engine now fitted on the GulfstreamG650,” he says.

Manufacturer’s commentBombardier has developed anintegrated service and support planfocused on the key areas of aircraftreliability, 24-hour worldwidesupport, AOG parts, service andmaintenance support and customertraining. It says: “The focus is on the customer.

“We continually monitor thegrowth and location of our installedbase and invest in these specificareas as required. Over the last twoyears, for all business aircraft, weinvested over US$25m in stocking thetop 25 high-demand parts, added

two new simulators in the UK and the Middle East, opened a newservice centre in Dallas, added orexpanded over 20 authorisedfacilities, launched two state-of-the-art customer response centres andintroduced an airborne partsdelivery service (PartsExpress). Wewill maintain similar level ofinvestments in our service andsupport over the next five years.”

In 2007, Bombardier introduced a24-7 customer response centre (CRC)in Montreal for Challenger andGlobal jets. The company says:“Owners and operators can contactthe CRC at any time for fastresolution of aircraft-on-groundsituations, parts ordering andtechnical support.”

The company adds: “Bombardiersurveys its operators periodically to identify improvement opportunities.For the Global family, we have aGlobal advisory committee thatprovides continuous feedback. Thisadvisory committee is made up of over 25 maintenance andoperational personnel from ourcurrent customer base. Thecommittee meets with Bombardiertwice a year to improve theoperation, maintenance, service andsupport of Bombardier Global seriesbusiness aircraft.”

The Global Express (above) features a spacious mid-cabin (below).

ME & MY AIRCRAFT

EBAN’s readers are responsible for theoperation of 34 corporate Airbusaircraft, comprising 26 ACJs, fourA310s, two A318s and two A340s.These are spread widely across theMiddle East as well as eastern andwestern Europe. The largestindividual fleet is in the hands ofPrivatAir in Germany with four ACJs.

During 2009, however, that honouris due to be shared with DC Aviation,also of Germany, which plans to add a further three ACJs to the onecurrently operated.

DC Aviation reports that it is “quitesatisfied" with maintenance supportfor the A319CJ. It says: “The companycan generally rely on direct supportfrom Airbus at most of the destinations. In addition, DC

Aviation has a large inventory of spareparts and is capable of rapidresponse, thereby offering its clientsthe highest operational standard of reliability.”

DC Aviation adds: “In terms ofrange and cabin size, there is noalternative to the A319CJ among

cabin jets. For this reason, DCAviation is continuing to expand inthis segment.”

The company says it is verypleased with the ACJ’s operatingcapability. “In 2008, DC Aviation hasflown the Airbus 319CJ several timesto North and South America, Asia andAfrica. Altogether, the jet has flown to74 different destinations in 23countries on five continents.”

Meanwhile in Portugal OmniAviation Group continues to expandits fleet with three ACJs due to be inoperation this year. An existing ACJ,and a second brought into operationin January, will be joined within sixmonths by an A320, according topresident and co-founder José Miguel Da Costa. “The ACJ is the

technologically most advancedaircraft in corporate shuttle versionoffering highest comfort standards to48 passengers,” he says. PedroCaneira, sales director, adds: “The ACJaddition enhances the Omni fleetperfectly. The roominess and useablecabin space of the Airbus is classleading, complementing the existing29-seater ACJ.” The new ACJ offers a48 seat configuration. “With fullyreclinable seats and individualentertainment it offers a non-stoprange of up to 4,500nm attainingspeeds of up to Mach 0.80 at acertified altitude of 41,000ft,” saysCaneira. He points out that the aircraftis capable of non-stop flights such asDubai-London, Riyadh-Hong Kong or Kuwait-Johannesburg. “It is theideal aircraft for large groupstravelling long distances in the bestpossible comfort. Despite the worldeconomic downturn, we had severalgroups from Africa, Asia and even royal family members andgovernment delegations literallyflying around the globe.”

Jetalliance says the ACJ has adistinguished dispatch reliability of99.9 per cent. The company pointsout: “This means that only in one casein 1,000 flights the aircraft is notdispatchable. The great reliability is acompetitive advantage for a chartercompany. Due to the aircraft’sintegrated data system the time todetect a faulty system is reduced to aminimum. It is also easy to find pilots and to get training slots becausethere is a pool of about 25,000 Airbuspilots worldwide.”

The main strengths, Jetallianceadds, include the huge cross-sectionalarea of the cabin which it describes as

MAY 2009 13EUROPEAN BUSINESS AIR NEWS

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Airbus meets great expectations for comfortAIRBUS ACJ

Airbus markets two of itscommercial jets in specificcorporate variants, the A318 Eliteand the ACJ (based on the A319). Italso offers ‘Prestige’ vip versions ofits other models, the A320, A330,A340 and A380.

The ACJ was first certificated inEurope in 1999, and wasdeliberately based on the A319airline version in order to maintainthe highest residual values, but hascentreline auxiliary fuel tanks toboost the range. The firstcommercial service was withTwinjet before the end of that year.

There are now 26 ACJs in serviceworldwide, with examples flying inten countries around Europe andthe Middle East. Privatair is thebiggest operator with four.

The ACJ can carry eightpassengers up to 6,000nm, or a fullload about 2,650nm. The smallerElite can carry four passengersaround 4,000nm, or a full loadabout 1,760nm.

There are two Elites in Europe,one with Comlux in Switzerland andthe other with Global JetLuxembourg. The aircraft is alsoattracting interest in the MiddleEast, with one of the most recentorders having come from Al JaberGroup’s AJA charter company whichwill operate a fleet of six corporateAirbus aircraft including four A318Elites. NetJets Middle East has oneElite, operated by National AirServices.

It is difficult to draw conclusionsabout pre-owned values, as neithertype has regularly been offered forsale. One ACJ is now reported to beon the market, quoted at $14m.

The Comlux A318 Elite is among those targeting the high-end market sector. Photo: Lindner Photography.

DC Aviation’s A319: reliable.

ME & MY AIRCRAFT

are good for this type of aircraft.However, regarding performance, as itis a F900C, the range is a little tooshort.” The company plans to upgradeto a longer range aircraft once theeconomic climate improves.

As for complaints generally, SteveWhalley reports having had minormaintenance issues and interfaceproblems with the EASy avionicssystem. Lars Hogberg of Sundt Air AS isunhappy with arrangements to getfuel into the centre tank when normalrefuelling is u/s. Brad Stowecomments on the 900EX that there isnot enough space for a partitionedcrew rest area “and it’s very difficult forour flight attendant to get three mealsin the galley for our super long flights.”

But overall he is very satisfied: “Sofar we’ve had almost two years and100% dispatch reliability. No one elsecan go out at maximum takeoff weightand fly 4,500nm from short runways.

We have a very competitive cabin withtwo lavatories, we burn less fuel thanalmost all two engine competitors andhave a higher safety margin”.

Our respondents had a variety ofideas regarding the most desirableupgrade for the Falcon 900 series.These included the forward lav,satcom systems and the EASy avionics,a simplified maintenance programme,the addition of HUD, EVS and highspeed internet access, as well as thestep 3+ upgrade for steep approaches.

George Galanopoulos: “Dispatch reliability has been excellent on the Falcon 900EX.”

14 MAY 2009 EUROPEAN BUSINESS AIR NEWS

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“the greatest cabin diameter of itsclass” and it praises cabin zoneconcept. “Passengers really enjoy thecabin climate and the impressivecabin space. The passengers can relax during their long-haul flight –either in the executive lounge or intheir private bedroom.”

Jetalliance feels the cabin pressurealtitude could be reduced further toincrease the passenger comfort. But itadds: “There exists no majorweakness because the ACJ isdeveloped from the Airbus A319which is very successfully operated bymany major airlines.”

The Yakovlev Yak-40, originally athree-engine airliner brought intoservice as a regional jet transportaircraft by Aeroflot, is still goingstrong and providing goodservice, according to feedbackfrom EBAN readers. Many Yak-40shave now been converted intoprivate corporate aircraft. Most ofthe Yak-40s in active service fly inthe former Soviet Union and tendto fly rarely in Europe because ofnoise restrictions.

One Yak-40 VIP is operated forthe ‘Vega’ Air Company whoseowner says he is satisfied or verysatisfied with the maintenancesupport, dispatch reliability andoperating capability. But hepoints out that, although themaintenance is less than forEuropean-built aircraft, there is agreater expense on fuel. His wish-list would include an engineupgrade. His verdict: “A very goodand hardy aircraft for internal andinternational trips now that it has been modernised.” Anotherrespondent, Mirian Sarishvili ofVIP Aviation, is very satisfied witheverything including the Yak-40’svalue-for-money.

Yak-40 offersvalue in former

Soviet states

General satisfaction but small problems remainBuyers of the Falcon 7X seem happywith the maintenance support,dispatch reliability and operatingcapability, being generally satisfied orvery satisfied. But some say that thereare ‘too many small problems’impacting on dispatch reliability, thecockpit is noisy and that there are stillproblems with software. The bestaspect, they say, is the performanceand excellent flight capabilities.

Capt Pascale Magne of Artemis SAreports that the 7X has good range and runway capabilities, but issuffering from the problems of youth –for example in its cross-windlimitations. He is one of two readersreporting they would like to see anose-wheel steering improvement.

Falcon 900 operators replying toour survey are all delighted with whatRoger Thoor of Blue Chip Jet HBdescribes as its “short strips and longtrips” capability. Steve Whalley chimesin with experience of three EX EASymodels, reporting that the maximumtakeoff weight and maximum landingweights “enable fantastic capabilitiesenabling the tankering of fuel onmulti-stop trips, and so no refuellingtime spent on turnaround.” It is a great aircraft for transatlanticoperations, he says.

Its strengths, the respondents say,include short field performance andrange and the high demand in theresale market whenever such aircraftbecome available. “Flight-wise it fliesto the book and beyond if tested. It is afantastic aircraft which, from day one,was a winner all round,” anotheroperator says. “We burn less fuel thanalmost all two engine competitors,have a higher safety margin and don’thave to worry about ETOPS.”

Says London Executive Aviationmd George Galanopoulos. “Dispatchreliability has been excellent on theFalcon 900EX. We’ve had no issues –they work well ‘right out of the box’.The Falcon is a great aircraft on all fronts. It has excellent range, ample cabin space and good runwayperformance.”

Spain’s Corporate Jets XXI says it ishappy with Dassault Falcon servicemaintenance and spare partsavailability. “The dispatch rate andreliability are excellent and economies

Manufacturer’s commentDassault has a long history ofsupporting its business jet operators.Guillaume Landrivon, directorcustomer relations and field service,says: “One customer from Norway isoperating an aircraft manufactured in1968. The avionics have been updatedbut the airframe is 40 years old. If webuilt robust aircraft with such a longservice life, we have to have the rightpeople trained to support such 40-year-old aircraft. We want to give theseclients exactly the same high qualityeffective support as we provide forbuyers of our new aircraft.”

Jacques Chauvet, svp worldwideFalcon customer services, says: “Wemust remember that one day in AOGcan mean a loss of US$30,000 inrevenue. The main satisfaction driversare dispatch reliability, operationalavailability, comfort, perceivedquality and safety and the so-called‘new technologies’ such as avionicsand cabin equipment.” Customerservices field some 22,000 questionsevery year. Around 75 per cent ofthese are telephone calls: 25 per centof them are emails,” Chauvet adds.“Phone calls are favoured byoperators in North America. Emailsare much more a European approach.The emphasis, where there is aproblem, is on getting a non-technicalobjection and the aircraft backoperating.” A high degree of technicalskill is not required to answer around50 per cent of the enquiries.

“It is a matter of guidance as theinformation is available in Falcondocumentation or on a Falcon portal.Providing the guidance and obtainingdetails such as a contact telephonenumber takes a few minutes. Howevera high degree of technical skill isrequired for the other 50 per cent ofenquiries which involve a workstoppage and necessitate trouble-shooting to enable an NTO (Non-Technical Objection). These enquiriescan take up to a few hours to resolve.”Dassault deploys more than 80customer service managers, fieldtechnical representatives and aircraftmodel specialists in 30 offices spreadaround 16 different countries. Theemphasis now is on expansion in theMiddle East and Asia with Moscow,Istanbul, Jeddah and Dubai among thehigh priorities. “We have a 24-7 hotlinefacility with technical specialists inParis, Teterboro and Boise providingoverlapping services round-the-clock,” says Landrivon. Dassault hasintroduced a “let us know before yougo” programme. “Where a customer isgoing to an area for the first time,particularly one where maintenanceand service facilities might be sparseor non-existent, we can ensuresupport even if that means speciallyflying out personnel,” Landrivon adds.

Frederic Recher, sales engineer,says: “The major requirement forinnovation that operators requestedfor the 7X is the ability to land at shortfield airports and this was achieved.The certification to land at LondonCity is evidence of how weresponded.” Chauvet says: “We haveover 200 employees in Teterboro, LeBourget and Merignac, committed tospare parts support.”

By the early 1980s Dassault had setout its stall as a manufacturer of three-engine business jets, with the Falcon50 development from the popularFalcon 20 twinjet. But now it needed tocompete with wide-body competitorsand so in 1983 announced the all-newFalcon 900.

First delivered in 1986, this wasupgraded to the 900B model in 1991with TFE731-5B engines, and this wasjoined by the 4,500nm range 900EX in1995. In 1998 the 900C replaced the900B, and this was itself supersededby the 900DX in 2004. This featuresthe high technology EASy flight deckwhich had been introduced with the900EX. The latest addition to the

line-up is the 900LX which has rangeextended to 4,800nm.

By February 2009, Dassault haddelivered some 1,945 aircraft of whichabout 1,745 are in service. Theseinclude around 30 Falcon 7X and 432Falcon 900/EX/DX/EASy.

Recent asking prices for pre-ownedaircraft have ranged from $15.9m to$21.7m for the Falcon 900B, and from$22.5m to $40.175m for the 900EX.

In 2005 Dassault took to the skieswith the first prototype Falcon 7X, onceagain a fresh design and pushing theboundaries of size and speed, and witha range extended to 5,950nm. Averagepre-owned retail prices range from$38m to $47.4m.

FALCON 900 AND 7X

Dassault’s Jacques Chauvet: driving upcustomer satisfaction.

Falcon 900: ‘great aircraft’.

ME & MY AIRCRAFT

* Registered trademark(s) or trademark(s) of Bombardier Inc. or its subsidiaries. © 2009 Bombardier Inc. All rights reserved.

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Aircraft type Time Fuel burn (lbs) Minimum required fuel (lbs)

Boeing BBJ1 7hr 34m 39152 44497

Boeing BBJ2 7hr 34m 36345 41397

Falcon 900B 7hr 39m 14479 16441

Falcon 7X 7hr 26m 15937 18620

Global XRS 7hr 21m 20997 25079

Gulfstream G-IV 7hr 28m 21364 25533

Gulfstream G450 7hr 34m 23125 26130

Gulfstream G-V 7hr 24m 20427 24710

Gulfstream G550 7hr 27m 18399 21363

Aircraft data provided courtesy of Jeppesen. Not for operational use..

For additional information on Jeppesen’s ITPS services, visit www.jeppesen.com.

Long-range jets by numbersWe asked Jeppesen to provide trip data for a

typical long-range mission for a selection of

aircraft types, from Paris Le Bourget to New

York JFK, a distance of 3,187nm. Several of

the jets listed are capable of trips a very great

deal longer than this, but this data provides an

interesting comparison of speed and fuel

consumption. We have assumed that FL340 to

FL400 are used, with Stewart International as

alternate, a payload of 1,000kg and cruise

speed of 0.8M.

Dispatch reliability for BBJs is applauded by operators

Two BBJs came to Europe tofly for the Ford MotorCompany from Stansted in2001, although these havenow returned to the US.Today there are several EBANreader companies with morethan one BBJ, with SaudiAramco top of the list with five.

EBAN reader and operatorof an original BBJ, FaisalHaddadin, md of DallahAlbarakah in Jordan, reportsthat he is very satisfied with the maintenancesupport, dispatch reliability,operating capability andvalue of the aircraft. Its bestaspects are the range,baggage space and reliability.“We love our BBJ,” he says.

Royal Jet’s vp technicalAhmed Al Mammari saysthat the BBJ has good adispatch reliability standardand high operationalcapabilities in comparison tosimilar size aircraft.

He adds: “The BBJ mainstrength’s include the aircraftcabin size, the take off weightand reliability. There is good industry support forthe aircraft’s basic systemssimilar to that available forairliner aircraft in spheresincluding spare parts,maintenance facilities andauthorised vendors andauthorised service centres.”

But Al Mammari saysimprovements he would youlike to see include anincrease in aircraft range andstronger BBJ support in theMiddle East region.

He disclosed: “Royal Jet isconsidering adding a pre-owned and a new BBJ tosupport its operation for theshort and long term. This is in line with our five-yearplan to have more than 20aircraft by 2012.”

BOEING BBJ

Boeing jet airliners have always been the subject of conversionprojects for heads of state and corporate use, but it was not until1996 that the company introduced its own specific businessmodel – the Boeing Business Jet. This was based on the 737-700,and it first flew, was certificated and was first delivered in 1998,with winglets added to the standard specification in 1999. It has807 square feet of space in the cabin, and with eight passengersit has a range of 6,135nm.

The active fleet worldwide is now over 100, of which nine arelisted as for sale. Asking prices range from $53.5m up to a 2012delivery position at $64m.

The BBJ2 was announced in 1999, based on the larger 737-800 airliner, and this was first delivered in 2001. It is 20 feetlonger than the BBJ and has 1,004 square feet of cabin space.With eight passengers, range is 5,580nm.

There are now 17 BBJ2s in service worldwide, includingexamples in Austria, Liechtenstein, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland and the UAE.

A further step up in size is now available in the form of theBBJ3, which is based on the 737-900ER and which has 1,120square feet of space inside. Its range is slightly less than theBBJ2, and the first example is due for delivery to its customerduring this year.

Royal Jet: praises cabin size.

Royal Jet’s Ahmed Al Mammaricites good industry support.

MAY 2009 17EUROPEAN BUSINESS AIR NEWS

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Gulfstream plans demand-led improvementsGulfstream G-IV/300/400 and G-V/500 series aircraft operate in over30 countries throughout Europe andthe Middle East. Fleets of five ormore examples are not uncommon,in the hands of operators such as G5Executive, DC Aviation, NetJets,Saudi Arabian, National Air Services,Jet Aviation and JetClub Aircharter.

EBAN readers reporting on theGulfstream IV and IV-SP are all verysatisfied with the aircraft’s operatingcapabilities, and European operatorsare also very satisfied with theavailable maintenance support. OneMiddle East owner, however,unhappily points out that certifiedrepair stations and available parts inthat region remain scarce.

The worst aspects of the G-IVseries are, they say, high operatingcosts, lack of forward galley layoutoptions in order to separatepassengers from crew serviceactivities, and the need for somesystems to be updated.

The long range and large cabinspace are universally applauded,while one reader also praises the aircraft and its engines forreliability, redundancies and goodcustomer support.

All operators are wedded to theGulfstream brand, and when askedwhat the most desirable upgradewould be they wish variously for a G-V, a G450 or a G550!

Moving on to the G-V/G500/G550,again all respondents to our surveysay they are very satisfied with theoperating capabilities and dispatchreliability. “We get good supportfrom Gulfstream tech ops andproduct support [with genuine AOGissues],” said one. However thepicture is less good for both valueand routine maintenance, withreaders divided between satisfiedand very satisfied. “Gulfstream parts and subscriptions are veryexpensive,” a respondent says.

A good measure of the highesteem EBAN readers have for the G-V and successors is that onerespondent to our survey, whenasked about the worst aspect of theaircraft, simply replied: “I can’t thinkof anything!” Others found minorissues with the pressurisation systemand with the cockpit noise level onlong range flights.

Range, speed, power, reliabilityand flexibility were all mentioned asthe best aspects of the aircraft. “Thecomfort factor is top class, the wide

GULFSTREAM G-IV TO G550

Of course, the Gulfstream II was theoriginal long-range business jet whenit flew first in 1966, and it has gone onto spawn a long line of everincreasingly capable jets. By 1985this line had evolved into the Tay-powered G-IV, and then in 1992 thelarger-cabined G-IVSP. From 2002 thisbecame known as the G400, and wasthe basis for the more economicalG300/G350 as well as the extendedand modified G450.

The larger G-V first flew in 1995,became the G-VSP in 2002 and wasrebranded as the G550. A secondmodel without HUD and EVS was lateradded as the G500. So the currentlong-range model line-up comprisesthe G350 (3,800nm range), G450(4,350nm), G500 (5,800nm) andG550 (6,750nm). At the top of the lineGulfstream is now introducing theG650, with 7,000nm capability.

Average pre-owned prices rangefrom $11m to $14.5m for a G-IV,$15.5m to $22m for the G-IVSP,$24.5m for a G400, between $29mand $36.955m for a G450, up tobetween $38m and $48.995m for a G550.

body, wide aisle all contributes to the most comfortable corporateaircraft,” added one G550 operator.

When asked about the most

desirable upgrades operatorsmention Cat III capability andautobrakes for the G-V, andupgraded DU-885 display units –

although the cost is “high”.One G550 operator has his sights

set higher, by simply upgrading to a G650.

Manufacturer’s commentAs Gulfstream points out there areaircraft that are in production, such asthe G450 and the G550, and those nolonger in production, such as the G-V,and manufacturers have to listen, andrespond to feedback from both.

Gulfstream, made aware ofsuggestions for improvements fromEBAN readers, responded: “We areproducing more forward galley G550sthan aft galley versions. There arecontinuous improvements in theavionics suite in the Honeywell PrimusEpic avionics, we have added SV-PFDas an option in the current in-production large-cabin aircraft and itwill be standard in the G650. We haveupgraded the EVS and some featureswe are looking at for the G650, bothcockpit and cabin, will be retrofittableto current in-production aircraft.”

Gestair, which operates a Gulfstream IV in its fleet, is among operators whose choicewas influenced by the spacious cabin.

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Oxford UK-based Air MedicalLimited (AirMed) plans to bring aLearjet 35A into service in the latesummer of this year. “It will beavailable for passenger charter andas a fully ICU equipped and staffedair ambulance,” says ceo RupertDent. “AirMed’s operations continueto expand in response to clientdemand. The Learjet 35A will enableus to offer our clients a U.K.-basedalternative to continental Europeansourced aircraft, which have to flypositioning legs of more than anhour. The aircraft will thereforeprovide a cost effective and lowemission alternative.”

Dent adds: “This new aircraft’sarrival will coincide with theextension of AirMed’s AOC toworldwide and it will be available in double LifePort stretcher fit whenconfigured as an air ambulance. TheLearjet 35A will extend the geography covered by AirMed’s

current fleet of eight owned andoperated aircraft.”

These include four non-

pressurised piston Piper Senecasand Chieftains and four pressurisedPiper Cheyennes.

Dent says AirMed has recruited anumber of pilots with extensiveexperience of flying the Learjet 35A.

“While the aircraft is equipped with an avionics and Raisbeckupgrade in the US, the variousAirMed teams involved in the project will be preparing for the startof operations.”

He points out that, since 2002,AirMed has developed its own EASA145/Part M approved maintenancefacility, which covers all of theexisting fleet and is a Cessnaauthorised service facility and partssupplier specialising in C208 aircraft. “A request to add the Learjet35A to the facility’s list of approvalshas been submitted to the regulatoryauthorities,” Dent adds.

AirMed was originally set up over23 years ago by Capt. Rod Paris withjust one PA34 Piper Seneca. Dentsays: “AirMed is in the unusualposition of both owning andoperating its fleet of seven aircraft.These include Piper Senecas, NavajoChieftains and Cheyennes.”

Celebrating the delivery of a Learjet 35A are (left to right) Rupert Dent, ceo AirMed, Basil Gonzalez of AeroToy Store and AlbertHeidinger of Raptor Aviation.

Happy AirMed celebrates acquisition of versatile Learjet 35A

Royal Jet launches charter broker arm

Abu Dhabi-headquartered Royal Jet is launching a new charterbrokerage service. Royal Jet CharterBrokerage, based in Dubai, promises tosource appropriate aircraft through anetwork of carefully audited operators.

“If a Royal Jet aircraft is not availabledue to seasonality or aircraft size, analternative travel solution can besourced,” Royal Jet’s president and ceoShane O’Hare explains. “Royal Jet has apolicy of increasing diversification intoa range of complementary activities.These include FBO facilities, aircraftmanagement and acquisitionconsultancy and medical evacuationservices. The new brokerage is an areaof strong revenue potential and willoperate 24-7.” It is managed by ClaudiaFerreira and Christine Lee.

Claudia Ferreira and Christine Lee:broker role.

A keynote presentation, designed togive those who work in businessaviation the ammunition to justify whybusiness aviation is good for Britishbusiness, has been arranged to takeplace during the UK Business andGeneral Aviation Day (BGAD09).

The hour-long seminar comm-encing at 11.45, which is beingpresented by BBGA in association withBACA, is called ‘Making the case forbusiness aviation’ and will endeavourto look at the facts behind claims madeby the industry’s detractors, outliningwhy business aviation makes sense.

The seminar – and the BGAD event– are free to attend. Full details, as wellas visitor registration information, canbe found at the BGAD web site. You canfind this by clicking on the BGAD logoon the EBAN home page –www.ebanmagazine.com

BGAD takes place on Tuesday June9th at Marshall Airport, Cambridge,UK, and is organised by EBAN inassociation with Marshall BusinessAviation.

Visitors to BGAD will also be able tojoin in the 80th birthday celebrations ofCambridge Airport, with a fly past ofhistoric and modern aircraft at 13.00.

Delegates willlearn to “sell”

business aviation

MAY 2009 19EUROPEAN BUSINESS AIR NEWS

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Private charter development faces some bigchallenges over resources and regulation

Turkey is a country where privateaviation will enjoy every reason toflourish once regulation, pilot trainingfacilities and the ground handling andmaintenance networks developsufficiently and the global economiccrisis recedes. It is not only a strategicbusiness and cultural bridge betweeneast and west but its under-developedand under-pressure air and groundtransport infrastructure means thatlocal and international businessmenare well-disposed to take advantagethe efficiencies of private charter.

Redstar Aviation (RSA) points out:“The charter market had shown adramatic expansion in the last fewyears. The Ministry of Transport has asignificant role in this development asit proved by removing the monopolyof THY (Turkish Airlines) in thecountry. Turkish operators arebuilding up new alliances and there isstill room for further expansion ofprivate flying even in these turbulenttimes.” The company’s geographicalcoverage spans not only Turkey butthe Balkans, Caucasus, mid-Asia andthe Middle East and stretches as far asIraq and Afghanistan. It is involved inmany international projects that arebased in Turkey including advancedmedical centres which make thecountry an ideal destination for thoseneeding treatment. RSA sees the risingregional demand for air ambulanceservices as a business expansionopportunity but it, and othercompanies, are giving high priority todeveloping FBO, maintenance andhandling facilities as well as aircraftfleets. The development of suchfacilities tends to go hand-in-glove.

Kale Air’s accountable manager

Teoman Eke says that it is difficult tofind and recruit qualified andexperienced pilots due to the heavydemand for such staff from airlinecompanies in Turkey. The company,which has a vip lounge at its KaleHeliport headquarters, operates a S-76for sightseeing and leisure. “We arepretty happy about it except for thehigh direct and indirect operatingcosts but charter market business is very low compared with the sametime last year.”

Ertan Pehlivan, maintenancemanager of Ozek Air which operates aSuper King Air 200 from Yenisehir-Bursa for both passenger and freight,points out that the airport has nofacilities for business aviation. The

company’s two permanent pilots areless busy than last year because of theslowdown in the charter market.

But, as RSA confirms, operators inTurkey feel there is tremendouspotential for business aviation inparticular at Sabiha Gokcen inIstanbul and Adnan Menderes in

Izmir. RSA’s charter fleet includes twoPZL Swidnik Mi-2s, a Jetstream 32 EPand three BO105 CBS5s. It has diverseoperations covering passenger, airambulance and medevac, survey andsurveillance, photography and filmand offshore transport as well assightseeing and leisure. The companyis still recruiting despite the generaldownturn in 2009 with new firstofficer Jason Bostic among newrecruits. Bostic is now ready to step upto captain on the Jetstream.

RSA says Sabiha is located in theAsian part of the city and opened in2002 with a passenger potential of 4million per annum. Last year theairport was privatised and theexpansion programme is now 15

million with an official opening of newfacilities planned for 29 October thisyear. “It is at the closest point to theindustrial heart of Turkey and the mostrapidly developing area with newmaintenance centres also being built.”

But RSA says: “There is a need for a hangar for business aviation and this most definitely would be fullwithin a year.” The company says theTurkish CAA could do more toencourage flight schools. “The rapidgrowth in aviation industry here inTurkey after the monopoly of TurkishAirlines was ended led to a shortage ofpilots. We believe that this will last forsome time,” the company says.

RSA says the Turkish CAA isimplementing EASA regulationsalongside Turkish national require-ments. “The CAA should put more emphasis on identifying theshortages and helping the industryfind solutions. Communication isdifficult and getting answers back istime consuming.”

RSA would like to see operatorinput and involvement in developingthe regulatory side. The company isdeveloping its helicopter fleet with twoBO105 CBS5s joining after completionof extensive formalities, includingobtaining Export Certificate ofAirworthiness from the German CAA.

RSA is planning to bring a longerrange business jet into operation“preferably on a joint venture basis.”The company adds: “There is a veryhigh demand for east and south boundflights. We will encourage owners tocontact us to review the opportunitiesfor a longer range business jetoperating out of Istanbul.”

TURKISHREGIONALREVIEW

Celebi employs more than 4,500 highly-qualified staff and has allocated new business aviation teams.

Sancak Air: appointing flight staff fornew aircraft.

Continued on page 20

20 MAY 2009 EUROPEAN BUSINESS AIR NEWS

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XLS flies highA Cessna Citation XLS has landedand taken off at Qamdo BangdaAirport in Tibet, demonstrating theaircraft’s capability to operate at theworld’s highest airport at 14,219 feet(4,334 metres).

“The flight inspection missionflown by the China Flight InspectionCenter is one of the mostdemanding in the world, and onehas only to look at this mission forproof,” said Todd Duhnke, Cessnadirector, international sales. Highaltitude operations for any aircraftare the most difficult due to thelower density air which results inmuch higher ground speeds fortakeoff and landing than at loweraltitudes. At Bangda, operations arealso complicated by turbulence andlow clouds.

TBM gains synthetic visionGarmin’s Synthetic VisionTechnology (SVT) for the all-glasscockpit of the TBM 850 has beenEASA certified. The system providesenhanced situation awareness bypresenting three dimensionaldepictions of terrain, obstacles andtraffic on the primary flight displays.The SVT replicates what pilotswould see outside the cockpit on aclear day, and is available for newTBM 850s and as a retrofit package.

EBAA management teamundergoes reshuffleEric Mandemaker, previously ceo ofthe European Business AviationAssociation, has left the organis-ation by mutual consent. He will notbe replaced and the association isbeing re-structured to combine theduties of the president and ceo inthe person of Brian Humphries.

Pedro Vicente Azua assumes therole of chief operations officer,managing and co-coordinating thepolicy and regulatory activities ofEBAA specialist staff and experts,and ensuring the EBAA position iswell advocated and properlyrepresented at the EuropeanInstitutions.

Carine Jacobs becomes the chiefadministration officer, responsiblefor the overall management of EBAAfunctions including membership,development, finance, contracts,office management and HR.

Rodolfo Baviera continues aschairman and Hervé Laitat astreasurer.

Embraer appoints ABS foreastern EuropeEmbraer has named ABS Jets as itsauthorised sales representative inthe Czech Republic and in Slovakia.ABS Jets will be selling Embraer’s fullexecutive jets portfolio.

Said Colin Steven, Embraer

regional vp marketing and sales: “Aswell as being an authorised Embraermaintenance service center, ABSJets also became the first Legacy 600operator in central Europe in 2004,and currently flies six of them.”

RAS bring innovative PC-12displays to EuropeInnovative Solutions & Support, Inchas appointed Rheinland Air Serviceto act as a distributor and installer of its Cockpit/IP Flat Panel DisplaySystem (FPDS) for PC-12 aircraft.“Currently, we have the systeminstalled on our demonstrator PC-12, and are incredibly pleased withits performance,” says JohannesGraf von Schaesberg, chairman and ceo of RAS. “We welcome theopportunity to bring such a versatile FPDS to our customersthroughout Europe.”

New man at ZurichJet Aviation has appointed JakobStraub as new vp and generalmanager of its Zurich maintenanceand FBO operations, effective July 1,2009. He will succeed interimgeneral manager Paul Kempf,director quality control and chiefinspector.

Creed joins PhoenixProject Phoenix, the Dubai-basedBombardier CRJ-200 executive vipconversion specialist, has appointedMike Creed as vp sales.

“Having believed wholeheartedlyin the Project Phoenix offering andactually helped draw up thebusiness plan with Mike Cappuccittithree years ago, I am delighted to be in-house working with such aprofessional team,” he said.“Despite the economic gloom, weare seeing a lot of interest in thePhoenix CRJ, especially in theMiddle East where the market isbecoming increasingly costconscious.”

Phenom achieves EASA certificationEmbraer’s Phenom 100 entry levelexecutive jet has been certified byEASA for day and night operations,

VFR, IFR, RVSM and flight intoknown icing conditions.

“We are honoured to receiveEASA certification for the Phenom100 on schedule, “ said MaurícioAlmeida Filho, Embraer vp,programs – executive jets. “ThePhenom 100 is the first executive jet in its category where the fullcertification process fell under theresponsibility of EASA.”

Some of the capabilities of theaircraft were exceeded, including amaximum cruising speed of 390 kts,10 kts faster than promised, and fuel consumption up to 3.6% betterthan initial estimates. Takeoff andclimb performance is also betterthan expected.

Rizon’s FBO at Doha airporttakes shapeRizon has begun work on a new FBOand hangar facility at Qatar’s Dohaairport. Will Curtis, group ceo, says:“The new facility will be similar insize to Rizon’s UK headquarterswhich is now under construction atLondon Biggin Hill.”

The Doha facility will be ofmodular construction so that it can be moved to the new Dohainternational airport when it opens from 2011.

Curtis says the Biggin Hill base ison track for opening this autumn.“The contractors have completed 60 per cent of constructionincluding steelwork and roofing.Rizon is creating some 200 new jobsat Biggin Hill and recruiting is wellunder way.” The company expects to obtain its Qatar AOC in early May 2009.

ASA opens in Dubai toboost Middle East businesswith AsiaAsia’s ASA group, a flight supportorganisation, has opened an officein Dubai to expand its operationsinto the Middle East. SimonWagstaff, ceo says: “Despite thecurrent downturn, there is evidentlystrong interest for a Middle East linkboth from our clients in that regionand in Asia.”

Wagstaff says ASA has regular vipclients based in the Middle East,including members of royal familiesand wealthy entrepreneurs.

Andrea Eden, ASA’s manager inDubai, says the increasingly strongbond between the two regions isboosting business levels.Simultaneously ASA has resumeddiscussions to develop what it callsThailand’s first world-class vipterminal at Phuket airport. “We seethose FBO services as integral toservicing the growing numbers ofvip visitors to Thailand each yearfrom regions including the MiddleEast,” says Eden.

I N D U S T R Y N E W S . . . Sancak Air’s sales and marketingmanager Yavuz Murat Yuzgen says thecompany is appointing flight staff totake full advantage of new aircraft.“The business aviation sector hasgrown rapidly in the past few yearsand we own one of the most modernand state-of-the-art facilities, notonly as far as Turkey is concerned, butalso in global terms.” Sancak Air, hesays, always hires the mostexperienced and qualified pilots withTurkish armed forces experience.Yuzgen is another who urges the civilaviation authorities to be more pro-active and quicker to react.

But Sancak is positive about thefuture. It has ordered three new Bell206 Jet Rangers, a 407 and a 429.Yuzgen says the Turkish market needsto mature. “Compared with theEuropean and American market, airtaxi operations in general have a longway to go. But Sancak Air has 30 yearsof experience and its service qualitymeans it is a respected market leader.”

On the positive side, Yuzgenconfirms that demand for offshoreservices has started to pick up.

Despite the slowdown in privatecharter business, new companies stillperceive business opportunities.

Mehmet Yuksel Hocaoglu, gm of SwanAviation, says that the company isalready expanding its fleet. “We are arelatively new company with an AOCdated 6 March 2008.”

The company was set up by Capt.Hocaoglu and Capt. Yalcin Bal. “Unlikemany other regional operators, SwanAviation operates under its own AOCwith a team of professionals that each offer outstanding backgrounds in aviation.” He says this is reflected in the company’s high standards. The company operates a Hawker850XP and Citation C560XL. It alsoplans to operate another company’sS76C++. Swan plans to offer fullyauthorised maintenance services inthe near future.

Burcu Atilgan, the executiveaviation manager of Air-Mark (AirlineMarketing & Services) operates anFBO based at Istanbul’s Attaturkcomprises a vip lounge for aninternational celebrity client base thatincludes NBA basketball teams,concert groups and representatives offoreign and local governments. “SinceJune 2008, our professional sales teamorganises charter for business andcorporate jets for our vip clients to anydestination,” says Atilgan.

Yesim Buyukozer, bdm, says thatAir-Mark is expanding in growth areas,including the Middle East, despite adrop in demand for slots. “We areplanning to add one more hangarfacility of 1,800m2 in Istanbul. We willbe opening line maintenance stationsfor various customers based indifferent cities of Turkey and theMiddle East. We have been affected bylow utilisation of business jets due toeconomic slowdown – we had a lot ofslot cancellations. We are establishinganother line station in Ras Al Khaimahin the United Arab Emirates.”

Celebi Ground Handling has bigplans to build on its reputation as a

RSA is gearing up to meet growing Asiandemand.

Mike Creed: Appointed vp sales ofProject Phoenix.

A Cessna Citation XLS at Qamdo Bangda Airport, Tibet.

Continued from page 19

MAY 2009 21EUROPEAN BUSINESS AIR NEWS

market leading ground handler inTurkey. Erkan Acet, executive aviationmanager, discloses: “We are building abusiness aviation headquarters basedin the general aviation terminal atIstanbul’s Ataturk airport. Customerrequests will be picked up from the HQwhich will manage all the businessaviation. We have also allocated newbusiness aviation teams from thescheduled and charter teams, andthese teams, located in our stations,are specially trained according to theneeds of the business aviation sector.We are going to provide crew loungeand hangarage services at Ataturk.”

He says the modern lounge willprovide business flight crews withcomprehensive communicationfacilities including access to theInternet and fax as well as theopportunity to relax in comfort. “Thesecond service that will be provided ishangarage at Ataturk. In cooperationwith an air taxi company located at theairport, we have started to providehangarage services to business aircraftat the GAT.”

Celebi, Acet adds, employs morethan 4,500 highly qualified staff andhas invested US$60 million in state-of-the-art equipment. Key overseasfacilities include bases in Budapestand Mumbai. Turkey is not immune to the global recession but Celebireports handling a total of more than335,000 flights in 2008. These includedover 3,000 business aviation flights.“For the year 2009, growing fast in thebusiness aviation sector is among ourprimary targets.”

Acet points out that Celebi businessaviation is not a broker handling agent.“This gives pricing advantages to ourcustomers. We are not outsourcing anyservices from third companies such assurface transport or aircraft guarding.Therefore, our customers will not faceany disbursement fees in terms ofground handling services.”

Business aviation in Turkey, Acetpoints out, has grown very fast in thelast two years. But he confirms:

The 2009/10 EBAN Handbook ofBusiness Aviation in Europe will beavailable soon, and gives details ofmany more Turkish charteroperators. It also lists businessaviation facilities and servicesincluding airports, FBOs andmaintenance centres. The details can be accessed onlinethrough a search of aircraftoperated or the airport bases. Formore information please visitwww.handbook.aero

HANDbook ofbusiness aviation

in Europe

EUROPEAN BUSINESS AIR NEWS

0809

ComprehensiveTurkish online data

free-of-charge

“Deficiency in infrastructure andlimited regulations tailored forbusiness aviation are among the mostcommon problems that the industryfaces. I believe that business flightsneed to be served from separateterminals and apron areas in theairports and that business aviationmust have its own regulations. Celebiis actively involved in consultationsfor new civil aviation regulations and in pressing for follow-upimprovements. We believe it is oursocial responsibility to help developregulatory improvements and that, asa company, we must support theaviation industry.”

Newcomers and establishedcompanies believe it is only a matter oftime and investment before Turkeyovercomes its regulatory and resourceschallenges and becomes a countrywhere private aviation will flourish.

Kale Air's accountable manager TeomanEke.

TURKISHREGIONALREVIEW Midlands Air Ambulance, formerly

County Air Ambulance, has celebratedits 18th birthday with the launch of itsown beer called ‘Triple A’ – AirAmbulance Ale. A percentage of thesale of bottles and cask ale producedby family brewery Wood of Shropshirewill boost the charity’s fund raising.

Brewery md Edward Wood says‘Triple A’ is a lightly flavoured 4.3 percent volume ale and is now on sale inpubs and retailers supplied by theWood Brewery. “We are confident thatthis special ale will raise a significantsum of money for the charity and givesupporters of the service a great dealof pleasure,” he adds.

Midlands provides the primaryresponse to a region in Englandincluding the West Midlands,Shropshire, Staffordshire, Hereford-shire, Worcestershire andGloucestershire. The cost of runningand maintaining current levels ofoperation stands at £5.6 million whichis raised by voluntary donations.

Air ambulance ale cheers fund-raising efforts

Edward Wood with flight doctor Matt Boylan and flight paramedic Becky Tinsley at thelaunch of Triple A – Air Ambulance Ale.

AGUSTA

109E Power

2001, HB-ZDT, SN 11129, VIPconfiguration. 1,252 hours. One privateowner. Located Switzerland. Exceptional.Full details at www.loudounaviation.com.Contact Peter Leonard-Morgan tel: +1 (540)751 9543 Loudoun Aviation Inc. Email:plm@loudounaviation.com

22 MAY 2009 EUROPEAN BUSINESS AIR NEWS

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BUSINESS AIR NEWS

E U R O P E A N

Squirrel hops betweenGreek islands

Page 4Geneva managers add604 to roster

Page 6PC12 fractional schemegrows apace

Page 8Venerable helicopteroperator clocks upthree million

Page 10German broker offersCheyenne II for sale

Page 14Plus our full Danish review

Page 16 - 18

ISSUE 108 SEPTEMBER 2001

Leeds-Bradford based Multiflight will be the first UK owner of a BBJ2 when the green aircraft is handed over at the end of September. See full story on page 12

www.bizjet.com/eban

More than two and a half years have

elapsed since Muk Air started putting

a VFW-614 aircraft on the Danish

register. With TCAS recently installed,

the aircraft is now available for freight

and passenger charter but says owner

Ruben Werjefeldt, he’d never have

tried in the first place if he’d known

how long it was going to take.He said: “It’s been a long and

somewhat political fight. Early on,

problems which we had to overcome

included both support and

maintenance issues.“It took me a year and a half to

convince Airbus to cooperate but

since then, over the last year and a

half, they have been very supportive.

“During the certification process,

an educated crew went elsewhere and

the loss of revenue went into seven-

digit numbers. If I’d known it was

going to take this long, I’d never have

tried to do it. There are more

attractive things you can do.”Muk Air’s 614 aircraft can be

configured to accommodate 18 or 44

passengers or for the purposes of

freight. It is the latter which Muk Air

hopes to pursue the most. Said

Werjefeldt: “There’s less trouble in

freight. If you’re delayed, you don’t

have to book hotel rooms for 44

passengers; if it is a little bumpy, no

one vomits; and if you fly in a

turboprop, no one wants a refund.”

With regard to the vip market,

Werjefeld says one of the aircraft’s

main strengths lies in its ability to

land on short runways. He told EBAN:

“In an 18-seat configuration fully

loaded, I can land at any airport that a

Citation II can land at. We can get

down as short as 800 metres if we are

light – which is unheard of for a

46,000 pound aircraft.”The incentive for vips to fly in a

614, says Werjefeld, does not end

there. “It has a fully stand-up cabin,”

he said. Helmut Kohl preferred the

614 a lot more before the Challengers.

“You have a big first class seat, you

have a hot oven, refrigerators, large

stand-up toilet and big mahogany

tables where you could play roulette if

you wanted.“In the business jet market, it’s for

people who want the extra space. It’s

more than you have in a Dornier 328

JET, it’s larger than the Gulfstream

and if you consider the square area of

the plane, it’s only beaten by the BBJ

and ACJ.”Asked whether potential charter

customers may fret over the safety of

an old aircraft, Werjefeld said: "The

aircraft has been maintained in the

same way as the British Queen’s

Flight; everything has been half-

normal life-cycle.” In terms of economics, Muk Air is

confident that for the right customer,

the 614 could present a huge saving.

Werjefeld explained: “If you compare

it with business aircraft which offer

similar capability and space, and you

want to go somewhere where the size

of the runway might be an issue, then

the price is half what others would

ask. A Global Express, Gulfstream or

Falcon 900 would all have a challenge

getting down on La Maule in St

Tropez. I don’t have any problem and

I’m half the price.“Conversely, if you’re considering

an international trip, we couldn’t

compare with any of these

three aircraft. With 1,300 nautical

miles, we’re way too short

for intercontinental range but

for intra-European trips, we’d be

very competitive.”Muk Air has another 614 which has

been on a US register for two

years and will soon be added to the

Danish register.

‘Supremely-maintained’ VFW-614finally joins Danish register

Leeds awaitsUK’s first BBJ2

Adamantis has purchased a Falcon

900, which is currently managed

by charter and sales broker

Air Entreprise. Vice president Arnaud Poisson

said: “The owner chose the 900

because he wanted a long range

aircraft with a large cabin. We were

also keen to have such an aircraft

available in our charter fleet, as many

of our customers were asking to

charter a long range aircraft.” So far the Falcon’s destinations

have included Africa, the West Indies

and the US. Air Entreprise also manages a

Falcon 50 and owns a twin jet

Aerospatiale Corvette. Poisson

added: “The Falcon 900 is very good

for our image. We have a mixture of

private individuals, company

presidents and show business stars,

so obviously such an aircraft will

attract a great deal of interest.” The

aircraft is an addition to the

existing fleet.Air Entreprise has a large

hangar and a private terminal at

its Le Bourget, Paris base,

combined with handling and

maintenance departments. Poisson said: ”We are currently

working on expansion plans, but have

yet to decide what level of investment

to put in. “The French charter market is

strong and not particularly affected

by economic variables, so we don’t

feel that the investment will be

affected by the US slow down.” The company has found that the

market has remained stable, Poisson

explained: “The private jet market is

very special, as it only concerns a

small number of people world wide.

Consequently it’s difficult to

introduce new ideas onto the market,

although fractional ownership

appears to be succeeding.” The company has found the sales

market to be relatively buoyant also,

and believes it will continue to grow.

“The price of aircraft is currently

being pushed down by the deflated

US market, which has knocked onto

Europe and increased demand,”

he said.

Air Entrepriseoffers long haulflights with itsFalcon 900

Air Taxi has purchased a King Air 200

from Regourd Aviation. Ground

operations manager Jean Pierre

Florent said: “The company chose the

King Air because it suits our needs

perfectly. The range of the aircraft is

around 1,500 nautical miles and the

cabin holds between seven and nine

passengers, depending upon our

configuration.”Air Taxi is based in Tours, France

and operates as a charter company

concentrating solely on a French

client base. The company has already

made a number of domestic and

international flights, particularly

cross-channel, including: Oxford,

Inverness and Farnborough.

Customers are generally vips, ranging

from corporate executives to private

individuals and celebrities. “The

French charter market is not very

strong at the moment. I don’t really

know what has led to the present

climate but it is possibly the influence

of the US market,” explained Florent.

When asked why the company had

chosen a particularly slow time to

purchase an aircraft, Florent replied:

“If a company cannot offer a

sufficient number of aircraft for

charter then customers will look

elsewhere. We bought the aircraft

despite market conditions, because

we are hoping and expecting for a rise

in demand in the foreseeable future.”

Air Taxi startsfleet build-upwith King Air 200

An example of the VFW-614, now offered

by MukAir for charter.

Leeds awaitsUK’s first BBJ2

HANDbook of

business aviation

in Europe

EUROPEAN BUSINESS AIR NEWS

0809

HANDbook of

business aviation

in Europe

EUROPEAN BUSINESS AIR NEWS

0809

BUSINESS AIR NEWS

E U R O P E A N

Pilatus makescomplaint to JAAPage 4

Swedes launch websitefor air charter

Page 5Portuguese delightedwith Citation X addition

Page 9Plus: Where and who tocharter in Ireland

Pages 12-13

ISSUE 117 July 2002

An EBACE press conference provides the setting for Signature Flight Support to join forces with the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in establishing a handling facility at

Toulon-Hyeres Airport. (L-r) Jonathan Soper (Signature), Bernard Lecat, Bernard Stouff (both CCI), Louis Demarque and Peter Whitehead (both Signature). Full story, page 14.

www.ebanmagazine.com

All for one at ToulonOne of Europe’s largest real estate

developers has placed an order

with Embraer for a Legacy aircraft.

Spain’s Fadesa made the announce-

ment at this year’s EBACE, adding

that the aircraft would replace the

company’s existing Hawker 700 in

September of this year.The Legacy will be based in La

Coruña, where the company has its

headquarters, and will carry out

corporate missions to Spain,

Portugal, Romania and Morocco,

where Fadesa is currently active.

“We were looking for a larger

aircraft,” said Jose Luis Macia, Fadesa

financial director. “Our main criteria

were reliability, cabin volume and

value. The Legacy very quickly

became the best, that is to say the

only choice.”Speaking to EBAN's Richard Evans

at the show, Embraer vice chairman

Sam Hill said: “Most of Fadesa's

missions will fall in the category of

2,000nm or under although they will

occasionally need to fly 3,000nm.

They’ve already got several trips

planned to the US.“We’re delighted with the order

and see it as a real breakthrough for

us to start selling and delivering

airplanes in Europe. We’re also

delivering our first airplane into

Europe next month and although

we’re unable to disclose the

customer’s name, the operator will be

GV Executive of Zurich.”

Embraer is now waiting for JAA

certification, which Hill says he

expects next month. While the Fadesa

order brings the total order book for

the Legacy to 74 firm orders and 94

options, we asked Hill about the

Legacy’s popularity specifically in

Europe. He said: “We’ve just started

making inroads into the European

marketplace. We’re delivering two

airplanes into Europe this year which

may not seem like much but for us,

it’s a beginning and we think it's going

to grow substantially. “At the current time, the US is still

the largest market, followed by South

America, where we’ve had some

sales in Brazil.” An extra incentive for operators

in Europe to buy Legacy aircraft is

the announcement of the Total

Legacy Care (TLC) maintenance

programme. The programme covers

scheduled and unscheduled airframe

maintenance during the five-year

period after the delivery of a

customer’s aircraft. When selecting the TLC program,

the customer or operator of a Legacy

pays a fixed hourly rate for the

airframe maintenance based on the

hours flown and operational

parameters. Said a spokesman: “This

covers virtually all the airframe line,

base and heavy maintenance

operations leaving the customer free

to concentrate on the best utilisation

of his Legacy.” TLC is based on a minimum of 400

Spanish developer ready todeploy Europe’s second Legacy

TAG Aviation used this year’s EBACE

to showcase its new handling and

office facilities at Geneva Airport.

The FBO moved just ten metres from

its old premises, which was

considered too small to handle the

increase in traffic passing through.

The company moved into the 300-

metres-squared handling facility and

1,500-metres-squared European

administrative headquarters in April,

a month after completion. Handling supervisor John

Christian said: “We moved because

it’s important to have brand new

facilities in Geneva. PrivatAir and Jet

Aviation were also going to move

here, so it was important to be in this

business centre.” The facilities

include a quick departure lounge and

a larger private lounge with DVD,

refrigerator, coffee machines and

internet access. Along with this is

another spacious lounge with the

same equipment, which can

accommodate a group of twenty. The

crew lounge has a direct view of the

passengers arrival in order to

maximise time efficiency. “We are

TAG reacts to competition at Geneva

Sloane Helicopters has added a Bell

206B helicopter to its AOC in the UK

after what operational services

director Paul Forster described as a

“very long, laborious and painful re-

registration.” The company first spotted the

potential addition in Greece 12

months ago. “We were over there

on a trip and noticed a charter

company had started to cannibalise

two aircraft to keep one of their fleet

flying. We then put a silly bid in for

both machines and they took us up

on it,” he said.The project to make one aircraft

out of the parts was initially

designated for any spare-time that

Sloane’s engineers had. But after a particularly busy year

it was decided that a couple of

workers should be dedicated to

the completion. “From the builders’

point of view it went very

smoothly, particularly as there wasn’t

any real urgency. “It was only after the work had

finished around four months ago

that it became a nightmare due to

Greek bureacracy regarding the

documentation. In fact we eventually

thought it wouldn’t happen, but then

miraculously it came through,”

explained Forster.The Bell will mainly be used for

flight training and charter. “It just

came on the fleet 10 days ago, so it’s

only done some self-fly hire with

some of the members down here but

they’ve all reacted positively to it,”

said Forster. The company didn’t start to

promote the aircraft until the paper

work was completed, so now was the

time to start: “It’s a nice machine –

there’s a brand new interior and it’s

been completely resprayed. “It charters at £480 per hour and

fills the niche for those wanting to go

down to the races (Ascot, Epson), the

Grand Prix and an advantage of

having floats is that it can also go to

Battersea,” he added.This is Sloane’s only Bell 206B and

complements its range of Agusta

109s. “After this I’d like to put a Twin

Squirrel on the fleet (which I know I

could find some good business for)

and also an EC-120,” said Forster.

Sloane proves thatone Bell beatstwo halves

Continued on page 10

JAA certification is expected imminently

for Embraer’s Legacy.

Continued on page 16

OUR NEXT ISSUE:JUNE 2009

FINAL BOOKING DATE:MAY 20th

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CESSNA

Citation Bravo

2002, S/N 1042 on Man registry. December2002, TTAF 2,100 hours. Airframe andengines on Proparts. 7 Passenger interior,will carry 9 people plus cases everywhere inEurope. Current owner pilot looking to sell50% share USS $1.9 million. John Wood.Tel: +44 (0) 7850 884596

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Citation Excel2003, S/N 5318: 2,660 hours TTAF,engines & APU on Power Advantage,SATCOM, TCAS II, EGPWS,UNS1ESp/provision for 2nd, HF,Proparts, MSG-3 maintenance, nine paxinterior, excellent condition! JAR OPS1/EU OPS 1 Qualified. Tel: +1 713 6810075 or +1 201 445 5660 Par Avion Ltd..Web: www.paravionltd.com. Email:info@paravionltd.com

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King Air C90A1984, Asking $895,000. SN: LJ-1069, TT:2,549 hours. Maintained on CAMP onan interim inspection schedule. Newgear and props 6/07. Wing boltinspection c/w 3/08. Five pax. Only twoowners since new. Call Doug McDonaldtel: +44 1825 713988 V & E EuropeanA/C Sales, Ltd.. Email:d.mcd@virgin.net

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S-76B1989, S/N: 760352. TT AF 5,642. Allgearboxes on Sikorsky PAP. Sikorskyservice centre maintained since new. 7place VIP interior, exterior black - new2007. Emergency floatation system. UKPublic transport certification. SteveAyling. Tel: +44 1276 885 340 LyntonAviation Aircraft Sales. Web:www.lyntonaviation.com. Email:sayling@lyntonaviation.com

Choose the runway less traveled.

Sure Thing ®C i t a t i o n S o v e r e i g n

In a Citation Sovereign, you give yourself the often-overlooked freedom to choose airports that are closest to your true destinations. Along with the aircraft’s range, speed, comfort, payload and baggage capacity, its ability to use runways of just 3,600 feet make it perhaps the ultimate freedom machine. Imagine the liberty of going where you want, when you want – and bringing all the people and gear you want along with you. Today, these things are no longer mere wishes. They’re Sovereign privileges. Call Peter Griffith, Cessna Aircraft Company,* U.K. Tel. +44 (0) 1252 378811. Fax +44 (0) 1252 378287.E-mail pgriffith@cessna.textron.com. Or go to Sovereign.Cessna.com. *Incorporated with limited liability in the state of Kansas, U.S.A.