jetgala magazine issue 5

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BOEING’S STEPHEN TAYLOR | NEW LEARJET 85 | ROUND THE WORLD IN A PHENOM 100 |

DASSAULT FALCON 2000LX

ARMOURED CARS | SEOUL’S TOP SUITES | BIJAN OF RODEO DRIVE | TOP PICKS OF SIHH |

LHASA’S HIMALAYAN HAVEN March April 201105

CATALINA FLYING BOAT | VIP HELICOPTERS

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Nothing can make the air perfectly smooth, but nothing can touch the incredible Falcon 7X

for smooth ying. Its Digital Flight Control System — the business-jet evolution of our

ghter-jet technology — blends the re exes of a ghter with the agility of a bird. And its

all-muscle-no-fat design will whisk you over 5,950 miles with the ef ciency of a smaller

plane — in a cabin of a silken quiet — within a whisper of the speed of sound.

Visit us at Falcon7X.com Or call: Hong Kong +852.6623.6772 Beijing +86.132.6011.4882

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UDDENLY THE SKY IS MADE OF SILK.S

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SHOW DOWN"MANUFACTURERS ARE DEMANDING A CONSOLIDATION OF ASIA'S PRIVATE AVIATION SHOW LANDSCAPE"

NOTAM

JETGALA4

viation shows are turning into the single fastest growing segment of our industry, especially so in the Asia-Pacific it seems. The issue you are holding in your hand right now is distributed at two of them – Asian Aerospace in Hong Kong in March and SIBAS Shanghai this coming April. They are followed closely by EBACE in Geneva in May, where the next issue of JETGALA will be distributed.

The industry at large is less than pleased, and for good reason. Mushrooming air shows mainly benefit one stakeholder group — the organisers. For the rest of our industry, still in recovery mode after two very challenging years, the benefits are rather elusive. Instead of one substantial regional private aviation show, such as NBAA in the US, EBACE in Europe, and even the much smaller MEBA in Dubai, exhibitors have to make difficult choices as to which Asian show to attend and why.

The result is a series of ineffective shows, none of which draw a critical mass of visitors. Manufacturers have taken note and put their foot down in a recent open letter, demanding a consolidation of Asia’s private aviation show landscape. We at JETGALA fully support this effort, as we too understand that limited resources need to be deployed in the most cost-effective way.

Speaking of air shows, it struck me again at MEBA how uniformly private jets are usually painted. Nine out of ten aircraft are white, with a few nondescript lines or swirls. As a private jet is the ultimate expression of individuality and a bespoke life, I can’t really understand this. Luckily, some people are addressing the issue, such as Dassault Falcon who have launched a custom design paint scheme for their clientèle. Another contender is Happy Design in France, which offers a range of avant-garde design options.

I am keeping my hopes up that we will soon see bolder visual expressions at private jet shows. Life is short enough. The least we can do is to keep it colourful.

Happy reading of this, our fifth issue.

Rainer SigelPUBLISHER

A

34

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4 NOTAM

Show Down10 CREW 14 LOUNGE What’s New & Exclusive22 WINGS

24 COMPACT CLASSIC

The Dassault Falcon 2000LX30 BIG BUSINESS

Stephen Taylor — Boeing Business Jets34 COMPOSITE FLIGHT

Bombardier’s Learjet 8540 FLY GAL

Aerobatic Pilot Patty Wagstaff44 GLOBE PLOTTERS

Round The World In A Phenom 10050 STRAITS CHARTER

Capt Earnest Koilpillai – Dnest Aviation Services54 SIGNATURE SPACE

Design Q Interior Design60 RECORD ROTATION

VIP Helicopters Of The Future62 WINGS ON WATER

The Catalina Flying Boat68 CAPTAIN SPEAKING

Why Do We Still Need Pilots Anyway?

CONTENT

44

24

05ontents18

114

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CONTENT

78128

CONTENT

ontents106 LUXE 108 POWER PURSUIT

Bijan Of Rodeo Drive114 HAUTE TIMES

Top Timepieces Of SIHH 2011 120 LOCKED AND LOADED

Armoured Cars 124 GLOBAL QUEST

The Flying Trimaran128 SCARLET FEVER

Crimson Gems At Auctions130 SHADES OF THE PAST

Fine English Company’s Bespoke Services 137 AIRBORNE

138 BRIEFING

Business Aviation In Brief144 JET OPTIONS

Jet Fuels Of The Future 146 PLANE SPEAK

Executive Aviation Glossary 150 AIR SHOW DIARY 152 TAILHOOK

Last Roll

70 LIFE

72 SUITE SEOUL

A New Decade Of Affluence78 REGAL RESORT

St Regis Lhasa84 PEAK OF TASTE

At.mosphere At The Burj Khalifa86 HIMALAYAN HIGH

Skydiving Above Everest90 PRIORITY ACCESS

Mercy Relief Foundation92 SPHERES OF CONFLUENCE

Desert Glamour 100 SKY CANDY

Ballooning Over Red Rock Canyon

05

CONTENTMANAGING EDITOR Kim Lee

BUSINESS EDITOR Rainer SigelART DIRECTOR/DESIGNER Sylvia Weimer (Spacelab Design, Sydney)

ASSISTANT EDITOR Tricia LimEDITORIAL ASSISTANT Katrina Balmaceda

CONTRIBUTORSJeremy Cox, Paul de Berjeois, Christine de Felice, Carol Lee, Paris Libby, Radha S Menon, Liz Moscrop, Ong May Anne,

Anne Osno, Allen Roche, Mike Ruiz, Steve Slater, Charlie Streeter, Kirsten Tan, Alvin Wong, Flora Wong

COMPANYPUBLISHER Rainer Sigel

MANAGING DIRECTOR Michelle TayASSISTANT DIRECTOR, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Susan Ng

EVENTS MANAGER Lee May LingCIRCULATION & PROMOTIONS Caroline Rayney

ACCOUNTING Winnie LimBUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER, GREATER CHINA Gene Chee

CONTACT 12 Prince Edward Road, #04-10B

Bestway Building, Podium B, Singapore 079212T: +65 6222 1415 F: +65 6222 1465

EMAILSADVERTISING [email protected]

[email protected] [email protected] DEVELOPMENT, GREATER CHINA

[email protected] EVENTS [email protected]

CIRCULATION [email protected]

ADMINISTRATION [email protected]

WEBSITES MAGAZINE www.jetgala.com

GROUP www.orientalmediagroup.comSINGAPORE www.oriental-publishing.com

VIETNAM www.oriental-media.comEVENTS www.oriental-exhibitions.com

TWITTER www.twitter.jetgala.com (Aviation News)FACEBOOK www.facebook.jetgala.com (Luxury News)

LINKEDIN www.linkedin.jetgala.com (Aviation Updates)RSS www.rss.jetgala.com (Aviation News)

JETGALA is published bi-monthly and circulated throughout the Asia-Pacific. Opinions expressed are those of the contributors

and not necessarily endorsed by the Publisher.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE: All rights, including copyright, in the contentof this publication are owned or controlled by Oriental Publishing Pte Ltd, Singapore. You are not permitted to copy, broadcast, download, store in any

medium, transmit, show or play in public, adapt or change in any way the content of this publication for any other purpose whatsoever without the prior written

permission of Oriental Publishing Pte Ltd, Singapore.

TRADEMARKS NOTICE: The masthead logo ‘JETGALA’ is a Registered Trademark of Oriental Publishing Pte Ltd, Singapore. All rights are cumulatively

reserved by Oriental Publishing Pte Ltd, Singapore. Their protection will be pursued to the full extent of the law.

Printed by KHL Printing Co, Singapore MICA (P) 252/03/2010 PPS 1775/10/2011 (028317)

PHOTO CREDITSCOVER Mike Ruiz

SECTION OPENER WINGS Image courtesy of Dassault AviationSECTION OPENER LIFE Image courtesy of St Regis Lhasa Resort

SECTION OPENER LUXE Image courtesy of L’HydroptereSECTION OPENER AIRBORNE Image courtesy of

Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation

CREW

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www.orientalmediagroup.com

Paul de Berjeois is an accomplished event, on-location and commercial photographer, based in Colorado in the United States. Both the Greater Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce and Colorado Balloon Classic have named Paul their official photographer. His photos can be found in the pages of Ballooning Magazine as well as Alegria Living Magazine.

World renown photographer Mike Ruiz has worked with a long list of celebrity clients, from Beyonce to Prince. He also takes on the roles of TV personality, former model, actor and director, and has done music videos for artists such as Vanessa Williams, Kelly Rowland and Traci Lords. He made his feature film directorial debut in 2007. Since then, he has starred in several reality hit television series as a celebrity photographer. He as been guest judge on Canada’s Next Top Model and currently stars in his own reality show, The A-List: New York.

Sylvia Weimer is a leading international art director and designer, especially in editorial design. She has worked with Motorola European Headquarters in Germany, before relocating to Sydney to art-direct special book editions for Black and White Magazine. Since then, Sylvia has art-directed and designed numerous magazines in Australia, Asia and Europe, and built a portfolio of prestigious clients: Indesign Group, DesignSpace, Autore Magazine, Folio Lumiere, Fabergé, Pro Jeweller, Cast Photography Magazine, Cream Magazine, and more.

Flora Wong is a qualified gemologist specialising in gemstones, and period and contemporary jewellery. As Sotheby’s Deputy Director, Senior Specialist of the Jewellery Division based in Hong Kong, she participates in Sotheby’s major jewellery sales, sourcing and appraising jewellery, and advising private clients on buying and selling at auction. Flora’s passion for art and jewels began at an early age, fuelling her enthusiasm to discover the auction industry and build her own art and jewellery collection.

Jeremy Cox has over 36 years of diverse aviation experience as pilot, engineer and businessman. He holds valid A&P IA FCC Licenses and Commercial and Instrument Ratings. Cox is currently the Vice President at JetBrokers, Inc, a professional aircraft sales company, and involved with the Greater St. Louis Business Aviation Association, The National Business Aviation Association, the Experimental Aircraft Association, and is President of the St. Louis Air & Space Museum.

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Cars can be nostalgic. High on the list of bygone icons is the gull wing car, a vehicle with doors hinged at the roof rather than at the sides. GWA-Tuning, which specialises in reworking vehicle designs, revives the gull wing with its new production, Ciento Once. It is largely based on the C111, a Mercedes-Benz-prototype that fuelled gull wing fans’ fantasies in 1970. The Ciento Once has a 408 HP Mercedes V12 engine that can be admired through the car’s glass-topped rear deck. The rest of the body is in aluminium, with carbon fibre frame seats. This may be a one-off production. www.gwa-tuning.com

WINGED WHEELS

LOUNGE

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Akillis brings spy fantasies to reality with its new belt. Not for the meek, the buckle of the new Akillis belt merges high glam and espionage with seven diamond-encrusted Kalashnikov rifle bullets — empty, of course. While it is the centrepiece, the buckle is not the only exquisite feature, as the belt is made of fine alligator skin. Rumour has it that it is one of the most expensive belts in the world. http://akillis.fr

SPY FASHION

If there was one thing that Sharon Stone and Ernest Hemingway had in common, it was that they travelled with personalised Louis Vuitton luggage. Their trunks are among 100 unique pieces featured in the book Louis Vuitton: 100 Legendary Trunks. At least 600 images bring the craftsmanship of Louis Vuitton to life, spanning a century that includes luggage like a trunk-bed, caviar box, library trunk and tea case. The book’s deluxe edition comes with a hard slipcase designed with the LV monogram and stamps, looking like a well-travelled trunk itself. www.louisvuitton.com

Love My Trunk

LINES OF FIREPlaying with fire has rarely been so beautiful. The Fire Line Automatic by Planika is a fireplace that can be displayed in several different ways. It can be wall mounted like a picture frame, used free standing, or even incorporated as part of a shelf or coffee table in a see-through bell jar. Fuelled by Fanola® — a renewable plant-derived liquid bioethanol, this particular model offers the option of flame size regulation and automated extinguishing via remote control. www.planikafires.com

Ambition in Wealth Management.

For us, wealth management means having the ambitionto exceed expectations. Also yours: +65 6532 5325 (Singapore)or +852 2913 7678 (Hong Kong) S W I S S W E A LT H M A N A G E M E N T S I N C E 17 5 5

127843_220x300_e_K_Piano_JetGa 1 10.02.11 10:15

Automobile aficionados, be thrilled. The Cobra Shelby — the so-called Corvette beater of the 1960s — is hitting the road again. Its maker, Shelby American Inc, is recreating 50 models of this vehicle to

celebrate its 50th anniversary. Speed seekers will find the car a satisfying ride as it was originally made for automobile racer Carroll Shelby. It surprised audiences with its swiftness on the competition circuit, with a top speed of 185 mph on a Ford 427 engine. According to the grapevine, it was a reason why the UK created national speed limits. www.shelbyautos.com

LOUNGE

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SNAKE SPEEDSTER

Skiing should feel effortlessly natural, like a smooth ride in a fine car. Zai wants to create this experience for users of its Zai for Bentley skis. Craftsmen for Zai’s handmade skis say its geometric structure lessens the effort needed to accelerate and manoeuvre. Zai likes using a wide range of materials. Carbon fibre, chromium steel, cedar wood and a thermoplastic composite were all used in making the skis. Lightweight poles and a stylish leather bag complete the set. Only 250 pairs are available. www.zaiforbentley.com

Gresso’s iPad case is two centuries old. The luxury mobile phone manufacturer has framed the iPad with wood taken from a 200-year-old African Blackwood tree, a material Gresso has used in other products and is said to be one of the world’s most valuable trees. The rich, black case is a striking backdrop for the Apple logo, fashioned in 18K gold. Gresso says because no two trees are identical, no two African Blackwood iPad cases will be the same. www.gresso.com

The 10th annual ‘Asia Superyacht Rendezvous’ was held from 16th to 18th December in Phuket. Nine sail and motoryachts participated, amongst them S/Y Ananta, M/Y Noble House and S/Y Perseus. www.asia-superyacht-rendezvous.com

MARINE MEET

GLOBAL PERFORMANCE

LANG LANG

He was born with the gift of natural ability. And when he debuted, some 10 years ago, he rocked the world

of classical music. Today, Lang Lang has embarked on another “journey of a thousand miles” – to bring music to

children and inspire them to perform. In bringing music and learning to less fortunate nations and communities,

he has taken his gift and chosen to give back.

In support of his selfless performance, Bombardier* proudly contributes to the Lang Lang International Music Foundation.

* Registered trademark(s) or trademark(s) of Bombardier Inc. or its subsidiaries. © 2011 Bombardier Inc. All rights reserved.

LOUNGE

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By the timekeeping reckoning of moon gazers, this is year 1431. Moon gazing can be difficult on cloudy nights, so watchmaker Parmigiani’s solution is its new calendar clock that can determine the precise position of the moon. Able to run continuously for over 30 years, counting lunar leap years, it has a solid silver base and a ruby indicator for the power reserve. For decorative detail, Parmigiani uses quartz and black obsidian. Only 10 pieces will be made. www.parmigiani.ch

TITANIUM TAKESIf the new Leica M9 ‘Titanium’ reminds you of a streamlined Audi, here’s why: Walter de’Silva, chief of the Audi Design Team, is behind this 500-piece limited edition. De’Silva introduces elements that few, if any, other cameras have. For starters, the body and lens are made of titanium, a metal that requires extra skill on the part of craftsmen. The camera’s trim, a type of leather typically used for Audi interiors, improves grip. A LED light illuminates the frame in the viewfinder, and the camera’s monitor is covered with a scratch-resistant sapphire-crystal glass. www.leica.com

MOON TIME

For jet-setters, keeping up with the various time zones is pertinent. Blancpain’s new dual-time zone watch, the Villeret Demi-Fuseau Horaire, not only displays time for two time zones, it is also sensitive to half-hour time shifts. Apart from displaying a reference time and date, the watch shows the half-time zone at 12 o’clock and its corresponding date at 6 o’clock. A sapphire crystal case back reveals the watch’s complicated movements, encased in red gold. The watch will be unveiled at Baselworld 2011. www.blancpain.com

TwoTimer

DIGITAL DJThe Metronome Technologie’s Kalista Ultimate SE is made for music lovers. The device transports and extracts digital data from CDs by detecting various layers and subtleties of sound, and transmits this to an audio player or sound system. This gives the listener more choices for tailoring sound and enjoying music, a flexibility especially useful to video producers, party throwers and regular music enthusiasts. The device is no toy. It features a Philips CDM12 PRO 2 pickup mechanism, and its main unit, base, stand and power supply total 80 kilograms. www.metronome-technologie.com

Be Global – to learn more about the Lang Lang International Music Foundation and to make a donation, visit www.IAmGlobal.Bombardier.com

* Registered trademark(s) or trademark(s) of Bombardier Inc. or its subsidiaries. © 2011 Bombardier Inc. All rights reserved.

The Bombardier* Global* aircraft family delivers best-in-class performance, with every seat, the best in the house.

Off ering suffi cient power to effi ciently escort leaders to distances unmatched by competing aircraft, it is an ideal

solution for those whose dedication knows no borders.

MORE ADVANCED MORE COMFORT MORE FREEDOM MORE RESPONSIBLE

I AM GLOBAL

Introducing the new Bombardier Global aircraft family

LOUNGE

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Lamborghini inspired a cult following when it came out with cars with front doors that opened by swinging upwards. Now car owners can enjoy that concept with any car. LSD-Doors makes ‘Lambo style door’ kits for different types of vehicles, like a Porsche 997, Mercedes-Benz SLK 200 and a Volkswagen Passat Sedan. Unless you are a car modification pro, LSD-Doors recommends having a mechanic install the doors. www.lsd-doors.de

OPEN SWING

Refined and practical, Salem is a satchel for the accomplished man. Part of Peter Nitz’s latest men’s creations, it is a combination of black matte alligator and Barcenia calf leather. With fully customisable interiors, this allows for more or less, bigger or smaller, wider or narrower compartments, as one pleases. The Salem’s solid brass lock ensures privacy while its hand stitching reinforces sturdiness. Ladies get their pick, too, with a mini satchel made of matte alpine crocodile, adorned with a diamond bee pin. www.peternitz.com

In honour of martial artist and actor Bruce Lee, luxury pen-maker Montegrappa has released a limited edition Bruce Lee pen within its latest ‘Icons’ series. The nib of the fountain pen features a profile of Lee in his famous move, a high jump with fist and foot extended. A dragon’s body, in silver or gold, decorates the pen. Montegrappa will make 2010 pieces, with 24 in solid yellow gold with choice of black diamonds, rubies or emeralds for the dragon’s eyes. Ten sets of a fountain pen, roller ball pen and solid gold inkwell studded with white diamonds will also be produced. www.montegrappa.com

DIAMONDS &

Barth & Sons understands that unfamiliarity is an enemy on the putting green, and that a putter that can make or break a game. This is why its Golden Putter is custom made for each owner. Precise and personal, the Golden Putter has a handmade grip and a 24-karat gold plated putterhead, on which one may have one’s name engraved. To better dazzle and distract opponents, there is also the choice to encrust the shaft with gems. www.thegoldenputter.com

MIDAS PUTTBACK TO SCHOOL

Shamballa exclusively available at Glajz, The Hour Glass ‘Malmaison’, Knightsbridge Orchard Road, Singapore

THE MAGICAL EXPRESSIONOF THE OPEN MIND AND

OPEN HEART

WINGS

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COMPACTCLASSICA CUSTOMISED PERFORMER

SOARS ABOVE ITS CLASS

by Liz Moscrop

DASSAULT FALCON 2000LX

JETGALA 25

Although the smallest of Dassault’s fleet, the long-range Falcon 2000LX is capable of city pairs such New York to Moscow and Paris to Delhi

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WINGS

Dassault Falcon jets are design classics, and its current family consists of sleek long-leg powerhouses capable of carving up the world in a few hops. The 2000LX is the smallest of the

French manufacturer’s in-production aircraft, but that does not mean it is a small plane.

With a spacious cabin height of 6 feet 2 inches and width of 7 feet 8 inches, the 2000LX allows for easy movement, a godsend on long working trips. The sense of space is enhanced by pale cream walls and overheads, as well as large windows that let in plenty of natural light. There are four standard layouts offered with a standard equipped 2000LX, with the option to customise.

Standard configurations include all the necessities of business and niceties of entertainment. Layouts include areas that multi-task for working, meeting, eating and sleeping. All Falcons come with Aircell phone, fax and Internet service, allowing

passengers to stay connected while aloft. At the front of the cabin, a full-scale galley stands ready to accommodate several sittings on long trips. There are also pullout beds if needed, offering restful sleep on overnight trips. For even more convenience, there is an easily accessible baggage compartment and dressing room.

More than 80 per cent of each new aircraft can be customised — whether it be inflight entertainment options, fabrics, the floor plan or woods used. Dassault’s own 3-D CATIA software creates a series of lifelike renderings for customers to assess the interiors until they are completely satisfied and have the best idea possible on what to expect.

New owners can get their 2000LXs equipped at Dassault’s Completion Facility in Little Rock, Arkansas. Working with the company’s expert designers, owners can select finishings from among the richest leathers and rarest woods, the finest fabrics and carpets, and the best crystal, china and silver. >>

OPPOSITE PAGE

Passengers lack neither space nor technology for business needs aboard the Falcon 2000LX

Seats onboard can be configured according to one’s preference

THIS PAGE

In-flight technology improves productivity, from making phone calls to presenting multimedia proposals

The Falcon 2000LX soars with two ever-reliable Pratt & Whitney engines

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MORE THAN 80 PER CENT OF EACH NEW AIRCRAFT CAN BE CUSTOMISED — WHETHER IT BE INFLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT OPTIONS, FABRICS, THE FLOOR PLAN OR WOODS USED

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WINGS

SPECIFICATION IMPERIAL METRIC

LENGTH (EXTERNAL) 66.4 FT 20.23 M

WINGSPAN 70.2 FT 21.38 M

HEIGHT (EXTERNAL) 23.2 FT 7.06 M

CABIN LENGTH 26.2 FT 7.98 M

CABIN WIDTH 7.8 FT 2.34 M

CABIN HEIGHT 6.2 FT 1.88 M

MAXIMUM RANGE (1)

WITH IFR RESERVES

4,110 NM at long range cruise with 8 passengers

7,610 KM

MAXIMUM (PASSENGER) SEATING 19

MAXIMUM CRUISE SPEED MACH 0.84

CERTIFIED CEILING 47,000 FT 14325.6 M

TAKE-OFF DISTANCE 5,585 FT AT MTOW 1,702 M

MAXIMUM TAKE-OFF WEIGHT 33,500 LB 19,142 KG

>> Dassault uses a system called the Product Lifecycle Management process to keep its aircraft in shape. Designers create a completely accurate virtual model, which drives the entire manufacturing process. With a full digital model of the aircraft’s specification, the airframer is able to build cabinets or install wiring, for example, that exactly fit the aircraft’s shell. Each aircraft has a unique serial number matching Dassault’s own EASy software that drives it, making it quick to pinpoint precisely where a problem is, should one arise. Another bonus is that despite the ultra-modern technology on offer at Little Rock, the workforce is highly skilled in traditional crafts.

PEDIGREEThe 2000LX has a strong pedigree. Pan Am began marketing the first Falcons in 1963 — and Dassault has been building them ever since with some of the world’s most advanced fighter jets. The company also manufactures the supersonic Mirage and Rafale, which are designed by the same engineering teams, assembled in the same factories and test flown by the same pilots as the business jet fleet. No other private jet in the world has the benefit of the talent, experience and seamless high technology transfer from military to commercial products.

The aircraft has a range of 4,000 nautical miles, which means it can fly from Hong Kong to Sydney, Muscat or Tehran. It also has the abilities to fly slowly at low altitudes and fast at high, which are hallmarks of the Falcon family. For owners, this translates into getting in and out of smaller airfields more easily.

The Falcon 2000LX received EASA and FAA certification in April 2009. The 4,000 nm range 2000LX offers the same spacious, quiet interior as its predecessor, the Falcon 2000EX, and the capability to serve more extensive city pairs. It offers a 10 to 15 per cent improvement in climb speed in comparison to the Falcon 2000EX, and allows the aircraft to reach 41,000 feet in just 18 minutes.

Last year, the 2000LX was certified to land at London City Airport’s

demanding short runway. To help achieve this, Dassault developed a unique autobrake feature for the Falcon 2000EX and 2000LX which reduces landing distances by as much as 300 feet on steep approaches, which are required for the airport. The steep approach procedures require landing at a 5.5-degree angle as opposed to the standard 3.0 degrees.

John Rosanvallon, President and CEO of Dassault Falcon said, “Flying into London City is not only a challenge for aircraft performance; aircraft are also required to be good neighbours and must abide by strict noise procedures. Meeting these requirements is not an easy task but the convenience of flying into the heart of downtown London is highly valuable for business jet operators.”

EASY DOES IT The Falcon 2000 family

benefits from the intuitive

EASy flight-deck technology

developed for all Falcon aircraft.

It is designed to simplify flight

management tasks, improve

crew coordination and provide

unsurpassed situational

awareness at all times. Based

on the Honeywell Primus

EPIC platform, EASy displays

information on four 14.1-inch,

flat-panel LCD screens arranged

in a T-shape. Input errors are

reduced by limiting the time

spent punching numbers into a

flight management system and

having a common workspace

that allows the crew to work

better as a team. EASy is the

result of extensive input from

pilots, aviation authorities and

safety experts.

JETGALA 29

NO OTHER PRIVATE JET IN THE WORLD HAS THE BENEFIT OF THE TALENT, EXPERIENCE AND SEAMLESS HIGH TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER FROM MILITARY TO COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS

OPPOSITE PAGE

Important information is easily accessible to pilots, via the 2000LX’s avionics suite and its 14-inch LCD screens

The winglet design helps reduce drag for a swifter flight

THIS PAGE

One can customise materials, configuration and technology for the seats

Intuitive flight management techno-logy for all Falcon aircraft was designed in consultation with pilots, aviation authorities and safety experts

BIG BUSINESSBOEING BUSINESS JETS TURNS 15 THIS YEAR WITH 127 AIRPLANES DELIVERED OVERALL. STEPHEN TAYLOR, BBJ’S PRESIDENT, GIVES HIS PERSPECTIVE ON THE COMPANY AND THE INDUSTRY.

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WINGS

BOEING BUSINESS JETS

Q: How did the idea for the first BBJ come about?In the mid-90s, Boeing was developing the 737NG family and General Electric, through their GE Capital arm, was negotiating for a large purchase of 737s. Meanwhile, GE’s then Chairman, Jack Welch, was looking at replacing their corporate G-IV’s with either G-V’s or Globals. Mr Welch had seen other converted Boeing airplanes and he realised what a terrific value the Boeing product represented when compared with purpose-built business jets. So, he called our then Chairman, Phil Condit, and asked about developing a unique version of the 737 to compete in the market. Once we studied the market a bit, we found that by combining the 737-700 fuselage with the wing of a 737-800, auxiliary fuel tanks and high-thrust engines, we had a competitive product that offered three times the cabin space for a comparable price and operating cost.

Q: How has BBJ weathered the recent years?I think Boeing Business Jets has done a very good job of managing through a challenging market. We have had to work through a couple cancellations, but we’ve kept our backlog strong and have been able to place all of the positions that opened up with other solid business. We did a great job of predicting the emergence of the market in Asia and put extra focus on it, which has proven to be fruitful.

Q: Tell us about BBJ in Asia-Pacific. In 2010, Asia-Pacific was our strongest market. (I) expect that the region is going to continue to be a very good market for our product over the next several years. While we’ve had BBJs in the region for many years, we now have BBJs certified and available for charter in both Hong Kong and Mainland China. We expect those charter airplanes will help us introduce new clients in the region to our product, so I see even more growth opportunity in the region.

The Boeing Business Jet is one of today’s most competitive aircraft in terms of range, space, comfort and business productivity

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Q: How do you see your overall target market change in view of Airbus’ re-engine plans for the 320?We’ve always enjoyed a considerable range advantage over the ACJ when comparable interior weights are considered. The new engine option is the competition’s way to address the value advantage we have. I don’t expect…a significant impact to our business over the next couple of years.

Q: Considering the comparatively l ower price point of the Embraer Lineage 1000, what impact does it have on the BBJ, and in which markets?The Lineage 1000 serves a slightly different part of the market than the BBJ. In our experience, most customers want

true intercontinental range in this class of product — it’s a long way from Beijing to London and airplanes like the Lineage and the ACJ can’t make that mission against the typical headwinds.

Q: How and where do you see the biggest impact from the long line of new market entrants in the 100-150 passenger jet segment — the Sukhoi Superjet, Bombardier C-series, the Chinese-made Comac C919, and even the smaller Mitsubishi Regional Jet?I think it will be quite some time before any of those products are mature enough to make a significant mark in the VIP market. One of the huge advantages the BBJ enjoys is its commonality with the 737 — from training to maintenance to spare parts — all over the world. The reliability of the product and the capability of the support network make the BBJ a superior product. >>

“IN OUR EXPERIENCE, MOST CUSTOMERS WANT TRUE INTERCONTINENTAL RANGE IN THIS CLASS OF PRODUCT”

FROM TOP

The BBJ 787 is available as fully customised VIP jet with all the comforts of home or the office

BBJ President Stephen Taylor is also a widely experienced, qualified pilot

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UP CLOSE

What is one thing that surprises people about you?I’m older than I look.

How did you earn your first dollar?Delivering newspapers in

Junior High School.

What dream are you shooting for now? Adding a 757/767 Type rating

to my license, so that I will have

737,747,757/767,777 and 787.

Name someone you admire as a hero. My father, a retired Boeing pilot,

engineer and manager, who at

89 still flies his own airplane.

What is your pet peeve about flying/travel? While I appreciate the safety

mission of the TSA, it has taken

away any glamour that ever

existed in commercial travel.

What do you love most about flying?

Freedom. I fly to get away

from everything else.

Words to live by — what are yours? My first boss told me always,

“Don’t do nuthin’ dumb.” I still

strive for this every day.

What do you do for relaxation? Fix or fly old airplanes.

>> My crystal ball says that some of the (market entrants) mentioned won’t prove to be commercially viable, and only one or two of them will emerge as winners…but our product will also evolve over the coming years. I think our experience in this market will serve us well in this arena.

Q: Can you share some innovations for Boeing’s new 787 Dreamliner Business Jet you are most excited about?The 787…already has many of the features that traditional business jet manufacturers tout. For example: lower cabin altitude, larger windows and a humidification system — items that are frequently a compromise for large cabin airplanes, but will be part of the basic airframe for 787 Business Jets. As a pilot, I’m really excited about both the performance of the airplane and flight deck. It is really something special to fly and the range capability is just awesome — it’s able to connect almost any city pair non-stop and it’s fast with a normal cruise speed of Mach 0.85.

Q: What is the profile of a large luxury jet customer?When we first entered the market 15 years ago, they were all very high profile people whom you could identify pretty easily. Today, our customers are much more diverse. The product that has a well-defined

customer set is the 747-8I for our head-of-state customers. The smaller airplanes have customers ranging from royalty to wealthy individuals to multi-national conglomerates — a really broad appeal.

Q: Can you share some anecdotes from BBJ customers — like unique missions or tasks performed?Two examples come to mind. The first is the 2009 mission that one of our customers (AvJet Corporation of Burbank, CA) performed to take former President Clinton to North Korea to retrieve two journalists who were being detained. The trip illustrated the unique capability of the BBJ to transport a large team great distances very comfortably, (on) a very demanding schedule. No airplane other than the BBJ could have done that mission on the timeline they needed. The other example occurred last year. We had arranged with a customer to display their BBJ C (Convertible) at the FIDAE Airshow in Santiago, Chile. Two weeks before the Airshow, Chile was stuck by an earthquake and a tsunami. Because of the flexibility of the BBJ C, our customer was able to convert the airplane to the freighter mode overnight and we delivered 11,500 pounds of relief supplies. It felt great to be able to assist those folks in the devastated region.

Customised interiors create an ambience that lets you mix business with pleasure

Privacy in one’s workspace is captured in this BBJ interior design concept

Jet Aviation Asia Pacifi c:Enjoy the convenience of owning your aircraft while letting ussafeguard you and your investment

Owning your own aircraft and fl ying with the confi dence that you can count on a global company that understands all your aviation needs, no matter where and when you travel, provides you with peace-of-mind. 44 years experience and an unsurpassed level of talent at our operations in Singapore, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur and 24 locations worldwide – offer you our global support, whether you are an aircraft owner, operator or charter client. Satisfying all your travel needs with our uncompromising dedication to quality, safety and service is one commitment that will never change. Personalized to Perfection. www.jetaviation.com

Call Sebastian Groeger at +65 9816 229324/7 AOG +65 9030 9663

75242_220x300_Jet_Gala_AM_e.indd 1 04.02.11 16:06

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Bombardier says its Learjet 85 is “the aircraft of the future”

COMPOSITEFLIGHTBy Liz Moscrop

BOMBARDIER LEARJET 85

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LIGHTER, TALLER, FASTER AND EVER MORE LUXURIOUS

W hile the world’s eyes are on the all-composite Boeing Dreamliner 787, Canadian manufacturer Bombardier has an exciting ‘plastic plane’ of

its own in the pipeline. The airframer announced its new ‘clean sheet’ all-composite USD18.25 million Learjet 85 just over three years ago at the National Business Aviation Association Convention, with a mock-up on display at the same show one year later.

Thanks to its bright spacious interior, Bombardier expects the Learjet 85 to provide a more luxurious journey than its current midsize cabin competitors. The cabin features a double-club seating arrangement with full lie-flat seats and fold-down tables. Every element is designed to optimise productivity and comfort. As well as a large galley to the front, there is a vanity unit and lavatory aft, and three large cupboards for extra on-board storage.

The Learjet 85 aircraft’s cabin is taller, wider and larger than any

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Interiors are intended to be both spacious and sophisticated, with roomy seats that recline fully

THE LEARJET 85 WILL PROVIDE A MORE LUXURIOUS JOURNEY THAN ITS CURRENT COMPETITORS

The new Bombardier Learjet 85 will feature enhanced aerodynamics

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current Learjet. It offers a maximum height of 5 feet 11 inches, and a maximum width of 6 feet 1 inch. In addition, it provides plenty of baggage space, equally useful for ski or golf trips. Each aspect of the Learjet 85’s interior has been designed to optimise en route work or leisure. With approximately 30 inches (76.2 cm) between each seat, passengers have plenty of room to stretch their legs and relax.

Should they wish to dine during flight there is an ergonomically designed galley, which is approximately 36 inches (91.4 cm) wide. This means there is ample room for porcelain tableware and crystal glasses, as well as for drinks and ice storage. The galley can also house an optional microwave oven. Further back in the plane, the lavatory is beautifully appointed and in keeping with the design of the main cabin. For extra passenger comfort, there is a tap and basin with pressurised water supply and water tank, as well as a vanity cabinet with lighted mirror. >>

Seats with tuck-away storage

The Learjet 85 outdoes predecessors in cabin height, width and size

>> For that all-important office in the sky, the Cabin Electronic System controls at each passenger location provide the ultimate in convenience and ease. Passengers can make calls via a satellite phone on board. The in-flight entertainment system includes a DVD player, HD bulkhead monitors, XM satellite radio capabilities and wireless access points. It also enables the use of personal devices, such as iPods. Additionally, there is the option to have Internet connectivity, although by the time the aircraft enters service, this will doubtless be a necessity for work. The aircraft also comes with personalised LED lighting, which includes individual table lighting for getting down to business, or a reading light for relaxing with a favourite book.

The Learjet 85 fits between the midsize and the super midsize segments of the market. Engineers and designers are now hard at work building it in Bombardier’s newest production facility in the Queretaro Aerospace Park in Mexico and in the manufacturer’s plant in Wichita, in which it plans to invest USD600 million.

It looks like the aircraft will meet its production deadlines. Ralph Acs, Vice President, Learjet 85, Bombardier Business Aircraft, said, “The Learjet 85 aircraft programme is on track. The system design has matured and its installation and integration are on target.”

The Learjet 85 will have a high-speed cruise of Mach 0.82 and a transcontinental range of up to 3,000 nautical miles (5,556 km). This bodes

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well for the future, since Bombardier says that it is the aircraft’s speed and rate of climb that sets it apart from its competitors, along with the size of its cabin. Able to seat up to 10 passengers when a divan is installed, there is also 100 cubic feet of external baggage space and another 30 cubic feet of interior space — more than twice the space of the Learjet 45.

Bombardier has also bought a Learjet 85 full-flight simulator from training partner CAE to help refine the design of the aircraft. The Learjet 85 simulator will be housed at Bombardier’s aircraft training centre in Montreal, Canada, and used to support the twinjet’s testing and certification programme. Meanwhile customer training on the new simulator is to begin in the first quarter of 2013.

This may be a plastic plane, but there is nothing remotely gimmicky about the Learjet 85, which is all set to become a modern design classic.

Three 15-inch, high resolution LCD monitors make the advanced flight deck easy on pilots’ eyes

The plane’s avionics suite is designed to give pilots improved control and security

Passengers can control LED lights for the table, aisle and for reading

Onboard dining options expand with the aircraft’s generously-sized galley

THE LEARJET 85 AIRCRAFT'S CABIN IS TALLER, WIDER AND LARGER THAN ANY CURRENT LEARJET

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SPECIFICATION IMPERIAL METRIC

LENGTH (EXTERNAL) 68.4 FT 20.84 M

WINGSPAN 61.5 FT 18.75 M

HEIGHT (EXTERNAL) 19.6 FT 5.97 M

CABIN LENGTH 24.75 FT 7.54 M

CABIN WIDTH 6.08 FT 1.85 M

CABIN HEIGHT 5.91 FT 1.8 M

MAXIMUM RANGE (1)

WITH IFR RESERVES

3,000 NM 5,556 KM

MAXIMUM (PASSENGER) SEATING 8

MAXIMUM CRUISE SPEED MACH 0.82

CERTIFIED CEILING 49,000 FT 14,395 M

TAKE-OFF DISTANCE 4,800 FT 1,463 M

MAXIMUM TAKE-OFF WEIGHT 33,500 LBS 15.195 KG

COMPETITOR COMPARISON CHART

LEARJET 85 GULFSTREAM G150 HAWKER 900XP CESSNA SOVEREIGN

LENGTH 24.75 FT 17.67 FT 21.30 FT 25.30 FT

HEIGHT 71 IN (6) 69 IN 69 IN 68 IN

VOLUME 665 CU FT 465 CU FT 604 CU FT 556 CU FT

TOTAL BAGGAGE 130 CU FT 80 CU FT 50 CU FT 135 CU FT

The seating layout makes the cabin conducive for discussions and meetings among passengers during flight

With more space and headroom than its midsize competitors, the Learjet 85 gives a more enjoyable flight

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Wagstaff has flown more than 750 aerobatic performances since 1984Photo courtesy of Patty Wagstaff Airshows, Inc

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AWARD-WINNING AEROBATIC PURSUITS

FLY

by Ong May Anne

PATTY WAGSTAFF

GALWagstaff describes her flying as being hardcore, rock and roll unlimited aerobatics Photo by Greg Gibson

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IF ANYONE WAS BORN TO FLY, PATTY WAGSTAFF WAS. With both her father and sister making a living as commercial airline pilots, her earliest recollections are of sitting with him in the cockpit. At age 10, her passion for aviation was well and truly ignited when her dad let her take the controls of a DC-6.

No surprise then that Patty, famous for her low-level, hardcore aerobatic routines that entertain spectators at air shows every year, went on to become the first woman to garner the US National Aerobatic Champion trophy, an honour she went on to win three times.

After attending her first air show in Abbotsford, Canada, in 1983, she was hooked on the idea of performing aerobatics. “I was blown away by the excitement of the flying and the camaraderie of the air show performers — and knew that I wanted to be on the other side of the fence and not be a spectator.”

With this goal firmly in her sights, she took lessons, bought a training aerobatic airplane (a Super Decathlon) and practised every day. Soon, she was flying in air shows and competing. With grit and determination, she earned a place on the US national aerobatic team.

In this again, family played a crucial role. “I was very lucky to have a lot of (family) support because no one thought that I was crazy to want to compete in aerobatics and fly air shows,” she says. “We all need to be surrounded by people who have faith in us.”

Faith has taken her far. Her achievements in aviation have won an impressive list of awards, and seen her inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame. Her airplane, a Goodrich Extra 260, is displayed at the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum, right next to Amelia Earhart’s Lockheed Vega.

A well-rounded pilot in every sense, she earned her Commercial, Instrument, Seaplane and Commercial Helicopter Ratings; is a Flight and Instrument Instructor; and is rated and qualified to fly a diverse range of airplanes, from World War II warbirds to jets. So why her passion for aerobatics?

“AEROBATICS IS THE ULTIMATE IN FLYING”

Wagstaff’s German-built Extra 300S comes with a smoke system for added visual surprise in airshowsPhoto by Charlie Stewart

Wagstaff’s aerobatics have won the ‘Sword of Excellence’, one of the air show industry’s most prestigious awardsPhoto by Mike Shore

“Aerobatics is the ultimate in flying,” explains Wagstaff. “There is great freedom in flying an airplane like my Extra 300S. It is capable of doing almost anything that the pilot can think of, so it’s great fun. I also like that it focuses me and requires a lot of training and practice to be very good at it.”

This includes the issue of ‘G’ toler-ance, a G being a measure of the force of gravity. Wagstaff says that she pulls about 10 positive (downward directed) Gs and seven negative (upward directed) Gs in her air show routines. This is the reason aerobatic pilots need to keep themselves fit — to endure the physical stress of multiple G forces.

WIDE RANGER

She may be best known for her

aerobatic exploits, but Patty

Wagstaff keeps things interesting

by pursuing a variety of flying

jobs. She is a familiar face at

international air shows not only for

her aerobatics, but also as a demo

pilot for Raytheon Aircraft, flying

their military trainer, the T-6A/B

Texan II. She has also worked as a

stunt pilot and aerial coordinator

for the film and television industry,

and has given bush and recurrency

training to the pilots of the Kenya

Wildlife Service. In the 2011 fire

season, she will be involved in

aerial firefighting by serving as

an Air Attack Pilot with the

California Department of Forestry

and Fire Protection.

AT AGE TEN, HER PASSION FOR AVIATION WAS WELL AND TRULY IGNITED WHEN DAD LET HER TAKE THE CONTROLS OF A DC-6

This summer, Wagstaff will be fighting forest fires alongside California’s finest in fire safety

Photo courtesy of the California Department of

Forestry and Fire Protection

Wagstaff is quick to dispel the myth that aerobatic pilots are reckless daredevils. On the contrary, she believes that learning aerobatics makes a person a safer and more competent pilot. She cites the example of Captain Chesley ‘Sully’ Sullenberger, who made the headlines when he piloted an Airbus A320 to a safe ditching in the Hudson River in 2009. While he did not use aerobatics in that particular emergency, Wagstaff believes that Sully’s aerobatic training in the military probably contributed to his ability to fly the airplane by feel, giving him an advantage that other pilots might not have had.

“I admit it looks a little crazy at times when you see a professional air show pilot put their airplane through its paces,” says Wagstaff. But she emphasises that air show pilots are professionals in every sense of the word. “The ones who are not often don’t survive.”

In keeping with this, Wagstaff’s pre-flight rituals are about safety rather than superstition. Besides completing a checklist, she always visualises her routine. This can change with every flight because variable conditions such as wind direction, temperature, humidity and elevation of the airfield can affect the performance of her airplane.

This disciplined approach has served her well in air shows and competitions all over the world, including some in exotic locales like Iceland. Although she’s logged about 9,000 hours of flying time, Wagstaff is not yet ready to take a break. She declares, “I would like to fly an air show in Antarctica, so that I can be the first person to fly an air show on all seven continents!”

Wagstaff has been representing the US in Olympic-level international competitions since 1986 Photo by Mike Shore


GLOBEPLOTTERS

by Radha Menon

PHENOM 100 WORLD TRIP

AROUND THE WORLD IN A PRIVATE JET

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Flying over Kodiak, Alaska, on a round-the-world trip via private jet

THE WORLD HAS BEEN CIRCUMNAVIGATED FOR CENTURIES, by ship, balloon, motorbike, car, sail boat, and of course, by multi-stop airline ticket. But very few, if any, have done it like Jim and Betsy Frost — by flying their very own private jet.

Jim Frost is a self-described “detail oriented, computer savvy engineer who loves to fly.” His wife Betsy is a “straightforward analytical girl who likes to have a good time” and shares Jim’s passion as his “favourite co-pilot in the air and on the ground.” Inspired by their dream of returning to places they had visited, like Palau and Phuket, they decided to buy a private jet for their personal pleasure tour.

The intrepid couple took delivery of Embraer’s very first Phenom 100 on December 31, 2008. “We chose this airplane because it was a ‘clean sheet’ design that offered the performance we were looking for at a very attractive price. The Phenom was a great plane for this trip,” said Jim.

“Flying our own plane gave us a tremendous amount of flexibility…(like) being able to choose what country we visited on what day,” says Betsy. “Travelling to all the countries we did, in the two months it took, simply could not have been accomplished using traditional airlines. We would have spent one month sitting at airports.” Besides, there were no airline connections between some of the destinations the Frosts wanted to go to, like from Bali in Indonesia to Ayers Rock, Australia. >>

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Pilots Jim and Betsy Frost in the cockpit of their Phenom 100

"FLYING OUR OWN PLANE

GAVE US A TREMENDOUS

AMOUNT OF FLEXIBILITY"

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"WE HAD TO RELY UPON ONE ANOTHER THROUGH THE

GOOD AND THE BAD, AND IT HAS MADE US STRONGER"

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The sunset on Phuket island was among the Frosts’ most memorable experiences on their trip

Their journey brought them to several wonders of the world — the Taj Mahal in Agra, India, was one


Flying the 31,462 nautical mile trip in a little jet “might be difficult for a couple to do if one spouse was not a pilot, but it is great if both are, as you can share all the experiences,” said Jim.

A great deal of work and planning was required before and during the journey for this trip of a lifetime. “When flying your own airplane, there is a long list of important things that must be accomplished before every flight. Checking the weather for the route is at the top of the list. International flights require planning for permits, customs details and handling,” Jim pointed out. The Frosts borrowed a survival pack consisting of shelter items, tools, blankets, hand warmers, power bars and more. They also packed a life raft equipped with an Emergency Locator Transmitter as well as a desalination kit before setting off.

Adds Betsy, “It helped that both of us are pilots to share the workload, for planning as well as for flying. This is a trip to take with your spouse. We had to rely upon one another through the good and the bad, and it has made us stronger.”

With meticulous planning and blessings from the weather gods, the couple flew round the world with little misadventure. “The plane exceeded our expectations regarding reliability. There was a bad experience with several snake charmers in Marrakesh, and the driver in Bali whom I thought would kill us before the day was over. Interestingly enough, most of the narrow squeaks had nothing to do with flying,” recalls Betsy. >>

Few have the chance to fly over Ayers Rock, the world’s largest monolith and sacred Aboriginal site in Uluru, Australia

The Frosts made Cairo, Egypt, another destination on their trip to visit the pyramids of Giza

TRIP NOTES

The Frosts’ first round the world

trip in a Phenom 100:

Started August 29, 2010

Completed October 24, 2010

22 countries and 42 stops

within 56 days

31,462 nm covered in

98 flight hours

Average speed — 321 knots

Average leg — 749 nm

Best hotel —

the Burj Al Arab, Dubai

Best overall hotel stay —

Amanpuri, Phuket

Favourite stop —

Palau, Micronesia

Most unusual stop —

Kangaroo Island, Australia

Best Meal — Terasa U Zlate

Studne restaurant, Prague

Best Handler —

Japan, with Bali a close second

Best Surprise —

Handling in Russia & India

Best Value —

Best Western Hotel in Kodiak

“If your destination is more than one fuel stop away, always get a boxed lunch from the hotel so you have something to eat” — Jim and Betsy Frost

"MOST OF THE NARROW SQUEAKS HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH FLYING"

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>> Jim shares another precaution they took — to pack some spare parts with them as they were visiting many remote places. However, they still ran into a small mechanical situation in Australia when they had to call Embraer. The manufacturer, who was following their journey on a daily basis, was quick to track the problem to a faulty Generator Control Unit and sent a mechanic to their next stop with a replacement.

What were some of the best moments of their world trip? “Sitting on the beach at Ku De Ta in Bali at sunset was a magical experience, as was visiting the Great Pyramids and walking into the centre of one, and scuba diving in Palau,” recalls Betsy wistfully. So it comes as no surprise to hear Jim say, “While we may not go around the world again, we do plan to go back to some of our favourite places in our plane.”

The geothermal Reykjanes lava fields, a warm oasis in subpolar Iceland, was another stop

The Frosts took in the Charles Bridge, one of the most visited sites in the Czech Republic

Some of the best handling on the journey was provided in Tokyo, Japan

Know More.

800.553.8638 +1.315.797.4420 JETNET.COM

Worldwide leader in aviation market intelligence.

Above The Clouds: Aviation Business Index

Know more about aircraft ownership at your single best source: aviationbusinessindex.com

STRAITS CHARTER

DNEST AVIATION

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AFTER 12 YEARS AS A MALAYSIAN AIR FORCE PILOT, CAPT EARNEST KOILPILLAI FOUND HIMSELF FLYING PRIVATE JETS

IN MALAYSIA. TODAY, AS CEO OF DNEST AVIATION SERVICES, HE SHARES INSIGHTS ON THE INDUSTRY’S PROGRESS IN MALAYSIA.

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Dnest Aviation caters to the growing recognition in Malaysia of private planes as productive business tools

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The Dnest hangar houses Gulfstream, Dassault and Citation aircraft

Helicopters are part of Dnest Aviation’s aircraft, including the new Agusta AB139

PRIVATE AVIATION IN MALAYSIA IS CENTRED AT SUBANG AIRPORT IN SELANGOR — THREE HANGARS HERE ARE OURS

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UP CLOSE

What is one thing that surprises people about you?That I was a one-man show from

the beginning, and that I have

set up a legacy for private and

corporate aviation in Malaysia.

What dream are you shooting for now?To take private aviation in

Malaysia to the next level.

Name someone you admire as a hero.My former Prime Minister, Tun

Mahathir. He is a visionary… and

an ardent supporter of aviation.

What is your pet peeve about flying?Bad weather.

What do you love most about flying?Taking personal care of my

VIP guests.

Words to live by — what are yours?Two things: “The hand that

gives is the hand that receives.”

And, “Don’t wait for the ship to

come home, row out to meet it.”

WE HAVE AIRCRAFT THAT CAN TAKE YOU FROM SUBANG TO AN AIRPORT IN AFRICA NON-STOP, OR TO ANY PART OF CHINA OR EUROPE NON-STOP

The Dnest FBO is a one-stop centre for aircraft services

Capt Earnest Koilpillai of Dnest has a vision for private aviation in Malaysia

58 2010|2011

HANOISEPTEMBER 2011

SAIGONDECEMBER 2011

ORIENTAL EXHIBITIONS PTE LTDVIETNAM: [email protected] I Tel: +84.8 3844 1612

SINGAPORE: [email protected] I Tel: +65 6222 1415

www.salondeluxe.asia/vietnam

SIGNATURE SPACE

by Tricia Lim

DESIGN Q

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TWO DESIGNERS MOVING UP, FROM HOT CARS TO FAST JETS

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One option in a world of bespoke aircraft design possibilities by Design Q in the Airbus A380 ‘Flying Palace’

T he term “design cue” is used in automotive design to describe the special quality that gives a brand its very own signature look. British design consultancy Design Q draws

its fundamental work ethos from there. The ‘Q’ in its name, however, also pays homage to James Bond’s gadget master sidekick — the ever so cranky ‘Q’ — without whom Mr Bond would probably not have survived his many scrapes with destiny.

Founders Gary Doy and Howard Guy started Design Q in 1997, giving up plum roles as principle designers at Jaguar Cars for their adventure. Barely a year into the company’s existence, work began to come in from the aircraft industry. A four-year contract with Virgin Atlantic Airways saw the successful launch of the widely acclaimed Upper Class Seat. Shortly after, a contract arrived to redesign all classes throughout the fleet of Cathay Pacific Airways. As the company’s reputation for translating radical ideas

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into reality grew, design commissions followed for luxury interiors in aircraft and helicopters of VIPs, royalty and celebrities.

Although the certification and engineering requirements are broadly the same in most aircraft interiors, every Design Q VIP interior is specifically tailored for a client’s

A HANDPICKED TEAM OF INDUSTRY EXPERTS DELIVERS STATE-OF-THE-ART DESIGN CONCEPTS

FROM TOP

The ABJ Fusion was designed to function as a flying limousine service for corporate VIPs, celebrities, sports teams and musicians

The bespoke VIP interior of this converted Avro RJ70 features a very high quality entertainment system to be enjoyed from a curved sofa

The wide body of the Avro Explorer Four allows for spacious seating

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individual needs and tastes. To understand the full extent of what that means, Doy takes us through their design process. “All customers are different,” says he. “Some have a clear view and others prefer to see where the design process takes them. To help the customer and the design team, a ‘personality map’ is developed to visually define the customer’s style.”

According to Doy, this includes various aspects of the customer’s lifestyle, from the car they drive, to their favourite hotel and restaurant. Scenarios in which the aircraft may be used are also considered in creating the layout and mood of the interior. Another important consideration is whether the owners will be leasing the aircraft for charter or are sensitive to its resale value. If so, a timeless appeal will be integrated into its design, in keeping with industry trends.

Once the brief and overall theme for the interior have been established, photorealistic computer generated ren-derings, based on the plane’s actual >>

A peek into the private A380 that Design Q says will soon be known as the world’s most luxurious aircraft

The front lounge of the Avro Explorer One features curved sofas wrapped around a coffee table which conceals a retractable television

The ultimate in exclusivity — a private lounge inside one’s own private plane

Spacious conference rooms are an option in larger aircraft such as the Airbus A380

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>> airframe, are created of the entire interior. These images, presented with material boards of the surface finishes, give customers a strong idea of the design and how it feels. Full detailed documents of clients’ expectations are sent to the refurbishment centres, and updated during the engineering and realisation steps. This helps to ensure “no surprises at the end of the pro-gramme,” according to Doy.

HIGH LUXURY

Other VIP jet projects by Design Q

Avro RJ70In collaboration with BAE

Systems and Inflite Engineering

Services, this modern revamp

of the Avro RJ70 features a

mood-lit cabin with double club

4 executive seating, dining and

divan area, and a separate 12-seat

business class seating cabin.

The Avro Business Jet Explorer One and Explorer FourThe first two of five commissions

by BAE Systems for the Avro

Business Jet, these bold and

innovative concepts deliver a

range of exceptional interiors

for different VIP aircraft market

segments.

Airbus A380 — The Flying PalaceTeaming up with German

engineering specialist Case4de,

Design Q submitted an interior

proposal for the A380 owned

by Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal

bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud. The

design features for aircraft with

more than 557 sqm floor space

include a grand entrance hall with

floating spiral staircase, a private

elevator, two main decks, a

‘Flying Carpet’ room that projects

a bird’s-eye view of the ground

below onto the floor within, and

the very latest in communication

technology.

THE COMPANY'S REPUTATION FOR TRANSLATING RADICAL IDEAS INTO REALITY GREW

out that sometimes the biggest hurdle in the exploration of new ideas is the client. “There is a fear factor, a fear of losing customers, a fear of not getting new ones and a fear of departing from methods and styles that have been around and consistent for some time.” While understandable, this resistance prevents new development and progressively erodes customer interest, which can harm the brand in the long run.

Bombardier surprised them. Guy says, “I was impressed with Bombardier Learjet’s courage to select a more contemporary design for the 85, and for building the interior exactly as it was conceived. It was also a welcome surprise to see it launched in contemporary European colours. This vision has generated a great deal of interest from prospective customers and secured a considerable number of (orders). Customers commit to an ever-increasing waiting list, due to demand. This is the reward for good design — but it needed courage and confidence.”

Recently, at the 2010 NBAA show in Atlanta, Georgia, Design Q launched their third of five concept planes commissioned by BAE Systems. The ABJ Fusion Jet seats up to 19 in mood-lit cabins separated by three distinct lounge areas with entertainment systems that encourage socialising. “This is aimed at the charter aircraft market: product launches, sports teams, musicians, celebrities, exclusive travel market and corporate VIP,” says BAE Systems spokesman David Dorman. “It is akin to a flying limousine service that guests enjoy from the time they board through to arriving at their destination, and then fly back after the event.”

Fourteen years since the company started, it has now come full circle. According to Guy, leading automotive companies they work with have grown more appreciative of aircraft interiors and “would like the influence of leading jet interiors and flight decks to enhance their top luxury automobiles”. Just as well for them and their clients, Design Q is here to help.

The aviation industry has been moving towards more innovative use of space in the creation of contemporary interiors, and the use of higher quality finishes. Doy equates this to the influx of “younger and more design aware” customers who are looking for the same values in their executive aircraft as in their luxury homes, cars and yachts. “Some VIP manufacturers who have recognised the trends are now responding with new contemporary interior concepts to pull the new customers over to their product.”

One such manufacturer is Bombardier, who commissioned Design Q to design the Global Flight Deck. Its successful customer launch led to another commission, this time to design the full interior of the Learjet 85 aircraft. In this, Guy points

text to come

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The rear lounge of the Avro Explorer One can extend out to become a viewing deck

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RECORDROTATIONTHE DAWN OF THE SUPER-FAST LUXURY HELICOPTER

VIP HELICOPTERS

by Allen Roche

The Eurocopter X3, a hybrid high-speed helicopter, can fly at heights of 3,810 metres and is capable of 60 degree turns

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In the world of private aviation, the helicopter has always been the smaller, noisier and less luxurious alternative to the private jet. But in spite of lesser comfort and a slower cruise

speed of about 260 km/h, its ability to land and take-off vertically in tight spaces has made top corporate executives recognise the helicopter as an essential complement to private jets.

That perception of helicopters is set to change. Two of the world’s best-known helicopter manufacturers, Sikorsky and Eurocopter, are en route to producing helicopters with edge enough to compete with commuter and private jet services.

Sikorsky’s X2 prototype, developed as a light tactical helicopter, has a two-seat airframe fitted with a pair of four-bladed helicopter rotors mounted one above the other. These turn in opposite directions, resulting in a quieter ride. At its tail, the highly unconventional six-blade rotor faces backward like a boat propeller to provide thrust and improves acceleration. This revolutionary configuration minimises vibrations, enhances low-speed handling, improves hovering efficiency and enables simple transition to high speed — all characteristics successfully demonstrated during test flights.

In September 2010, the X2 hit a speed of 460 km/h in level flight, marking an unofficial speed record for a helicopter and a victory in Sikorsky’s goal to make the world’s fastest helicopter. “Our primary key performance parameter has been met,” said Jim Kagdis, Program Manager for Sikorsky Advanced Programs. Until then, the world’s fastest helicopter has been the British Westland Lynx ZB-500, which set a record of 400.8 km/h in 1986.

Barely two weeks after the X2’s record, Eurocopter revealed its X3, a demonstration hybrid high-speed helicopter. Tests have confirmed the X3’s excellent vertical takeoff and landing capabilities, as well as stability and ease of handling. It is expected to prove a cruise speed of 410 km/h when tests resume in March 2011. “We do not aim at breaking the speed record but to offer to our customers cost efficiency at high speed,” says Jean-Michel Billig, Executive Vice-President of R&D at Eurocopter.

The X3 sports a generous airframe that allows for a much larger cabin for cargo or several passengers. Two Rolls-Royce engines drive a five-blade rotor system, complemented by two five-blade propellers set on short-span fixed wings to reduce the drag of the rotors. The result is an unusual but stylish helicopter with jet-like features.

These advances in rotor technology, noise reduction, safety through state-of-the-art guidance systems, and business and communication tools are slated to come with VIP standards in cabin comfort and executive style.

For high-powered executives who demand optimised travel time, flying to the doorstep of a business meeting without having to wait for taxi and takeoff times is a tempting proposition. While the promise of the X2 and X3 prototypes will take some years to translate into commercially viable aircraft options, what is certain is that the face and pace of helicopters in private aviation has been marked for change.

The X2 demonstrator set an unofficial helicopter speed record by flying at 463 km/h in September 2010

INSIDE SPEED

A peek at what makes the

Sikorsky X2 an airspeed

record-breaking helicopter

Vibration Reduction SystemDetects vibrations and counters

them with a force that moves in

the opposite direction. Lessening

vibrations gives a sturdier,

speedier flight.

Fly-by-Wire ControlIntegrated fly-by-wire computer-

aided electronics enhance

pilot control of the helicopter.

Faster, easier and safer flight

becomes possible by eliminating

heavy mechanical and hydraulic

connections that would otherwise

aid control of the helicopter.

Pusher PropellerSikorsky’s radical high-speed

pusher prop gives the X2 more

thrust and acceleration than

conventional helicopter tail

propellers, boosting its speed.

Sikorsky’s X2 prototypes are committed to advancing military rotary wing technology and operations

HELICOPTERS WITH EDGE ENOUGH TO COMPETE WITH COMMUTER AND PRIVATE JET SERVICES

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FLYING BOATS, FADING LEGENDS OF HUMAN FLIGHT

by Steve Slater

THE CATALINA FLYING BOAT

WINGS ON WATER

WINGS

A Catalina on a memorial flight in honour of Royal Australian Air Force squadrons that served in World War II

Photo by LAC Leigh Cameron, Australian Department of Defence © Commonwealth of Australia

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Wartime Catalina crews often spoke of placing their faith in the Holy Trilogy: “God, Pratt and Whitney”

Mention flying boats, and an era of bygone travel romance is evoked. Born of the grand art-deco era of the 1930s, these ‘boats’ were the mainstay of long

distance aerial transport before faster land-based aircraft. The creation of long runways during the Second World War marked their swansong.

One flying boat, however, was destined for longer-lasting success. More than 2,000 examples of the Consolidated PBY, better known as the Catalina, were built and around 20 are still flying after more than seven decades of unmatched civil and military service on every continent.

The original PBY patrol boats, designated ‘PBY’ by the US Navy,

entered service in 1936 and set records by flying from their base in San Diego to as far as Cuba and Hawaii. To achieve this level of performance, the PBY pioneered innovations which are still in use on current aircraft.

The 31.7-metre span wing, mounted on a central pylon above the fuselage, was one of the first examples of a ‘wet wing’ structure. Instead of using individual tanks to carry fuel, the whole wing structure is sealed to take fuel. This allows about 5,500 litres to be carried, sufficient to keep the aircraft in the air for up to 36 hours at a time.

The PBY is powered by two Pratt and Whitney R-1830 Twin Wasp radial piston engines, whose reliability became legend. Wartime Catalina crews often spoke of placing their faith in the Holy Trilogy: “God, Pratt and Whitney”. >>

Jesse Rhodes Waller, a World War II Aviation Ordnanceman, on his way to install a M1919 Browning machine gun in a US Navy PBY plane in August 1942

Photo by Howard R Hollem for the United States

Office of War Information

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While the earlier examples were pure flying boats with no ability to operate on dry land other than to be beached for maintenance, in 1939, the PBY-5A model combined a tricycle undercarriage with a floating hull to create an amphibian capable of operating from land and sea. It was this model which predominated through the dark years of the Second World War.

Even before Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbour, the British, Canadian and Australian air forces had taken delivery of PBYs, naming them ‘Catalina’ after the island off the California coast. The name was subsequently adopted in America.

The aircraft’s parasol wing and large waist blisters gave superb visibility. This, combined with the PBY’s long range and endurance, made it well suited for maritime patrols in search of German U-boats whose attacks were decimating shipping convoys crossing the Atlantic.

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Catalinas destroyed 40 U-boats, but they suffered many losses to their own. Pilots pressing home their attacks in the face of heavy defensive fire won two Victoria Crosses. An RAF Catalina also located the German battleship Bismarck on May 26, 1941, foiling her attempts to evade Royal Navy forces. In June 1942, Catalinas spotted the Japanese fleet approaching Midway Island, marking the beginning of the Battle of Midway.

In the Pacific, several squadrons of Catalinas were modified to operate as night raiders. Painted matt black to aid their stealth, the ‘Black Cats’ attacked Japanese supply convoys at night, sinking 112,700 tons of shipping and damaging 10 Japanese warships.

The Royal Australian Air Force also operated Catalinas as night raiders, mounting operations deep into Japanese-held territory. To make up for a shortage of bombs, the crews became notorious for dropping empty beer bottles with razor blades inserted into the necks. The high-

pitched screams made as they fell kept Japanese soldiers scrambling for cover.

There was similar heroism from the crews of Search and Rescue Catalinas, often picking up sailors or downed aircrew in the face of enemy fire. In August 1945, a single PBY, designed to carry a crew of six, rescued 56 sailors from the USS Indianapolis after the ship was torpedoed.

Before the war ended, commercial air travel had begun to use Catalinas as well. In terms of time aloft, the weekly Qantas flights flown between 1943 and 1945 from Perth to Colombo in Sri Lanka made aviation history. Dubbed ‘flight of the double sunrise’, its passengers saw two sunrises during their non-stop 5,652 km journey, which took between 28 and 32 hours. >>

British, Canadian and Australian air forces named the PBYs ‘Catalina’ after the island off the California coast

TWICE THE FUN

“To handle a flying boat, one

needs to combine flying skills

with the marine knowledge of a

ship’s master,” says Keith Sissons,

one of the last licensed flying

boat captains, and with over 40

years experience flying Catalinas.

For example, once both

engines starts and the craft

moves, it needs to taxi in circles

as they warm up. In calm

conditions, the wake created

can help takeoff by breaking the

suction under the boat’s hull,

speeding acceleration.

“Every Catalina flight is

different,” says Sissons with a

twinkle in his eye. “Nothing beats

messing about in boats”.

RNZAF 6 Squadron takes off from a seaplane base in Segond Channel in October 1943

Photo courtesy of the Jenny Scott Collection www.Flickr.com/photos/Adelaide_Archivist

OPPOSITE PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT

The UK Royal Air Force (RAF) 205 Squadron used Catalinas to patrol the Far East during World War II

Photo courtesy of RAF © UK MOD Crown

Copyright 2010

Beaching crew bring a RNZAF Catalina onto land at Halavo Bay, Solomon Islands, 1944-45

Photo courtesy of the Jenny Scott Collection

www.Flickr.com/photos/Adelaide_Archivist

A US Navy Consolidated PBY Catalina at the Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Texas (USA), in August 1942

Photo by Howard R Hollem for the United States

Office of War Information

This Catalina, bought and restored by the Catalina Club of New Zealand, is now the only air-worthy PBY-5A in Australasia

Photo courtesy of the Catalina Club of NZ

The Royal New Zealand Air Force 6 Squadron’s Catalina at Halavo Bay, Solomon Islands

Photo courtesy of the Jenny Scott Collection

www.Flickr.com/photos/Adelaide_Archivist

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“Every Catalina flight is different, nothing beats messing about in boats”

During the 1940s and early 1950s, as military examples were disposed of, many airlines added Catalinas to their fleets. They were among the first aircraft used by Garuda, Indonesia’s national airline, as well as Cathay Pacific, whose Catalinas plied between Hong Kong and Macau.

Other Catalinas were used for aerial surveys or converted into private flying yachts. Most surviving aircraft today, however, are carefully restored museum pieces. A few continue to work as flying fire fighters.

The Catalina pioneered fighting isolated forest fires by skimming a lake’s surface to scoop 4000 kg of water into a tank, to be dumped on the fire. It is an amazing testament to these veteran craft that as many as 120 of these touch-and-go landings a day can still be handled by their venerable structures. Long may they continue.

‘Guardian of the sea, guardian of the sky’ was the motto of the UK Royal Air Force (RAF) 240 Squadron, which operated this Catalina

Photo courtesy of RAF © UK MOD Crown Copyright 2010

This RNZAF 5 Squadron Catalina was withdrawn from service in 1953

Cruise: 360 ktas (667 km/h)

Range with 800 lb payload: 1200 nm (1,381 km)

Operating ceiling: 35,000 ft (10,668 m)

Single Williams Turbofan FJ44-3AP engine

Garmin G3000 Avionics Suite

Optional 7th seat, lavatory or entertainment cabinet

It has always been in a class of one: the only single-engine business jet with a combined speed,

range and payload that outperforms the twin-engine jets in its category. Now the industry leading

PiperJet has made another leap forward. With a newly evolved fuselage the PiperJet has additional

height and width in the cabin which now rivals, and in many cases surpasses, the interiors of the

largest twin-engine VLJs. Best of all, the PiperJet still costs an average of 25% less to operate

per hour than comparable current production VLJ aircraft.* Introducing the PiperJet Altaire, where

effi ciency meets performance.

Contact your Piper dealer, or visit piper.com/piperjet.

+1.772.299.2403

piper.com

EFFICIENCY, MEET PERFORMANCE.

© 2011 PIPER AIRCRAFT, INC. PiperJet Altaire is a trademark of Piper Aircraft, Inc. in the U.S. and other countries.

*Source: 2010 Aircraft Cost Evaluator by Conklin and De Decker.

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CAPTAIN SPEAKING...by Charlie Streeter

WHY DO WE STILL NEED PILOTS ANYWAY?

When imagining the aircraft of the future, one of the older aviation jokes comes to mind. It goes like this: “In the ideal cockpit there would be two animals, a pilot and a dog. The pilot will be there to feed

the dog, and the dog will be there to bite the pilot if he tries to touch anything.”

There is some truth behind the humour. Today’s jet pilot is trained to let aircraft automation fly the plane — to sit back and watch the big picture of the flight unfold, and resist the temptation to do all the flying himself. This prevents the hazard of micro-managing his way to distraction and developing tunnel vision, often the first link in what safety experts call the “error chain”.

In this regard, most would agree that cockpit automation is an airplane’s best safety feature. In fact, in order to pack more airplanes into our congested skies, today’s airspace systems mandate that pilots use the autopilot. This is because planes are allowed to fly closer to each other only if they can navigate more precisely. In this case, the computer does a better job of flying than the pilot.

Yet the idea of a computer controlling an aircraft always seems to disappoint people. It busts the romantic myth of the fearless aviator shoving the throttles forward, grasping the yoke and hurtling his flying machine into the skies, cheating fate with a cocktail of skill, luck and the occasional tap on an instrument window while pleading, “Come on, baby!”

That gets people wondering: “Don’t you get bored just sitting there watching the autopilot fly the plane?” Well, the secret is that boredom is usually a good thing — it means that everything is going according to plan.

There is another secret though — nothing ever goes according to plan.

It’s usually small stuff that happens during flight, perhaps a low-priority malfunction, but the autopilot and flight computer provide relief in the modern cockpit, freeing the pilot to fully focus on troubleshooting the problem at hand. Otherwise, even our mythical fearless aviator could get distracted and turn a simple issue into a big accident.

But what happens in a scenario unanticipated by aerospace engineers? A software glitch in a flight computer could have tragic consequences because a computer is only as smart as the information it gets. It’s the ‘garbage in, garbage out’ theory — and reason enough for us pilots to take a cautious view of computers.

Proof of that was recently witnessed in Singapore when an Airbus 380 experienced an uncontained engine failure. Early reports showed that almost all major aircraft systems were damaged. Fortunately, there was a crew of several senior captains on board who quickly realised that the emergency checklist did not have an answer for their situation.

One of the procedures even (incorrectly) instructed the pilots to transfer fuel into the leaking tank. Only the sheer awareness, experience, inventiveness and improvisational skills of the pilots got the airplane back on the ground safely, stopping with just 150 metres of remaining runway. It was a feat no computer could have accomplished.

There have been a few times, during a long flight when, slipping across the night sky staring down at the vastness of the Pacific Ocean and listening to the co-pilot’s stories I’ve heard 50 times before, I drift off and wonder about that flying dog in the joke. However, each time I think the dog might be a better conversationalist, I consider the potential for human resourcefulness, and decide I still prefer to have my dog at home. Not in my cockpit.

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“THERE IS ANOTHER SECRET THOUGH — NOTHING EVER GOES ACCORDING TO PLAN”

THE CAPITAL OF SOUTH KOREA ENJOYS A NEW DECADE OF AFFLUENCE

by Carol Lee

PRESIDENTIAL SUITES

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SUITESEOUL

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The Seoul National Capital Area is the world’s second largest metropolitan area

Photo courtesy of Korea Tourism Organisation

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SOUTH KOREA, A HARD WORKING ECONOMIC POWERHOUSE TO BE RECKONED WITH. GROWING INTERNATIONAL STATUS, HIGHLY EDUCATED PEOPLE AND EFFICIENT, FORWARD THINKING MANUFACTURING ENTITIES. THAT KOREA IS NOW ALSO ENJOYING A RENAISSANCE OF STYLE AND GLAMOUR, REFLECTED IN THE GROWING APPRECIATION OF KOREAN POP CULTURE AROUND THE WORLD.

One of the largest cities in the world, Seoul lies at the heart of the country. This modern capital, often dubbed as the ‘miracle on the Han’, has over 10 million inhabitants in unabashed competition with North Asian neighbours, Tokyo and Shanghai.

There is an unstoppable energy in this city, which thankfully also has many top-notch places to accommodate those with demanding business schedules — and corresponding tastes. The best suites in the city often offer a distinctive blend of East and West. Visitors can pick from traditional Korean accommodation or contemporary residences. Some rooms offer views of the surrounding mountains and river, a soothing respite from the city’s hustle and bustle. Whatever your choice, Seoul offers a unique Asian flavour that must be savoured to be truly appreciated.

WOW TIME

You know you are in for a different

experience with a suite called

Extreme Wow. This stylish residence

at the W Seoul – Walkerhill gives

you all creature comforts and

more. Located on the 13th floor, it is

shamelessly filled with indulgences.

Enter the 237 sqm suite and you

are ‘wowed’ by a view of the Acha

Mountain and Han River. A dash

of whimsy shows in the 10-person

dining room with an LED-illuminated

floor that changes from red to green

to blue. And if one 50-inch plasma

TV is good, then three is better.

There is also a well-stocked wine

cellar and a four-person Jacuzzi.

The W signature bed and its 400

thread count sheets help you get

a good night’s sleep. The hotel is

15 minutes away from Seoul’s city

centre but that is little to complain

about when you get to luxuriate in

fresh mountain air and all that luxury.

The 1,200-year-old Bongeunsa Temple amid high-rises is symbolic of Seoul — modern, but with a heart for its heritage

Photo courtesy of Korea Tourism Organisation

The Extreme Wow suite bedroom at W Seoul - Walkerhill


SEOUL OFFERS A UNIQUE ASIAN FLAVOUR THAT MUST BE SAVOURED TO BE TRULY APPRECIATED

Newly renovated and located in the heart of downtown Seoul, The Plaza reopened just last year as a luxury boutique business hotel boasting convenience and style for the high-end business traveller. Its finest room is the Royal Suite, classically European in design, with warm colours and Asian motifs. The living room is gracefully furnished and fitted with luxury conveniences. Business is made easy with a study equipped with high speed internet and Wi-Fi. A 12-person dining room is more than adequate for entertaining business partners and guests. However, it is not all work at the Royal Suite. Sweet dreams come easily when you go to bed in the master bedroom under a fine goose down duvet, after washing off the stresses of the day in the bathroom’s oversized tub, pampered by Hermès bath amenities. >>

The Royal Suite living room at The Plaza

The Plaza’s Royal Suite dining room works well for business or pleasure

For business privacy, the Royal Suite at Lotte Hotel Seoul appears to have an edge. It is possibly the reason why it has been the choice of numerous celebrities, VIPs and top diplomats over the years. An exclusive elevator carries you and your entourage to the suite in the new wing of the hotel. You step out into a huge 460 sqm suite, decorated in earthy beiges and browns. State-of-the-art facilities installed include a security system and conference room with projector. A bedroom for your secretary, a personal dry sauna, fitness equipment and personal butler service complete the experience. Only phone reservations are accepted for the Royal Suite.

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THE BEST SUITES IN THE CITY OFTEN OFFER A

DISTINCTIVE BLEND OF EAST AND WEST

>> Sited conveniently opposite the COEX Convention and Exhibition Center, the Park Hyatt is a modern 24-storey building. Check-in for its Presidential Suite happens in the lobby on the 24th level. Floor-to-ceiling views of the city help you relax in the suite’s 160 sqm of luxury. There are living, dining, dressing and work areas, as well as a fireplace, pantry and bar. Guests are further spoilt by a 50-inch flat screen TV, high speed Internet, Bang & Olufsen stereo, 24-hour concierge services, and a bedroom with a king-size bed. In the bathroom, an oversized granite bath features a rain shower, spa tub, stone massage table and a yukata robe and slippers.

Park Hyatt’s plush yet contemporary Presidential Suite living room

The Royal Suite living room at the Lotte Hotel Seoul


CONTACTS

Park Hyatt Seoul995-14 Daechi 3-dong Gangna -gu

Seoul 135-502

T: +82 2 2016 1234

F: +82 2 2016 1200

E: [email protected]

W: seoul.park.hyatt.com

Lotte Hotel Seoul 1 Sogong-Dong, Jung-Gu

Seoul 100-721

T: +82 2 759 7311

F: +82 2 773 4910

www.lottehotelseoul.com

The Plaza23 Taepyeongno 2-ga, Jung-Gu

Seoul 100-864

T: +82 2 771 2200

F: +82 2 755 8897


www.hoteltheplaza.com

The Shilla Seoul202 Jangchung-dong 2-ga, Jung-gu

Seoul 100-856

T: +82 2 2233 3131

F: +82 2 2233 5073


www.shilla.net

W Seoul – Walkerhill175 Achaseong-Gil

Gwangjin-Gu

Seoul 143-708

T: +82 2 465 2222

F: +82 2 450 4989


www.wseoul.com

The Westin Chosun Seoul87 Sogong-Dong, Jung-gu

Seoul 100-070

T: +82 2 771 0500

F: +82 2 752 1443


www.echosunhotel.com

The living room of the Presidential Suite at The Shilla Seoul

The term ‘fit for a king’ certainly applies after reading the guest list of the Presidential Suite at The Shilla Seoul. Several former US and Russian presidents, UK’s Princess Anne and Spain’s King Juan Carlos have stayed here. Guests are welcomed by a reception area featuring a 3-metre high ceiling, Austrian crystal chandelier, sculptures and art pieces. Warm earth tones accented with gold motifs put guests at ease, aided with fine facilities and a 24-hour butler service. The suite is equipped with a living room, office, private sauna and bathroom with Jacuzzi. A small banquet can be prepared in the kitchen if you choose to entertain and relax in the dining room.

The Presidential Suite at The Westin Chosun Seoul earned its name quite literally, being once home to former Korean President Syngman Rhee. The suite is now a spacious haven for travelling high-powered individuals. Located conveniently in downtown Seoul, the 310 sqm suite is designed like a luxury Manhattan penthouse, with high ceilings and modern décor for an opulent ambience. Guests have a full kitchen with designer appliances at their disposal, a bedroom with the Westin’s signature Heavenly Bed, and a living room. A networked ‘Strategic Meeting Centre’ makes communicating and doing business easy.

The Presidential Suite living room at the Westin Chosun Seoul

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r e g a lr e s o r t

by Ong May Ann

ST REGIS LHASA

THE ROOF OF THE WORLD WELCOMES A LUXURIOUS NEW HAVEN

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Rising from the site of a former royal palace, the majestic Potala Palace and its rugged location epitomises Tibet

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D azzling sunshine throughout the year, sweeping panoramas and an enduring ancient culture. If this is your idea of paradise, Lhasa could well be nirvana. The political and cultural centre of Tibet, it is perched over spectacular mountainous

terrain and boasts equally majestic man-made attractions.Rising 3,650 metres above sea level, this storied city

is often referred to as the ‘Roof of the World’ for good reason. The locals, on the other hand, call it “Abode of the Gods”, a reference to its altitude and spiritual significance. The UNESCO World Heritage sites of Potala Palace, Norbulingka and Jokhang Temple are all here.

Potala Palace was the principal residence of Tibet’s spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, until 1959 when the 14th (and current) Dalai Lama moved to India in self-imposed exile. This intriguing building, the labour of 8,000 workers, is now a museum housing stunning relics as well as the remains of previous Dalai Lamas.

Nearby Norbulinka — literally meaning ‘The Jewelled Park’ — was the traditional summer residence of the Dalai Lama. The spiritual crown jewel of Tibet, however, is Jokhang Temple. Pilgrims trek here daily to rub their foreheads against sacred images in an act of devotion, while tourists soak in the reverent ambiance capable of softening the most hardened cynic.

A short drive away, the mountains give way to the seemingly endless expanse of one of China’s most scenic lakes, the aptly named Heavenly Lake Namtso.

These wonders used to be but a distant dream for travellers unwilling to rough it out in relatively spartan conditions. That is, until the St Regis Lhasa Resort opened its doors in November 2010.

As the first luxury property in Tibet, the St Regis Lhasa Resort has made even the most jaded travellers sit up and take notice. No effort has been spared in creating all the amenities and atmosphere that one would expect of a top-tier hotel.

"ABODE OF THE GODS" IS A REFERENCE TO LHASA'S ALTITUDE

AND SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE

The St Regis Lhasa, Tibet’s first luxury property, makes a stunning first impression

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At the same time, the resort retains the strong flavour of its unique location, mere minutes from the city’s heritage sites. For starters, one is struck by how the awe-inspiring landscape is reflected in the architecture of the St Regis Lhasa Resort. This includes a lake as well as a roofline that mimics the backdrop of Himalayan peaks. In addition, the property design is notable for incorporating many sustainable and eco-friendly features. For example, technology that harnesses solar and geothermal energy, and an underground system that recycles water. Even the restaurants and spa at the resort use locally-sourced produce and herbs.

Internally, resort decor echoes the traditional shapes and colours that are instantly recognisable hallmarks of local culture. Warm timbers are evident, punctuated by red lacquer pillars and precious objects dotting the reception and dining areas. Although brand new and brimming with modern facilities, the building successfully conveys a sense of timeless tranquillity.

The garden, with its lake and view of Potala Palace, lures guests from their rooms

A ROOFLINE MIMICS THE BACKDROP OF HIMALAYAN PEAKS

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CLOCKWISE FROM TOP

Potala Palace is located minutes away from the St Regis Lhasa Resort

Jokhang Temple fuses architectural influences from Indian monasteries, the Chinese Tang Dynasty and Nepalese designs Photo by Wilson Loo www.flickr.com/kwloo

Two gilt-bronze golden deer flank the ‘Wheel of Doctrine’ on the roof of Jokhang temple Photo by Namealus www.flickr.com/namealus

Traditional Tibetan motifs, like the artwork on the walls, adorn each room

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Guest accommodation consists of 122 rooms, 12 suites and 28 private villas, all fitted with custom-designed furnishings. Despite the remote location, they boast creature comforts such as luxurious linens, high-speed Internet access and plasma television sets, not to mention sprawling marble bathrooms with rain showers.

The resort’s lavish Tupo Presidential Suite offers generous living spaces spread out over 254 sqm. Named after an ancient Tibetan dynasty, looking out the windows, the views of Potala Palace are a picturesque reminder of the living history that surrounds the resort. Inside, occupants can expect to be cocooned in complete privacy and luxury accented by artifacts recounting Tibet’s rich culture and heritage. The two bedrooms come with king-sized beds, while the bathroom features Bulgari amenities and a Jacuzzi. The grand living room, 15-seater dining salon and full kitchen create the perfect environment for entertaining. In-room entertainment throughout the suite comes courtesy of a Bose 5.1 home theatre system complete with five flat screen televisions, including a 52-inch screen.

Another pampering feature of the resort is the renowned St Regis butler service. At the beck and call of guests, personal butlers extend a gracious welcome, unpack suitcases, and take care of requests ranging from dinner reservations to excursions and shoe shining.

No luxury stay is complete without satisfying the palate. With this in mind, the St Regis Lhasa Resort is home to three diverse restaurants, each one specialising in a particular cuisine. Aside from familiar international favourites, traditional Cantonese and Sichuan dishes are served amidst unspoilt vistas. More adventurous diners may opt for authentic Tibetan and Nepalese food. For a romantic tete-a-tete or discreet business negotiations, guests can request private dining rooms.

An elegant wine bar and a relaxing tea room complete the gastronomic experience. Oenophiles and casual tipplers alike will appreciate Decanter by Haut-Brisson. Done in the style of an intimate private club, the bar carries an extensive range of wines, liquors and cigars, the widest selection anywhere in Tibet. In the Drawing Room, guests may imbibe local, imported and even vintage tea blends, while those with a sweet tooth can explore the assorted pastries and desserts.

The St Regis Lhasa Resort sets out to bring its guests an “exotic yet familiar” experience. It succeeds superlatively by marrying the rugged, remote beauty of Tibet with unadulterated luxury and style.

INNER PEACE

The tranquillity of Lhasa presents

visitors with the opportunity to

unwind and reconnect with their

inner selves. For this, the Iridium

spa at the St Regis Lhasa Resort

offers delightful assistance.

An indulgent serenity is

whispered throughout the entire

spa: in the glowing golden tiles

of the heated pool, the peaceful

meditation garden, and in private

treatment rooms. Therapists use

locally cultivated botanicals such

as cypress and azalea leaves to

give traditional Tibetan herbal

treatments, ensuring that guests

receive a truly distinctive and

memorable spa experience

unavailable anywhere else in

the world.

Relax in the Iridium Spa’s resplendent golden-tiled pool

The lobby’s glass walls perfectly frame the view of the garden, and Potala Palace beyond it

by Katrina Balmaceda

AT.MOSPHERE

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LIFE

MOOD, FOOD, AND A VIEW TO BEAT

PEAK OF TASTE

Enjoy the view from 122 floors up at the world’s highest restaurant the At.mosphere, at the Burj Khalifa, Dubai

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A chef’s table for 12 provides a VIP setting for the enjoyment of grilled specialties

Chef Dwayne Cheer’s 15-year culinary journey has taken him from a fish-and-chip shop to the rare circle that embraces world’s highest fine dining restaurant

IN THE RACE FOR SUPERLATIVES, Dubai seems to be getting the last laugh — again. The world’s tallest performing fountain, world’s largest floating cruise restaurant, even the longest wooden chopsticks — this city in the Middle East has grabbed the world’s attention. Now here is yet something new: At.mosphere, the world’s highest restaurant. And where else would it be located, of course, but in the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa.

Ambience is a part of any fine dining experience, as it is for At.mosphere. Even the most jaded diner would find it difficult to mock a view from 442 metres up — a front row seat to one of the world’s more dynamic cities, cradled by the Arabian Gulf. The sight is particularly recommended in the late afternoon colours of dusk, or at nightfall, as the city lights up.

Yet, the At.mosphere is not only memorable for its view, but also for its food. Executive Chef Dwayne Cheer challenges himself with the menu, to channel his creativity and culinary flair.

One tempting offer at At.mosphere is its choice of two dining options. Depending on the mood or occasion, one can relax and mingle over tapas and drinks in the lounge, or enjoy a heartier meal over at the grill. For a more intimate gathering, the lounge’s private room seats up to 35 guests. Be

it for business or for pleasure, smaller groups can also savour the barbecued goodness of Cheer’s creations at the grill’s private room with a chef’s table for 12.

For all the opulence at the At.mosphere, restraint is exercised when it comes to sourcing ingredients. The restaurant serves organic poultry and imported lamb from New Zealand, and avoids endangered species like bluefin tuna. A New Zealand native, Cheer consciously avoids using creatures from the red fish list, a tally of over-fished species compiled by environmental advocate Greenpeace NZ. But this is no restraint to being creative and experimental. One of the restaurant’s most unique dishes, says Cheer, is roasted seabass served with dolce forte sauce with pears, celeriac and baby gem lettuce. The beef is also a must-try, as it is done in a charcoal grill oven that imparts a smoky, barbecued flavour that electrical grills can’t imitate.

Many have been drawn to At.mosphere since it opened in January for the experience of dining in the highest restaurant in the world, and to feast visually on a city known for beautiful architecture. But once diners have had their fill of the novelty, will they return? Given the talk At.mosphere is generating among circles of fine diners, new heights of culinary pleasure are expected.

EVEN THE MOST JADED DINER WOULD FIND IT DIFFICULT TO

MOCK A VIEW FROM 442 METRES UP A

FRONT ROW SEAT TO ONE OF THE WORLD'S

MORE DYNAMIC CITIES, CRADLED BY THE

ARABIAN GULF

ARCTIC

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TAKING THE PLUNGE FROM THE WORLD’S HIGHEST PEAK

by Christine de Felice

EVEREST SKYDIVE

LIFE

H I M A LA Y A N H I G H

Jumping from an oxygen-thin altitude, skydiver Peter Rotelle is one of the rare few to see Everest as a drop zone


The word ‘Everest’ evokes thoughts of the conquest of the world’s highest peak by Sir Edmund Hillary in 1953. But for an elite group of extreme sport types, it now symbolises the world’s highest drop zone. It involves jumping out of a small plane over 100 metres above the icy peak, followed by a freefall past frozen slopes to land at an altitude where normal skydiving begins.

Skydiving over Everest is unlike parachuting over anywhere else in the world, according to Wendy Smith, pioneer and now chief coordinator of Everest Skydive. She points out, “Everest Skydive is a HALO skydive.” HALO is a military acronym for High Altitude-Low Opening or High Altitude-Low Oxygen, which paints well the extreme conditions for this sporting adventure.

Smith says, “That means we need a complete fitted oxygen system to survive during the jump. We take off at 12,400 feet (3,780 metres) — the normal exit altitude for a regular skydive, and exit at 29,500 feet (8,990 metres) where temperatures range from -20 to -45 degrees Celsius. Special thermal suits, gloves and goggles are required not only

to protect against the extreme cold, but also to withstand speeds of up to 400 km/h, (keep the equipment) on and functioning correctly during freefall.”

Despite complex logistic difficulties, an inaugural expe-dition and jump was first attempted in 2008 by a team of international skydivers — both amateurs and professionals. A year later, another team returned, brought together by Suman Pandey, owner of Explore Himalaya, one of Nepal’s top trekking and Everest expedition companies. The team consisted of three from the 2008 expedition (Wendy Smith, Tom Noonan and Dr Ryan Jackson) and others with extensive skydiving experience. After 22 days in Nepal, they concluded that the concept of skydiving at Everest was commercially viable. So, with the full support of the Nepalese government, military, tourism board and the nation’s people, Everest Skydive was born. >>

“EVEREST SKYDIVE IS A HALO SKYDIVE”

When the parachute opens, one slows down to enjoy a view that very few ever get to see

All photos courtesy of www.wendysmithaerial.com

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LIFE

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>> It brings an adventure of a lifetime to just 25 people a year.

For this, participants must provide their measurements on registration, so that personal flight suits and expedition jackets can be customised. Specially designed for comfort and warmth, they are the result of consultations with various skydiving specialists, and are commissioned and produced in Nepal. Everest Skydive takes pride in supporting Nepal’s economy as much as possible. They are also training Nepalese guides, skydive instructors and even pilots, all of whom have made summits in the Everest region.

The company offers two skydiving experiences. Solo jumpers with a parachuting D licence can jump and land at 5,240 metres, and jumpers with more than 200 jumps under their belt or C licence experience can land at 3,780 metres. Those who have never jumped before or lack sufficient experience can do a tandem jump with one of the company’s experienced skydivers, landing at 3,780 metres on

Syangboche, reputedly the world’s highest airstrip.In October 2010, the third Everest Skydive expedition

saw tandem jumps done by USA National Geographic photojournalist Chris Rainier, Canadian journalist Joanie Nasher, Klaus Gatcher from Switzerland and Le Mans racecar driver Nick Leventis from the UK.

Two experienced skydivers, Roger Hoe from England and Peter Rottelle from Germany, made solo jumps. Hoe, who turned 65 a few weeks after his jump, holds the record for being the oldest skydiver to jump solo from 28,000 feet (8,535 metres). Both men described their jump as the experience of a lifetime — “beautiful and unforgettable.” Rottelle, who has made 2,500 jumps since 1968, said, “We were so high up there, so close to Mount Everest, that we could see the climbers.”

The next chance to skydive over Everest is in October this year. As Smith explains, “October is the best season for stable weather in the Himalayas, and also summit season for Everest.”

“WE WERE SO HIGH UP THERE, SO CLOSE TO MOUNT EVEREST, THAT WE COULD SEE THE CLIMBERS”

Everest — majestic, foreboding and mesmerising — painted in the last rays of sunlight for the day


FLIGHT NOTES

Everest Skydive has philanthropy

as its primary focus — it supports

the local Nepalese people and

raises funds for the international

children’s charity, Global Angels.

Skydivers jump from the Swiss-

manufactured Pilatus Porter PC6,

flown by Tara Air. Participants stay

at five-star hotels in Kathmandu

and at Sherpa lodges on the

mountain during their high-altitude

trekking sojourn.

Sites visited include the

Boudhanath, the largest Buddhist

stupa in Nepal, and the 15th

century Palace of 55 windows.

www.everest-skydive.com

The whole adventure lasts for 14 days, and includes sightseeing and trekking in this breathtakingly beautiful World Heritage National Park. Three to four days are set aside to ensure getting good jump weather and for acclimatisation in the mountain environment. Participants get video recordings and photographs of their jump as a permanent record of their achievement. Truth be said, it’s unlikely any of them will ever forget the adrenalin high of falling through thin air and crippling cold to defy death over one of the most amazing wonders of our planet.

Without the required skydiving experience to solo, Canadian journalist Joanie Nasher enjoys the thrill through a tandem jump with a veteran instructor

The point of no return

Happy skydivers enjoy Kala Patthar, the 5,530-metre Himalayan summit known for its spectacular views of Everest

“WE TAKE OFF AT 12,400 FEET — THE NORMAL EXIT ALTITUDE FOR A REGULAR SKYDIVE”

by Kirsten Tan

MERCY RELIEF

Small aircraft from Susi Air helped fly in relief observers, like Singapore’s Speaker of Parliament Abdullah Tarmugi, to the Meulaboh tsunami site in Indonesia in 2004

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LIFE

DIRECT AND FAST PRIVATE JET CONNECTIONS to business and holiday destinations are a key perk of the very privileged, but for a charity organisation such as Singapore-based Mercy Relief, such access can make the difference between life and death.

Established in 2003, this independent humanitarian charity assists disadvantaged, impoverished and distressed communities in Asia regardless of country, culture or creed. It maintains a 72-hour response time to get relief to disaster-stricken communities from the point of appeal for aid by local authorities of the affected locations. Foremost is the provision of

medical relief services and basic survival needs such as food, clean water and shelter for survivors.

Governed by a board of directors comprising corporate and social leaders from diverse religious and ethnic denominations, Mercy Relief’s long-term aid programmes include development projects for impoverished communities to empower them to transform their environments for a better life. To date, the organisation has touched lives and hearts in more than 20 countries — from Indonesia in the south, to China in the north, and reaching west across South Asia through to Palestine.

HOW PRIVATE AVIATION CAN SAVE LIVES

PRIORITY ACCESS

When the Indian Ocean tsunami struck on Boxing Day in 2004, Mercy Relief’s chief executive, Hassan Ahmad, led the first response team into the devastated district of Meulaboh, Aceh, to distribute relief supplies and conduct medical reconnaissance. This would have not been possible without dedicated air support.

In most major disasters, land routes are commonly disrupted due to damaged roads and collapsed bridges, hindering access to affected areas and communities. Timely intervention is crucial to saving the injured, stabilising the ground situation and mitigating the risk of epidemics. Fixed and rotary wing aircraft make it possible for humanitarian aid workers to reach and attend to affected communities.

“Just like someone suffering from cardiac arrest, how early the intervention is determines the effectiveness of relief efforts. Some of the crisis areas are mountainous. Roads get cracked in earthquakes, so even heavy vehicles cannot pass. Thus, rotary wings are very useful, and airdrops are really important for supply distribution,” says Ahmad.

Access to these areas also enable aid workers to convey valuable information on the situation on the ground to other incoming humanitarian players, allowing them to equip themselves appropriately and circumvent mismatch of resources and wastage.

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Aid in the form of food, medicine and winterwear bound for Yushu, China after the 2010 earthquake

Mercy Relief’s goodwill ambassador Stefanie Sun, a popular Singaporean singer, distributed play packs to children affected by the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake in China

"TELL THEM NOT TO WAIT FOR DISASTERS TO HAPPEN TO STEP FORWARD WITH AID"

TIMELY INTERVENTION IS CRUCIAL Small private jet aircraft are equally

important. Ahmad recalls, “Susi Air provided us access to Meulaboh and some of the islands during the tsunami. They can even help transport personnel because they have the flexibility that scheduled flights with legacy carriers don’t have. Smaller aircraft can be more helpful as earthquakes can crack a runway, and they need less runway length to land.”

Another area where more support is crucial is in logistic services. “Ground transfers of relief supplies can be expensive and we would love to receive help in this area,” says Ahmed. “Logistic companies can have large vehicles which are very useful.”

Ideally, Mercy Relief aims to have

standing agreements with airline companies willing to make available smaller aircraft to ferry relief personnel for the crucial first penetration into affected zones. Another would be with airlines willing to make cargo space and seats available to ferry supplies and relief workers close to crisis zones, as SilkAir did by flying supplies to Yangon every day during the Cyclone Nargis relief effort.

According to Ahmed, “About 70 per cent of the disasters which happen, happen in Asia, exacerbated by the poor infrastructure in impoverished communities. My message to your readers would be to tell them not to wait for disasters to happen to step forward with aid.”

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OFCONFLUENCESPHERES

Photography by Mike Ruiz

Styling by Paris Libby

Text by Tricia Lim

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BARE AND ARID, THE LUNAR LANDSCAPE of California’s Mojave Desert spiked the imagination of photographer Mike Ruiz and stylist Paris Libby for this futuristic spread. Both have an abstract sense of creativity and work closely pursuing original concepts and expressions, in the process finding innovative ideas to overcome limits that would baffle others.

The biggest challenge of this particular shoot was to create the right movement with the model to cast interesting reflections on the metallic spheres. Sheer luck brought a windy day for the shoot, giving the visual impact they sought to create.

Comfortable both in front and behind the camera, Ruiz began his career as a model. After a decade in the industry, he turned to photography after finding a camera under the tree one Christmas. Since then, the self-taught photographer has taken on roles such as TV personality, actor and even director.

Ruiz maintains his boyish charm and sense of humour throughout his busy schedule, and is known to stash, not trash, unflattering pictures taken of his celebrity clients, such as Katy Perry, Jennifer Lopez and Justin Timberlake. www.mikeruiz.com

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SKY CANDY

Photography by Paul de Berjeois

Text by Katrina Balmaceda

Text by Katrina Balmaceda a

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THE BALLOON WAS MAN’S FIRST SUCCESS AT FLIGHT, and the Red Rock Balloon Rally celebrates that in the city of Gallup, New Mexico, USA, every first weekend in December. Locals and tourists come to watch 200 balloons ascend from Red Rock Park, where rich red sandstone formations cast a striking backdrop.

Photographer Paul de Berjeois took his first hot air balloon photographs in 2004, when he joined the Colorado Balloon Classic photo competition, and got hooked on it. He won that year, and the next two years. Today, he is that event’s official photographer, as well as for Red Rock Balloon Rally.

To get the shots he wants, he is up at dawn when the first balloons rise, glowing against a dark sky. During the day, he shoots from a hot air balloon, photographing the changing visual tapestry created as they weave through red canyons. He’s back on the ground in the afternoon sharing his passion in photography workshops for the festival’s visitors. At night, when the balloons are inflated but on the ground, he captures people’s reactions to the heat and roar at the balloon stands, which blow air into the balloons “like small hurricanes”.

De Berjeois also shoots lightning and landscapes. His nature photography appears in government and tourism promotional materials and websites.

More at www.colorbandit.com

Balloons inflating in the night, colouring the Mexican desert landscape with their warm glow

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It may be a small town festival, but it is the second largest balloon rally in the world

Balloons weave in and out of canyons, among smooth bluffs and jagged rocks

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The rally is also a celebration of Native American beauty, with Apache dances and Indian art displays as part of the event

The Red Rock Balloon Rally has been going on for 30 years

"THERE'S A LOT OF STIMULUS, A LOT OF NOISE, A LOT OF SENSATION"

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The calm dawn air and the December cold are ideal conditions for hot air ballooning

Balloons flying at dawn light up the sky like large glowing balls

"AT DAWN, THE BALLOONS CAN JUST HANG IN THE SKY

AND BE A VISUAL SPECTACLE"

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Red Rock’s formations inspired an 1870s Colorado judge to name the park ‘Garden of the Angels’

"PEOPLE FLY IN THE AREA JUST BECAUSE

IT'S SO SCENIC"

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LUXE

AS A CHILD, TEHRAN-BORN DESIGNER BIJAN PAKZAD regarded his businessman father as a model of sartorial style. Every morning, young Bijan would observe him as he got ready for work; the older man a figure of propriety in a sharp double-breasted suit with matching tie and pocket square, fine-looking watch, and well-polished shoes. “I was so impressed,” Bijan recalls. “I thought his image represented perfection.”

Today, the suave 67-year-old appears to have distilled his father’s style and shaped it in his own image, one that’s writ large in the décor of his boutique on Rodeo Drive, a fastidiously ostentatious milieu dubbed — without contest — ‘the most expensive boutique in the world’. >>

MOVERS, SHAKERS, AND THE WORLD’S MOST EXPENSIVE TAILOR

by Alvin Wong

BIJAN PAKZAD

OWERURSUIT

From his cars to his collections, Bijan’s love for all things yellow stands out

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LUXE

"EACH PIECE OF CLOTHING IS ESPECIALLY

TAILOR-MADE AND INDIVIDUALLY

DESIGNED, SIGNED AND NUMBERED -VERY

HAUTE COUTURE"

LEFT TO RIGHT

The House of Bijan on Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills

Bijan has dressed some of the world’s most powerful men, including past US President George Bush

>> A universe unto itself, Bijan’s boutique is decorated with Italian and French antiques, Persian rugs and rare artwork, including a Botero painting aptly named ‘The Rich’. In it, ruling as tailor to the planet’s most powerful men, Bijan welcomes only high-net-worth customers with appointments.

His work is bold and unabashedly upscale. It offers neither apologies nor compromises whether it takes the form of a king-sized chinchilla fur bedspread, or a bespoke baby crocodile leather jacket. Yet, often in interviews, Bijan is inclined to describe himself as “just a simple man” who “designs clothes, fragrances, jewellery and automobiles.”

Of course, Bijan, who has gone by his first name since starting his luxury empire in 1976, is understating things. In truth, the man is a guru of personalised opulence with a clientele that spans presidents to A-list Hollywood celebrities. “I dress an exclusive, elite customer base — maybe one-tenth of the one per cent of the richest men on the globe,” he remarked at another interview.

In Bijan’s world, Barack Obama, George Bush and the Shah of Iran are all happy, privileged denizens, as are the paragon of men’s fashion like Giorgio Armani and Tom Ford. More pertinently, this exclusive cognoscenti of the world’s most moneyed and influential keeps coming back for more.

Bijan believes this is so because he understands the philosophy of bespoke luxury like no one else can. He is dedicated to granting his clients undivided personal attention, and deems no request too outrageous or impossible.

Legend has it that when former President Ronald Reagan wanted something warm to wear on the family ranch, Bijan designed mink-lined jeans for him. And when a certain Middle Eastern family couldn’t afford the time to come to his boutique, Bijan packed crates of his latest creations, along with a team of his personal tailors, and flew them on his private jet to meet the client. >>

Bijan’s fragrances, jewellery, cars and clothing have established his reputation for spontaneity and glamour

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There’s a Bijan collection for every occasion to be found within the colour coordinated closets at Bijan’s boutique

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LUXEA display of famous customers and iconic Bijan creations greets guests at the exclusive Bijan boutique

ELITE INDULGENCES

More Bijan creations to perk your imagination:

Rolls-Royce ‘Bijan Edition’ Bijan’s latest collaboration with Rolls-Royce is a commission to design a series of 30 Rolls-Royce Phantoms. First delivery is due in the first quarter of 2011.

Colt .38 Special Revolvers Created in the 1980s, one of Bijan’s most capricious designs is a series of .38 Colt revolvers with 24K gold inlay and leather handgrips. Housed in mink pouches and Baccarat crystal cases, only 200 units were produced. Bijan Fragrances Fragrances are the other pillar in Bijan’s luxury empire. It started in 1981 with a masculine woodsy fragrance in hand-blown Baccarat crystal flacons. Bijan has since made scents for both sexes, including the Michael Jordan line and the award-winning DNA collection, named after his children (Daniela, Nicolas, Alexandra).

Phantom Watch Taking two years to craft, the Phantom is Bijan’s paean to the world of haute horlogerie. Limited to 50 pieces, the world-time watch displays 24 different zones at a glance, and comes sheathed in a 24K gold case with customisable dial, hands, strap and buckle.

This 2011 Limited Edition Rolls-Royce Phantom by Bijan carries yellow inside and out

"A CLASSIC LOOK IS ALWAYS MY GOAL,

SIMPLICITY IS THE KEY TO BEING WELL-DRESSED"

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>> How far does Bijan push the envelope? “In early 2000, I designed a range of topcoats, peacoats, and sports jackets for a member of a royal family. Each design came in three different colours — all made from Peruvian vicuña. The price came up to about USD1.5 million,” describes Bijan of one of his most expensive tailored collections. His creations have included mink-lined silk raincoats and suits with 24K gold pinstripes.

Bijan purports to be the only men’s designer who creates summer and winter collections simultaneously. “This is because my clients usually have several residences,” he reasons. “When it is winter in Brazil or Argentina; it is summer in the US. I must cater to these clients and offer them a variety of collections for different seasons. Each piece of clothing is especially tailor-made and individually designed, signed and numbered — very haute couture.”

Yet, for all his apparel’s heart-stopping extravagance, Bijan’s designs also emanate timelessness and classicism in a blend of well-appointed contemporary chic and old-world Hollywood glamour.

A good example of this refinement can be found in his ‘private collection’ on the boutique’s second level. It boasts a range of mood- and colour-coordinated mini-wardrobes comprising everything a modern cash-flush dandy could possibly need — coats, jackets, shirts, ties and belts in the finest fabrics and leathers.

Despite the extreme price tags, Bijan’s luxury is never visibly decadent. Rather, the Bijan experience goes deeper; one might find it in the pleasure of a perfectly fitted silhouette, or the tactile sensuousness of a precious fabric.

“A classic look is always my goal,” sums up the designer. While he claims to favour bold colours and stripes on dark colours as signature design elements, it appears that time-honoured dapperness remains a vital core of his work. “Simplicity is the key to being well-dressed,” he stresses. His father would’ve been proud.

Collections laid out according to colour schemes allow customers to select perfectly colour-coordinated outfits with ease

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by Jim Corr

HAUTE HOROLOGY

LUXE

hauteTIMESTHE TOP TIMEPIECES OF SIHH 2011

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Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Reverso Répétition Minutes À Rideau Reference Q2353520, 75-piece limited editionMovement:

Functions:

Dial:

Case:

Strap:

he annual Salon Internationale de Haute Horlogerie (SIHH) is a vortex that draws serious watch connoisseurs from around the globe to Geneva each January. Nineteen

of horology’s most prestigious brands officially launched their latest timepieces at the 20th edition of this luxury event, organised by the Richemont Group. Here are five of 2011’s top watches that are thrilling watch aficionados.

Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Reverso Répétition Minutes À RideauJaeger-LeCoultre breaks new ground with the Reverso Répétition Minutes À Rideau, an iconic watch design that captivates anew. The diminutive dimensions hold four facets for this watch, and they elegantly include that most exulted of fine watchmaking complications — a minute repeater function.

Under the gentle pressure of a finger, a sliding curtain hides or reveals one of the two watch faces at a time. The action also triggers the minute repeater to strike the time. Jaeger-LeCoultre’s watchmakers have created a distinctive mechanism featuring ‘trebuchet hammers’ to enhance the acoustics of the chimes. Instead of a simple hammer, leverage from a two-arm hammer increases the force of the strike. This transmits about 80 per cent of the energy from the spring that drives it, compared to the 10 to 30 per cent from traditional systems. The quality of the chime depends on the gongs. In search of the purest, most melodious acoustics, Jaeger-LeCoultre has developed a special alloy for its gongs, which are machined

from a single block of metal. The gongs are square instead of round, to allow greater surface contact with the hammer for greater strike force.

After assembly of this highly complicated watch — 340 parts for the new movement invented for it, and 270 parts for the case — the Reverso Répétition Minutes À Rideau is subject to Jaeger-LeCoultre’s 1000 Hours chronometry test to ensure its reliability.

The result of this, one of Jaeger-LeCoultre’s most exclusive offerings ever, is a visual, tactile and auditory timepiece that thoroughly captivates the mind and senses.

Vacheron Constantin’s Quai de l’Ile Retrograde Annual CalendarVacheron Constantin offers exquisitely crafted watches, but they are hardly watches you’d wear for a casual, sporty weekend with the boys. Its Quai de l’Ile collection, which debuted in 2008, was intended to fill in that blank. This year Vacheron Constantin offers the Quai de L’Ile Annual Calendar in a contemporary design that captures the classic spirit of the brand. For true individuality, it offers unique customisation options.

A new Calibre 2460 QRA has been created for this retrograde annual calendar watch. The annual calendar and the retrograde date are horology’s two oldest complications and Vacheron Constantin has them down to a fine art — the retrograde date is considered a speciality of the manufacture. The Quai de L’Ile Annual Calendar’s moon-phase indicator will outlast your life — it is said to be accurate for 122 years. For yet more precision, the new calibre features a stop-seconds device for setting time. >>

T

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LUXE

>> Housed in an untraditional 43 mm cushion case, it offers new dials with a variety of finishings, and a choice of month and date indications. The dial features an invisible security feature: a sun motif printed inside a disc reveals itself between the 4 and 5 o’clock position only under ultraviolet light. The sun motif was inspired by the clock tower of the Tour de I’lle, which stood next to Vacheron Constantin’s historic headquarters in Geneva.

The man who really knows what he wants can choose from 700 potential variations for his Quai de L’Ile Annual Calendar — from the metal for the case and its seven part components, ranging from flanks, lugs, inter-lugs and dial elements.

Audemars Piguet’s Millenary Hand-Wound Minute RepeaterMichael Schumacher heralds a new era at Audemars Piguet as its latest ambassador. The living Formula One (F1) legend brings to bear his imprint on the Audemars Piguet Millenary Hand-Wound Minute Repeater. The huge 47 mm titanium watch houses the slim 10 mm Calibre 2910, which boasts the reliability of an F1 machine without the pit crew.

The unconventional styling might be the reason some people acquire the Millenary Hand-Wound Minute Repeater, but under the ‘hood’, its lubrication-free escapement thrills timepiece technophiles. The device, based on a mid-18th century design, was modified and updated by Audemars Piguet. In addition, the watch also offers a new balance wheel construction for power. Putting the two together means a system that delivers higher efficiency with the robustness of the proven Swiss lever escapement.

Unsurprisingly, the Calibre 2910 has two power stores — one that supplies energy to measure time, and another to drive the minute repeater. The efficiency of the system gives the watch a power reserve of almost a week (165 hours), housed in two barrels — the first power store.

Vacheron Constantin’s Quai de l’Ile Retrograde Annual Calendar Movement:

Functions:

Dial:

Case:

Strap:

The third barrel, the second power store, is more than twice as large as normal, to operate the striking mechanism of the minute repeater.

Audemars Piguet has made minute repeaters and Grand Sonnnerie (grand strike) timepieces since its founding in 1875, in an era before electricity that necessitated some way of telling time in the dark. This expertise led it to make the first minute repeater wristwatch in 1892, and for Audemars Piguet to be one of the first manufacturers to revive the complication in the late 1980s.

A. Lange & Söhne’s Richard Lange Tourbillon Pour le MériteA. Lange & Söhne’s first fusee and chain wristwatch, the highly prized Tourbillon Pour le Mérite in 1994, set a new standard — the Pour le Mérite distinction. The fourth watch to earn it is the Richard Lange Tourbillon Pour le Mérite. Although an interpretation of a historic timepiece, it is beautifully wrought and elevated with novel touches.

As with all Pour le Mérite timepieces, it features the fusee and chain, one of the oldest methods of transmitting power from the

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mainspring. Popular in 19th century clocks and pocket watches, but bulky and difficult to build, it was phased out when wristwatches arrived. A. Lange & Söhne has successfully miniaturised the fusee and chain with new technology. Its appeal, apart from masterful mechanics incorporating what amounts to a miniscule bicycle chain in its 636 parts, is its ability to maintain a high level of accuracy whether the mainspring is fully wound or not.

Raising the ante, the new watch has a one-minute tourbillon with stop-seconds. In addition, while three subdials for hours, minutes and seconds are not revolutionary, their arrangement is uncommon. Especially delightful is the cutaway seconds subdial that shows the tourbillon. The ‘missing’ segment of the hour subdial pivots to reveal itself under the cutaway between the hours of 6 to 12 o’clock, completing the subdial then.

All this is driven by A. Lange & Söhne’s Calibre L072.1, a movement of 351 parts. Including the fusee and chain, it amounts to 987 parts — all impeccably finished and decorated, all adding to the connoisseur allure of the watch. >>

Audemars Piguet Millenary Hand-Wound Minute Repeater

Movement:

Functions:

Dial:

Case:

Strap:

A. Lange & Söhne’s Richard Lange Tourbillon Pour le Mérite

Movement:

Functions:

Dial:

Case: ;

Strap:

or

LUXE

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Piaget Emperador Coussin Tourbillon AutomaticPiaget’s history with thin mechanical movements began with the hand-wound Calibre 9P in 1957. Its latest addition in its Emperador Coussin collection sees it laying down another fine chapter in its pioneering finesse with ultra-thin watches — the Emperador Coussin Tourbillon Automatic, which sets a new world record as the thinnest self-winding tourbillon ever.

The watch measures just 10.4 mm in thickness, thanks to the ingenuity behind the new Calibre 1270P, a mere 5.55 mm thick. It was born out of a ‘marriage’ between Piaget’s Calibre 600P, the world’s thinnest hand-wound tourbillon movement, and the Calibre 1208P, the world’s thinnest self-winding movement with a micro-rotor. A thin self-winding tourbillon is particularly complicated because the oscillating rotor that drives a self-winding movement usually adds thickness. Yet, the 1270P, composed of a surprisingly lean 269 hand-finished parts, is almost as slim as hand-wound ultra-thin movements.

Where it comes to style, here too the Emperador Coussin Tourbillon Automatic sets tongues wagging. The dial is unexpectedly showy for Piaget, but the laser engraved sapphire crystal exposing the movement works delightfully. The offset tourbillon and the micro-rotor overlap subtly to form the lucky figure ‘8’ as they reveal motion in the watch. In addition, two accent colours, instead of just one, cleverly come from the exposed red sapphire crystals and blued steel screws. Better known for hiding its beautiful movements behind closed case backs, Piaget surprises yet again with a case back with two windows, one for the power reserve indication and the other to show off the tourbillon carriage.

The result is a watch of resolutely contemporary character underpinned by traditional haute watchmaking.

Piaget Emperador Coussin Tourbillon Automatic

Movement:

Functions:

Dial:

Case:

Strap:

GLAJZ Collection Privée exclusively at The Hour Glass Malmaison, Knightsbridge Orchard Road Singapore

Rare and desirable

... sealed with a kiss

LOCKED AND LOADED

by Anne Osno

ARMOURED CARS

BULLET PROOF WHEELS THAT COULD BECOME THE RIDE OF YOUR LIFE

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LUXE

Beyond luxury looks, the subtle but capable armoured protection offered by cars like this Mercedes-Benz S600 Pullman Guard are an attraction for people in high positions


Customised luxury vehicles bring to mind touches like plush interior finishings, one-of-a-kind paint jobs and

performance modifications. But there is something much more serious on offer in bespoke autos, and its main hallmark lies largely in being unnoticeable — armoured protection.

President Obama rides in a custom-built Cadillac referred to by the Secret Service as Cadillac One, or simply ‘The Beast’. Protected by military grade armour over 13 cm thick, it sports run-flat tires and has a leak-proof fuel tank invulnerable to explosions. Its glass windows are transparent armour so thick that they exclude most natural light, making necessary a fluorescent halo lighting system in the headliner. Undetectable at first glance are two holes on the underside of the vehicle’s front bumper that can emit tear gas, and a system that can fire a salvo

of multi-spectrum infra-red smoke grenades as a countermeasure to anti-tank grenades. In turn, for close to a million US dollars, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu chose an armoured Audi A8L, and Pope Benedict XVI opted for a secure Volkswagen 450-hp Phaeton as part of his papal fleet.

For the less endangered, armoured vehicles need to serve three essential purposes — to protect, counter and escape. Passenger protection levels range from B4 (protection against handguns) to B5 (against the AK-47 and M16) and to B6 and B7 (resistance against heavy rifle fire). For individuals needing high levels of personal security, such modifications buy peace of mind, and may one day make the difference between life and death.

Although high-security vehicles are built to be as discreet as possible, on closer inspection they can be

identified by 6-cm thick glass windows wrapped by thick black steel borders. Heavy 150-kg steel-reinforced doors further protect against gunfire, and an armoured shell encompasses the passenger cabin. A communications system is often in place, as well as a fire extinguishing system and separate ventilation system should cabin air be compromised. Increasingly, companies in vehicle security are emphasising reinforcement of the floor and roof of their top-of-the-line models to withstand even mine and grenade attacks.

Vehicles like Jaguar’s latest XJ Sentinel boast Kevlar backing and blast protection against close detonation of 15 kg of TNT. Meanwhile, BMW’s 7-series High Security line offers government officials and embassies the option of extra storage space for weapons, such as machine gun cases in the centre console. >>

US President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in Cadillac One

LIFELUXE


SECURITY SMORGASBORD

A sampler of what’s available:

Mercedes-BenzChoose from the E-Guard,

G-Guard, S-Guard and the

flagship Mercedes-Benz S 600

Pullman Guard — a total of eight

models ranging from B4 to B7

level protection.

MaybachThe Maybach Guard is a hefty

550-hp 12-cylinder bi-turbo

engine whose output and torque

are among the highest of any

series-production saloon engine

in the world.

Rolls Royce

Carrying the highest level of

protection, the Phantom features

a strengthened aluminium space

frame chassis and suspension

components, and 453 hp of

power.

BMWThree High Security models are

offered — the 355-hp X5 Security

Plus; a V8, 407-hp 750Li High

Security; and a V12, 544-hp 760Li.

Land RoverThe Discovery 4 Armoured is

equipped with a 375-hp 5.0-litre

LR-V8 direct-injection petrol

engine, which replaces the

2.7-litre V6 turbo-diesel in the

previous model.

>> All this extra armoury and specialised equipment add to the vehicle’s weight. On average, a high security limousine can weigh 3.5 tons. This means that substantial power is needed to accelerate for a quick escape. The Mercedes-Benz S 600 Guard Pullman is capable of 517 hp, while the Audi A8 Security pulls 450 hp and the Jaguar XJ Sentinel, 380 hp.

While these cars represent a segment of security and luxury, John Killick, director of Bentley’s bespoke Mulliner division, puts it in perspective: “Bentley makes armoured cars, not cars that have been armoured.” >>

ARMOURED VEHICLES SERVE THREE ESSENTIAL PURPOSES — TO PROTECT, COUNTER AND ESCAPE

A High Security BMW has a panel of security options that can be activated by a push of a button

The Mercedes-Benz S600 Pullman Guard comes with the comforts of home, like a 9-inch flat screen display, DVD player and refrigerator

The body shell thickness and resistance of the Mercedes-Benz E-Guard can withstand attacks from a .44 Magnum firearm


SERVE AND PROTECT

One of the earliest examples of

a prestigious armoured vehicle

was the Mercedes-Benz 770, built

from 1930 to 1943. Mercedes-

Benz was the only manufacturer

then able to offer factory-built

armoured passenger cars. The

770 was highly regarded by

governments all over the world

and used as state vehicles. It was

personally used by high-ranking

Nazi officials such as Adolf Hitler

and Hermann Göring. Protective

elements include thick armour

plates, bullet-proof glass and

tires that shielded passengers

from firearm and explosive

attacks. Hitler was said to have

personally tested its effectiveness

by shooting one of his specially

ordered rides, which still bears

a nicked side window.

>> Bentley incorporates armour plating and energy absorbent materials into the vehicle from the first stage of production, not after production, which adds to the appeal of Bentley’s armoured cars. The suspension, brakes, traction control and stability programmes are re-engineered and upgraded to match the armoured body shell, and to make sure the vehicle still handles like a Bentley. Most other manufacturers offer armour added as ‘bolt on’ extras, usually outsourced to specialists. It is believed that additions made at production stage are more durable than after-market conversions.

However, coach builders and armour specialists like Centigon have been offering military and ‘personal defence solutions’ to prominent members of society for over 100

years. In addition to Jaguar, they’ve helped Land Rover develop the latest Discovery 4 Armoured, with blast protection against 15 kg TNT and under floor protection for up to two DM51 hand grenades.

The protection offered is certified by QinetiQ, a globally recognised independent blast and ballistic testing organisation. “Rather than relying on testing the individual armour components, we have ensured that the entire vehicle is independently certified to B6 standards, so that we can be completely confident of its ballistic integrity,” said John Graham, Land Rover’s Commercial Manager Armoured Programs.

Car brands have identified Latin America as the largest armoured car market in the world. In Latin America,

South Africa and southern Europe, most buyers opt for High-Protection vehicles (resistance level B4). In Central Europe and the former Soviet states, however, Highest-Protection Guard models are preferred (resistance level B6/B7).

Sales of armoured vehicles may wane in relation to a country’s political security, but the cars have grown to become another symbol of affluence and status. From heads-of-state to high-profile military personnel and Russian oligarchs, all have found armoured vehicles the perfect accompaniment to their ultra-wealthy, high-profile lifestyles.

In the 1930s, Japanese Emperor Hirohito trusted his red Grand Mercedes Type 770 to carry him through the streets

The armoured Rolls Royce Phantom can withstand an extensive range of ballistic and gas attacks

The close up of a thick, steel-reinforced bulletproof window of an armoured BMW

G LO B A L Q U ES T


THE SAILBOAT THAT WAS BUILT TO FLY

by Katrina Balmaceda

L’HYDROPTÈRE

LUXE

The l’Hydroptère started breaking speed records in 2008 and continues to do so


SHE RELIES ON THE WIND, and smashes the wind barrier. She defies the drag of water, and surpasses world speed records. She flies.

She is l’Hydroptère, the ‘flying boat’. This trimaran has wings that lift her hulls out of the water for speed. Her records are strong: she was the first sailboat to exceed the 50-knot wind barrier — tantamount to the sound barrier for aircraft. In September 2009, she beat the 500-metre speed record for boats of her class by sailing at 51.36 knots. In the nautical mile category two months later, she broke the record by cutting 50.17 knots.

For all this, the l’Hydroptère is only a prototype. The ultimate dream of her maker, Frenchman Alain Thébault, is to sail around the world in just 40 days — the ultimate test. In the roughness of the oceans and their erratic winds, can one break the circumnavigation record without breaking the boat?

Thébault thinks he can. After all, he has been designing this flying sailboat since 1975. It is based on the principle of

hydrofoils, in which foils attached to the hulls of the boat act as wings. They help the boat overcome drag forces, which oppose and slow down the craft as it moves through water. To defeat drag, part of the boat needs to rise above water. This is where the foils are vital. Shaped like a U, V or inverted T, the foils are initially submerged. As the craft speeds up, water flows more quickly over the foils’ surface, creating a difference in pressure between the upper and lower parts. This difference results in an upward force that lifts the foils — and thus, the boat. Having less contact with the water, the boat achieves minimal drag and greater speed. >>

The quest to create the fastest sailing boat has brought together the passions of sailors, engineers and scientists

Image © Guilain Grenier

CAN ONE BREAK THE CIRCUMNAVIGATION RECORD

WITHOUT BREAKING THE BOAT?


>> Still, hydrofoils of the past ran on engines. The l’Hydroptère in Thébault’s mind was to be built for the wind. It needed to be strong yet light enough to fly; but composite materials involving carbon and titanium had yet to be tested and refined. The craft also required a stable design to prevent it from flipping over. A group of aeronautical engineers and aircraft parts manufacturers joined Thébault in research and design, all volunteers who had worked in companies like Dassault, Airbus and Assystem.

The team began building a model from 1987 to 1992. On 1st October, 1994, the 18.28-metre l’Hydroptère trimaran flew for the first time in the bay of Saint-Nazaire, France. This first flight was a success. With each subsequent test flight, the team improved the design. They installed an on-board measurement system that revealed the amount of load and strain placed on the boat when in flight. A 3D stimulator developed by Dassault Aviation’s Philippe Perrier provided a way to predict the boat’s flying range. When rough seas

led to the loss of the windward crossbeam in 2002, the team installed a shock absorber to protect the boat’s structure in both calm and choppy waters.

After 10 years of tests and design improvements, the team launched a new l’Hydroptère in 2004 with one goal: to be the fastest offshore sailing boat. Spirits soared when it achieved a record in 2005 by crossing the English Channel in 34 minutes and 24 seconds at 33 knots, faster than aviator Louis Blériot did in 1909. But the celebration was short. The next year, the boat crashed with an unidentified object in a record attempt at a crossing between Cadiz, Spain and San Salvador, El Salvador. The impact nearly meant the l’Hydroptère’s death.

Swiss bankers Thierry and Adrien Lombard saved the project. Both avid sailors, they invested in the l’Hydroptère and connected the team to the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology). The school, with its scientists and laboratories, has since been the project’s official scientific advisor.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT

Thébault seeks scientific solutions to prepare this flying sailboat for the ocean

The crew won’t stop until the l’Hydroptère maxi becomes the fastest boat to sail around the world

Sailor and innovator Alain Thébault designed the dream with French yachtsman Eric Tabarly as his mentor

One challenge for the l’Hydroptère team is to build a boat that is versatile whether in calm or chaotic waters

Images © Guilain Grenier

LUXE


AROUND THE WORLD

Jules Verne was a French author

who wrote Around the World

in Eighty Days. The book was

published in 1873, a time when

submarines and space shuttles

had not yet come of age, but

railways had begun to link

countries. The novel described

two men who travelled around the

world in 80 days by riding trains,

cars and steamboats.

Today, the Jules Verne

Trophy awards sailors who make

the fastest circumnavigation.

There are no restrictions on

the type of yacht used, as long

as it is powered only by the

wind and natural forces. The

latest record belongs to French

yachtsman Franck Cammas, who

sailed around the world on his

Groupama 3 trimaran in 48 days,

seven hours and 45 minutes.

The improved l’Hydroptère made an indelible mark on sailing history. It broke speed records in the 500-metre and nautical mile categories in 2007; again in 2008; and yet again in 2009, shattering records it had previously set. It surpassed the 50-knot wind barrier, setting a record 56.36 knot top speed in 2008 during a 45-knot wind.

But if the l’Hydroptère is to go around the world in 40 days, it needs to do more than just be fast. Thébault knows this, and this is why the team has once again gone back to the drawing board. Two new boats are in the works. The sensor-equipped l’Hydroptère.ch, launched in October 2010, is 10.85 metres long with a 10.40-metre span. For stability, its foils are now adjustable, and it is a catamaran rather than a trimaran. It is an experimental craft for the future l’Hydroptère maxi, which will be three times its size. It is the l’Hydroptère maxi that will fulfil the dream — not just of Thébault, but of the team — of circumnavigating the world in liquid flight.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT

Sailors work with high hopes on the maiden journey of the l’Hydroptère.ch


The l’Hydroptère toured Europe in 2010


A plane carries the l’Hydroptère.ch for its first sailing session in October 2010

Image © Gilles martin Raget

ITS TOP RECORDED SPEED SO FAR HAS BEEN 56.36 KNOTS

The Groupama 3 crew crosses the finish line in their quest for the Jules Verne trophy, a prize for the fastest sailors to circumnavigate the globe

Photo by Arnaud Pilpré of Studio Zedda

PRECIOUS STONES DAZZLED IN 2010, with diamonds breaking world auction records one after the other. In Hong Kong, an auspicious pair of 10.88-carat diamonds went for USD221,649, the highest auction price per carat for any round white diamond. In Geneva, The Graff Pink, a spectacular 24.78-carat intense pink diamond emerged from Mr Harry Winston’s private collection after 60 years, to set a world record of USD105,047,918 for any diamond and jewel. This year, with more fine gemstones surfacing in upcoming sales, coloured stones promise to take centre stage.

Colour is a most beautiful manifestation of light, all the more fascinating when discovered captured in gemstones created over millions of years. Hidden in the earth like Mother Nature’s elusive treasures, only a handful of precious stones are of remarkable size and quality. Beyond size, clarity and cut, these stones are desired for their range of colours, for richness and purity of hue that give each gem its unique captivating personality and capacity to stir our emotions.

The shifting colours of a cat’s eye alexandrite, for example, evoke marvel and mystique. The stone appears reddish purple under incandescent light and bluish green in daylight. It gets its name from its characteristic ‘chatoyancy’ property, a peculiar and spectacular reflective optical effect that brings a stone to life with the impression of a distinct and lively feline eye, particularly in cabochon-cut stones. Other than Brazil, no other mines produce cat’s eye alexandrites of significant quality and size. Only a countable few currently exist in the market.

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LUXE

FIERY GEMS TAKE CENTRE STAGE AT AUCTIONS

by Flora Wong

AUCTIONS

SCARLETFEVER

Some of the most enigmatic coloured gems are the red stones. Closely associated with love, power and passion, the colour red in diamonds is exceptionally rare. Caused by unique features within the diamonds’ crystal lattice interspersed with minute amounts of nitrogen, only a few specimens exist in the world. Found only in the collections of kings and princes, most are flawed and rarely exceed a carat in weight, making the finer stones that show up at auctions ever more desirable.

Another highly coveted red gemstone is the ruby. Prized for intense red hues and fiery reflections, a superb suite of rubies is by far more difficult to come by than their equivalent in flawless white diamonds. Burmese rubies, especially those from the fabled mines of Mogok, are most desirable for their quality — the ultimate benchmark against which all rubies are judged. Rubies exceeding 10 carats without thermal enhancement are extremely rare, as mines no longer produce stones of such a significant size and quality.

As mines play out and collectors hoard special pieces, gem and jewellery auctions will continue to prove a fine source of precious coloured gemstones that are ever increasing in value.

SEEING RED

The finest rubies are described

as being of ‘pigeon’s blood’ for

their colour intensity and crimson

glow. The glow comes from the

UV fluorescence of the stone

under visible light. Beautiful rubies

exhibit a velvety visual softness

due to tiny needle-like inclusions

that scatter light. As over 90

per cent of newly-mined rubies

owe their fine colour and clarity

to heat treatment, the value of

top quality untreated stones

continues to grow, especially with

fewer mines yielding significant

stones. The most coveted rubies

are non-heat treated natural

stones of noteworthy size, well

proportioned cut, and distinctively

red in colour — a combination

of pure red and strong red

fluorescence, and a velvety

softness like fine silk that stops

short of affecting the high clarity

of the stone.


OPPOSITE PAGE

An exceptionally rare 1.92 carat red diamond slated for Sotheby’s Hong Kong April 2011 Important Jewels and Watches auction

THIS PAGE

Very rare 23.19-carat Brazilian cat’s-eye alexandrite and diamond ring

A Burmese ruby and diamond necklace, with matching earrings, totalling 29 rubies weighing 75.56 carats

THIS YEAR...COLOURED GEMSTONES PROMISE TO TAKE CENTRE STAGE

A 27.67-carat Burmese ruby and diamond ring by Bulgari

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CRAFTING THE RARE, TRADITIONAL AND EXOTIC

by Radha Menon

FINE ENGLISH COMPANY

OF THE PASTSHADES

A raw oak frame, Moroccan tan hide and genuine Burchell’s zebra skin make this ottoman one of the Fine English Company’s finest pieces

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he term bespoke, coined in the 1300s to describe made-to-measure men’s apparel from Savile Row, means a product has been made specifically to a customer’s requirements — has

‘been spoken’ for, in other words. Over time, the term extended to extraordinary items deemed essential to a gentleman’s lifestyle. Picking up on this challenge in today’s world is the Fine English Company.

Although it conjures shades of a bygone past, this relatively new luxury product house established in 2009 has already managed to make a name for itself. Not simply because it provides bespoke services and endeavours to please every client, but also because it soars above average in terms of material, design and work ethic. Demanding perfection with every detail not only includes sourcing the finest raw materials and engaging the best craftsmen to fashion exquisite items, it also covers the names these objects eventually bear. Like the Percival, a wingtip chair with hand-carved black walnut ball and claw feet. It takes its

name from the legendary 18th century hunter Philip H Percival, whose clients included Ernest Hemingway, Gary Cooper and Baron Rothschild.

Nestled in the heart of the English Cotswolds, Fine English’s bespoke services extend from the creation of small personal items to completing entire interiors of rooms or yachts. For the discerning in search of a special something that reflects their individuality, a visit to the company’s creative area is called for. Here, clients can select from samples of rare, traditional and exotic materials, and view the quality of bespoke commissions. A library of reference books, antiques and furniture, along with samples of exotic leathers, woods and carved items help inspire the imagination. >>

“OUR SUPPORT IS TARGETED VERY SPECIFICALLY TO BENEFIT THE COMMUNITIES WE SOURCE FROM”

Founder Benedict Wormald, believes that great British elegance lies in classic designs and materials that have proven themselves over 150 years

T

Chesterfield furniture, upholstered in hides from the UK and hand-dyed chestnut brown, are British classics

Individuality and authority expressed in a personalised signet ring and seal

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LUXE

“THE MONEY THAT WE PAY FOR MANAGED SPECIES PAYS TO PROTECT THOSE IN DANGER”

>> “It’s a place where clients can spend time to refine their thinking and research their projects,” says founder Benedict Wormald. The tactile nature of this process allows clients to know what they’re getting into — whether it’s a full-sized Saber Tooth Tiger skeleton for display or a knife with Woolly Mammoth Ivory scales.

According to Wormald, “I think it’s important to stress here that our quality is second to no one — that was always the guiding principle. The recession has in fact helped us because people are spending very wisely and challenging this brand led ethos — very poor quality mass-produced products stamped with prominent branding. I can walk a client through my entire process — from the sheep in the fields in Northumberland to the hill farm to the tweed mill where it is woven into our bespoke tweed, to the craftsmen that make our furniture by hand — every nail, joint, dowel and screw. Very few can offer that.”

A royal warrant company established in 1820, Howard and Sons of London, was one of the best furniture makers of the Victorian era. Trusting the past and accommodating modern expectations, Fine English chesterfields use sturdy Howard frames, lowered to provide a more comfortable seat level than traditional antique sofas.

Delivery of a giraffe steamer trunk — unusual, eclectic and functional, would certainly cause a splash. But is this politically correct in an age of growing environmental concern?

“We have a number of policies in place so that our support is targeted very specifically to benefit the communities we source from,” explains Wormald. “We volunteer annually as a company to provide skills that would not necessarily be a priority for communities, such as dental work. Most of our projects aim to be self-sustaining — for example, water projects or schools. We work with well-established sources of hides inside well-managed reserves such as KZN (KwaZulu-Natal), and any support that we give takes the form of tangible donations such as VHF radios, first aid kits and backpacks for the game wardens. The money that we pay for managed species pays to protect those in danger. We do not venture anywhere near species such as lions, tigers, elephants, leopards, etc. Any work that we do with taxidermy in this area is antique and pre-1947.”

Fine English Company’s reflection of Britain’s rich colonial history, heritage and aesthetic goes in tandem with a passion for cultivating and maintaining traditional trades, skills, methods and designs, while encompassing modern lifestyles and contemporary attitudes — the perfect combination for extreme luxury products.

SAFARI CHIC

Dedicated to the best in bespoke

luxury, reminiscent of Britain’s colonial

past and hinged with contemporary

flair, the wingtip Percival chair took

the Fine English Company two years

to complete. A reincarnation of the

finest African safari furniture, Fine

English’s version of the entirely

handmade chair consists of a beech

wood frame, horsehair stuffing and

hand-stitched canvas, finished in

brown aniline distressed leather and

trophy-grade Burchell’s zebra skin.

Only 10 were made and only four

remain. The next series will feature

giraffe skin.

The goal in making the Percival, a fusion of African safari and English refinement, was to create an inimitable piece of furniture

Elegant and eccentric, these velvet slippers can have monogrammes, initials or family crests stitched on them

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AIRBORNE

BUSINESS AVIATION IN BRIEFAIRBORNEBRIEFING

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MJets has been certified as an authorised Cessna Service Facility in Thailand. An official ceremony was held last December at the company’s flight operations centre in Bangkok’s Don Muang Airport Private Jet Terminal. “Our certification...will further strengthen MJets’ position. We will continue to expand our capabilities and facilities to remain the leading maintenance and service provider to meet the ever-changing demands of the industry, and to serve the growing number of business aircraft in Thailand, Southeast Asia and the region,” said Mark Thibault, CEO, MJets.

At the Aero India 2011 airshow in Bangalore, India, on 10 February, Gulfstream spoke of infrastructure issues to overcome in India. These include a shortage of fixed base operations, expanded ramp space and hangar facilities, and curfews in major cities that limit operating slots for business jets. “These are the challenges of a fast-growing economy, and we expect they will be addressed, because business aviation is an important component of the transportation system,” said Roger Sperry, Regional Senior Vice President International Sales, Gulfstream.

Embraer announced at Aero India 2011 that it expects its business in India to grow four-fold to USD8.9 billion by 2020. “We see (India) as the main market in Asia-Pacific,” says Embraer Asia-Pacific Executive Jet Sales Director Manfred Baudzus. Jose Eduardo Costas, Asia Pacific Vice President Marketing and Sales, Embraer, pointed out that India’s high import tax on business jets shows a “narrow vision”, but adds that regardless of taxes, the company is confident that there is demand. That demand is currently favouring its medium and large size business jets like the Lineage.

Embraer maintains that its Phenom aircraft will also remain popular due to its subcontinental range.

A Gulfstream GIV SP is ExecuJet Malaysia’s first signed aircraft under management since announcing its joint venture with Dnest Aviation in September last year. The aircraft, privately registered and signed to Execujet for full management in January 2011, will be based out of Subang International Airport in Kuala Lumpur, home of the ExecuJet and Dnest offices and MRO facility. This is the second aircraft under Execujet’s management in the Asia region. It has a Gulfstream G5 currently under management in Singapore, managed in Sydney by ExecuJet Australia.

Amid the tensions in Cairo, Egypt, last February, Private Jet Charter flew hundreds of individuals out of the city to the safety of various worldwide destinations. “In times of emergencies and crises, demand for private jet charter services shoots up,” said Chief Executive Hugh Courtenay. Elie Abdo, Managing Partner Middle East, Private Jet Charter, added, “Our aim is to help private individuals and corporates get out of Egypt safely and with speed.”

TrueNorth Avionic’s compact, plug-in hardware module TrueNorth Express has received certification by Transport Canada via Mid-Canada Mod Center, the brand’s dealer of the year for 2010. TrueNorth Express allows those on BlackBerry smartphones to send and receive emails worldwide over existing Iridium satcom phones. It provides global coverage and convenience more affordably than other units currently in the market.

British company Air Partner flew 200 Britons from Cairo, Egypt, to London Gatwick on 3 February 2011, on the UK government’s Boeing 757 charter aircraft. The flight, for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, comes under Air Partner’s four-year contract as the sole provider of passenger and freight air charter services for the Department for International Development. As of 3 February, Air Partner had flown over 2,800 people out of Cairo, Luxor, Alexandria and Hurghada to a variety of safe destinations including the UK, Dubai, Bahrain, France and Germany. Aircraft used ranged from Hawker 900XP and Embraer Legacy private jets to commercial airliners such as Airbus A320s and B737s.

Last December, Embraer celebrated the 10th anniversary of its regional office in Singapore. Currently, there are over 100 Embraer aircraft in operation in the Asia-Pacific. In other news, on 7 December 2010, Embraer delivered the first Lineage 1000 to VIP charter company Falcon Aviation Services of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. It was the first of two Lineage 1000 jets ordered by the company in November 2007 at the Dubai Air show, with commitments for more Embraer executive jets.

Air Works Pvt Ltd was appointed by Embraer as its authorised service centre for the Phenom family of jets in India. Headquartered in Mumbai with bases including Delhi, Bangalore and Chennai, Air Works has been providing maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services for all Phenom 100 and 300 jets in the country since January 2011. The company aims to provide the best-in-class service and customer support network, as well as to continually improve customer support activities and grow with clients in the region.

BUSINESS AVIATION IN BRIEF

JETGALA 139

On 9th February, Hawker Pacific announced the development of a USD11.6 million Customer Sales and Service Centre at Seletar Aerospace Park. This expansion adds to the growth of its relocated Seletar operations at East Camp, Singapore, as its regional headquarters. The 9,400 sqm Private Jet Centre includes a fully equipped Heavy Maintenance Jet Service Centre, Spares distribution, Re-paint facility, VIP reception and FBO, customer and crew lounges, as well as dedicated undercover jet parking. Moving-in is targeted for December 2011, with an official opening ceremony to coincide with the Singapore Airshow in February 2012.

Dubai-based private aviation operator Empire Aviation Group (EAG) has joined forces with RMSI, the Dubai-based MEDEVAC to launch a new Intensive Care Ambulance Service. The agreement states that EAG will manage and operate a specially converted air ambulance configuration of a Hawker 800XP business jet on behalf of RMSI. The service is targetted at RMSI clients in the region, including global insurance patients, governments, corporate and private clients, as well as patients in hostile situations and remote locations.

ExecuJet Aviation Group reported handling 330 movements in support of visiting jets to the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, from 26th to 30th January 2011. As in previous years, ExecuJet secured an exclusive agreement with military-owned Dübendorf Airport to allow aircraft to be parked at the airfield during the WEF, with all passengers being handled through the Zurich FBO. A high majority of the movements were attributed to Bombardier Global Express and Gulfstream aircraft. The five-day WEF meeting consisted of over 2,500 delegates including overseas ministers and presidents from more than 75 countries.

On 27 Jan 2011, Flying Colours Corp delivered their first Bombardier Challenger 850 aircraft to China. First out of five to China-based clients, the jet will be operated and managed by charter company Metrojet in Hong Kong. “The Challenger 850 is an ideal aircraft for the China business jet market and we are looking forward to long term growth in this region,” stated John Gillispie, President, Flying Colours Corp.

Flight Display Systems has released an iPad Arm Mount that allows for easy upgrade of in-flight entertainment systems. The arm of the device fits into the same mount as pre-existing seven-inch Flight Display Systems LCD display screens so no additional mounting is required. Besides from being able to rotate from portrait to landscape mode, the arm also provides charging of the iPad batteries when attached. In other news, the company has also recently launched the first Android software application for use with its Select Cabin Management System. It allows passengers to control all cabin functions from any “Android 2.0 powered mobile phones or tablet computers with Bluetooth,” says Jonathan Pinson, resident Android Technician, Flight Display Systems.

British charter company Air Partner celebrates 50 years of success this year, along with the renewal of their Royal Warrant as Supplier of Aircraft Charter to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II until the winter of 2014. Highly coveted globally and a recognised mark of excellence, the Royal Warrant is granted by HM The Queen, Her Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh or His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales.

JetNet LLC has recently launched JetNet iQ, a members-only forecasting and advisory service for the business aviation market. Consisting of three main components, JetNet iQ Reports provides analytical reference, JetNet iQ Summits allows networking opportunities for members, and JetNet iQ Consulting is a project-by-project basis customised research and analysis tool. This aims to fill the need of customers “to support investment decisions in businesses, aircraft programs, aviation infrastructure and inventory”, as explained by Vincent Esposito, JetNet President. >>

JETGALA140

AIRBORNEBRIEFING

BUSINESS AVIATION IN BRIEFSome aircraft today are being sold at almost half the price that they were five years ago, according to Gretchen Collins, Vice President of Special Contracts and Business Development at CSI Aviation Services, Inc. Collins adds, “This is the year for companies and business professionals to invest in aircraft. It won’t stay this way for long as the aviation market gets rolling again.” CSI has over 30 years of experience in procurement and leasing of aircraft for companies and government, specialising in MD83, 737, 757 aircraft, and including executive jets and turboprops.

Eriko Fukuoka, Aircraft Handling Department,

JAS Services

JETGALA Magazine is now uplifted to business jets coming through JAS Services at Haneda Airport in Tokyo, Japan.

Australian-based software developer iApps has launched FlightBOX, a free aviation application (app) that allows pilots to complete extensive pre-flight planning and checklists. FlightBOX also offers graphical route charting, flight intelligence, calculations and conversions, NAIPS weather, practice for BAK and PPL exams, and logs all flight data. Available for the iPhone and iPad, the next update of the app will include extended global weather services, calculations of fuel, wind and weight and the option for an e-log of flight data to be securely stored on a server via the app.

General Electric Co’s (GE) business jet lending and leasing unit forecasts solid demand in 2011. “I’m very much

encouraged for a much better 2011,” says Dave Labrozzi, President, Corporate Aircraft Finance of GE Capital, the conglomerate’s finance arm. “This market is completely driven by corporate profits and the economy,” both of which are on the upswing. He also attributes a good year ahead as prices for business jets are currently at or almost at rock bottom, having dipped 35 per cent over the past three years. This means that companies holding out for the best deals no longer have a reason to delay purchase.

Gulfstream has broken yet another city-pair record. On 21 December 2010, a G200 set not one but two city-pair records connecting Savannah to Keflavik, Iceland, and Keflavik to Vnukovo, Russia. The National Aeronautic Association confirmed the flights as US records and sent the figures to the Federation Aeronautique Internationale in Switzerland for approval as world records. Since the delivery of the first G200 in January 2000, the aircraft has amassed 12 city-pair speed records.

Swiss maintenance and revamp company SR Technics is the latest player to join the few that do Airbus and Boeing corporate jet completions. Previously focused entirely on the airline MRO sector, the Zurich-based firm has a long-term cooperation agreement with another Swiss company, Geneva-based TAG Aviation. TAG Aviation will provide sales contacts and offer completions as part of its portfolio of service to business owners. “It’s a win-win for both companies and allows us to complete the circle,” says Michael Gringmuth, Sales Manager, VIP Aircraft Services, SR Technics.

ASI Entertainment Inc reported on 20 December 2010, that AsiQ Limited

Australia has launched what they claim to be the world’s most expensive mobile phone application. AsiQ, the licensee for SafeCell inflight mobile phone system, says the new application is a voice and data solution for private jet owners. It will allow them to use mobile phones inflight through an onboard satellite link via bluetooth. Priced at USD12,500, the initial release of the application is for Blackberry, Nokia and all Symbian-based mobile phone and PDAs. An Android version will soon follow.

Dassault Falcon Jet Corp has launched a new sales and marketing office in Beijing, China, on 14 December 2010. CEO John Rosanvallon mentioned at the day’s press conference that the brand is targeting big corporate clients in Greater China, including Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan. Its business jet division is expecting annual sales of USD1 billion over the next five years, equivalent to 10 aircraft a year. This accounts for 20 per cent of its global deliveries, double its current contribution today.

Training with FlightSafety International’s recently qualified Dassault Falcon 7X full flight simulator started in January 2011, at the company’s Dallas/Fort Worth Learning Centre. “Qualification of our Falcon 7X simulator by the FAA, GACA and EASA demonstrated our advanced design and high quality manufacturing capabilities,” said Bruce Whitman, President and CEO, FlightSafety International. “We recently delivered our 100th Falcon 7X, and customers will enjoy having the option to train with FlightSafety International,” added John Rosanvallon, President and CEO, Dassault Falcon. >>

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JETGALA142

AIRBORNEBRIEFING

BUSINESS AVIATION IN BRIEF

Cirrus Aircraft has opened an FBO in Zhuhai, China that will operate under the name Zhuhai Cirrus FBO. The facility will offer traditional FBO services for based and transient aircraft, and serve as Cirrus Aircraft’s Sales Centre. It will provide Flying Club, Service, Training and Import services. Zhuhai Tianyi Aviation Trading Co has bought three SR22s for use at the FBO. The 2,806 sqm hangar and facility will be based in Jinwan District’s Aviation Industrial Park and provide key services to over 50 airplanes.

Bombardier Aerospace announced on 8 December 2010 that they had received firm orders for five Learjet 85 and two Challenger 605 jets from multiple companies, all part of Munich-based Jet Air Flug for principal operation in Germany. On 23 December 2010, Bombardier announced that Dubai-based Gama Aviation FZC has become the first to register a Challenger 850 jet in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The certificate of airworthiness (CofA) for the jet was issued on 16 December 2010. “The first CofA for this type of business jet in the UAE demonstrates the growing interest in business aviation in this region and a crowning achievement for our newly launched Middle Eastern division,” said Dave Edwards, Managing Director, Gama Aviation.

Since 1 December 2010, aeronautical charges at Al Bateen Executive Airport in Abu Dhabi were reduced by 35 per cent on landing fees and by 17 per cent on parking fees for all aircraft. Along with plans to develop new hangars and improve its utilities and runways, new retail facilities and commercial space will soon be available for lease by MROs, manufacturers and other businesses. An onsite hotel is also in the works, aimed for completion within the next 18 months. Currently home to key operators in the region, Al Bateen’s fleet includes the region’s first Lineage 1000. It is expecting two Airbus and Embraer jets, and up to six scheduled jets to be added in 2011.

ExecuJet Middle East is now in partnership with Al Faisal Holding for a new business aviation company in Doha. The new company is slated to be named ExecuJet Qatar and be operated by ExecuJet Middle East. The AOC application process for the new company is underway and is expected to be in place by early 2011.

Comlux Aviation Group announced on 08 December 2010 an order for two Bombardier Global 7000 long-range

business jets. The Global 7000s will operate alongside Comlux’s current fleet of 12 Bombardier Challenger 605, Challenger 850, Global 5000 and Global XRS jets.

Rizon Jet’s new MRO facility and FBO Terminal formally opened in January 2011 in Doha, Qatar, in the United Arab Emirates. The new facility boasts direct access to the apron and a VIP terminal that features four enclosed private lounges and an open lounge with a water feature, indoor garden and duty-free section. Joining the team as Director of Operations is Captain Javed Latif, who has flown a large variety of business jets in his military career. Simon D’Oyly is also newly appointed as Director of Sales and Aircraft Management, formerly Managing Director of Aircraft Management with National Air Services in Saudi Arabia.

Boeing will make a decision on modifications to its 737 in 2011. SteveTaylor, President, Boeing Business Jets (BBJ) stated that the company has “been doing re-engine studies.” He added, “When I look at our airplane and we’re already at 6,200 nm, I think, if we could add 10 per cent range to that, that really opens up some city pairs.” This decision has been put on hold in recent months due to the lack of customer demand, but BBJ is still looking into the possibility of readjusting the existing airframe to accommodate engines for double-digit improvements in fuel efficiency.

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JETGALA144

ALTERNATE

AIRBORNEJETOPTIONS

by Jeremy RC Cox

ALTERNATIVE FUELS

THE PLANE IS PAID FOR AND THE MATH IS CLEAR. No matter how you look at it, fuel is the single biggest operational expense when you fly your plane. As the world’s supply of fossil fuel slowly expires, the aviation industry is scrambling to find affordable and sustainable alternatives to kerosene. Not only because green fuels are kinder to the environment, but — aside from nasty recessions — rising jet fuel prices are its biggest enemy.

There are of course biofuels, created from both food stocks (corn, sugar cane and beets), and non-food sources, such as algae, grass, and oil-rich seeds from the palm and jatropha plants. These alternative fuels can be used mixed with conventional jet fuel without adaptations to the aircraft’s propulsion systems. Engines powered by biofuel mix have at times even shown signs of improved efficiency.

Taking things further, in April this year, Lufthansa will start a six-month trial with an Airbus A321 on scheduled commercial flights between Hamburg and Frankfurt to study the long-term effects of biofuels on engines. Other organisations working on

alternative fuels include the US Air Force, which is developing Bio-Jet, a synthetic fuel produced from coal in collaboration with NASA. Originally formulated in Germany during World War II, Bio-Jet’s drawback is that it is only a viable fuel source when burnt in a 50/50 mix with conventional jet fuel. That aside, Air New Zealand is working in cooperation with Rolls-Royce to encourage the production and use of algae-derived Bio-Jet fuel.

Not far behind in the push for greener aviation fuel is Virgin Airlines. Before inking orders for 15 Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, Boeing and engine supplier General Electric had to pledge that the aircraft delivered under this contract would be capable of operating on Virgin’s brand of Bio-Diesel.

Scientists continue to search for the best renewable bio-fuels. Aside from the near-term hope that viable solutions will emerge soon, there is growing excitement about the most likely propulsion systems of the future — electric power, instead of combustible fuels. The car industry is showing the way.

Will jet aircraft follow?

THE SEARCH FOR THE JET FUEL OF THE FUTURE IS ON

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PLANE SPEAK

JETGALA146

ABSOLUTE ALTITUDE Measurable height of an aircraft above the actual terrain.

ABSOLUTE CEILING The maximum altitude above sea level at which an aircraft can maintain level flight under Standard Air conditions.

AGL (Above Ground Level) Altitude expressed as feet above terrain or airport elevation (see MSL).

AILERONS An aircraft control surface hinged to the rear, outer section of each wing for banking (‘tilting’) the aircraft.

AIRCRAFT MANAGEMENT Comprehensive services provided by a management company for an aircraft owner. Details vary.

AIRFOIL The shape of any flying surface, but principally a wing, as seen in side-view (cross section).

AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE Official notification to aircraft owner/operators of a known safety issue with a particular model of aircraft.

ALTIMETER A highly sensitive barometer that shows an aircraft’s altitude above mean sea level by measuring atmospheric pressure.

ANGLE OF ATTACK The angle between the airfoil’s chord line and the direction in which the aircraft is currently moving.

AOG (Aircraft on Ground) Aircraftunfit to fly, in need of repair. Owner’s worst nightmare.

APPROACH (DEPARTURE) CONTROL Radar-based air traffic control, usually at an airport tower, providing traffic separation up to 40 miles.

APRON Hard-surfaced or paved area around a hangar. Also, ‘ramp’.

ATC (Air Traffic Control) Service providing separation services to participating airborne traffic and clearances to land, take off or taxi at airports.

AVIONICS The electronic control systems airplanes use for flight such as communications, autopilots, and navigation.

BLOCK RATES Pre-paid hours for air charter at a contracted price.

CARBON OFFSET monetary contributions to renewable energy research and production projects to ‘offset’ carbon emissions of an airplane.

CHARTER The ‘renting’ of an aircraft with crew for a personal, business, or cargo flight from one point to another.

CHARTER CARD Pre-paid air charterplan, either for a block of charter hoursat a pre-defined fee, or a set debit balance in dollars.

CLASS I NAVIGATION Operation of aircraft under visual meteorological conditions (VFR) primarily based on ‘see and avoid’ procedures.

CLASS II NAVIGATION Any en route flight operation that is not Class I, i.e. instrument-based navigation (IFR).

CLEARANCE Formal instructions fromair traffic control authorising a specific action (climb or descend, entry into controlled airspace).

CONTRAILS Streaks of condensed water vapour created in the air by aircraft flying at high altitudes; a.k.a. vapour trails.

CONTROLLED AIRSPACE An airspace of defined dimensions within which air traffic control service is provided.

CRUISE SPEED The normal speed attained at altitude once the aircraft is no longer climbing and is en route.

CRUISING ALTITUDE A level altitude maintained by an aircraft while in flight.

DEADHEAD To fly the return leg of a trip without cargo or passengers.

DRAG Resisting force exerted on an aircraft in its line of flight opposite in direction to its motion. Opposite of thrust.

DUTY TIME That portion of the day when a crewmember is on duty in any capacity (not just in the air), limited by regulations.

EFIS (Electronic Flight Information Systems) Glass cockpit avionics that integrate all flight parameters into one optimised instrument.

ELEVATOR An aircraft control surface hinged to both rear horizontal stabilisers, changing the aircraft pitch attitude nose-up or nose-down.

EMPTY LEG Also known as ‘one-way availability’. Usually posted as available for travel between two airports during a certain time period.

FAA (Federal Aviation Administration)The Department of Transportation’s agency for aviation.

FBO (Fixed Base Operator) A business operating an airport terminal for non-airline, general aviation aircraft.

FERRY FLIGHT A flight for the purpose of returning an aircraft to base or delivering an aircraft from one location to another.

FLAPS Hinged surfaces on the inboard rear of wings, deployed to increase wing curvature (and thus, lift).

FLIGHT PLAN Filed by radio, telephone, computer, or in person with Flight Service Stations.

FLIGHT TIME Portion of the trip actually spent in the air.

FRACTIONAL OWNERSHIP The purchase of a ‘share’ of an aircraft.

FUSELAGE An aircraft’s main body structure housing the flight crew, passengers, and cargo.

GENERAL AVIATION Part of civil aviation comprising all facets of aviation except scheduled air carriers.

GLASS COCKPIT See FIS

GPS (Global Positioning System) Satellite-based navigation system operated by Department of Defence.

GPWS (Ground Proximity Warning System) System designed to alert pilots if their aircraft is in immediate danger of flying into the ground.

GROUND SPEED Actual speed that an aircraft travels over the ground also called ‘shadow speed’.

HANGAR An enclosed structure for housing aircraft. Originated with lake-based floating homes of the original German Zeppelin airships.

HEAVY JETS See ‘Large-Cabin Jets’.

HORSEPOWER The motive energy required to raise 550 lbs. one foot in one second, friction disregarded.

HUD (Head-Up Display) A transparent display that presents data without requiring the user to look away from his or her usual viewpoint.

IATA CODE International aviation code for international airports.

ICAO CODE Civil aviation codes for airports.

AIRBORNEGLOSSARY

Untitled-1 1 08/02/2011 8:57 AM

JETGALA148

AIRBORNEGLOSSARY

IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) Rules for flights into clouds and low visibility, by reference to cockpit instruments and radio navigation.

ILS (Instrument Landing System) A precision instrument approach system permitting aircraft to land with low ceilings or poor visibility.

JOINT OWNERSHIP Purchase or lease of an aircraft by a number of owners, often through a partnership or limited company.

KNOT (Nautical Mile per Hour) Common measure of aircraft speed equalling 6,080 feet or about 1.15 miles. (For mph, multiply knots by 1.15.)

KTAS True airspeed, in knots.

LARGE-CABIN JETS The largest size aircraft that doesn’t require a major airport runway. Typical capacity 9-15 passengers.

LAYOVER A night spent in the middle of the trip in a city other than home base for the aircraft and crew.

LEG Describes one direction of travel between two points. Commonly used in referring to a planned itinerary.

LIGHT JETS See ‘Small-Cabin Jets’.

MACH SPEED A number representing the ratio of the speed of an airplane to the speed of sound in the surrounding air.

MAYDAY An international distress signal to indicate an imminent and grave danger that requires assistance.

MID-CABIN JETS Typical capacity7-9 passengers.

MRO (Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul) Company licensed to provided services for the upkeep and airworthiness of airplanes.

NAUTICAL MILE Defined internationallyas equivalent to 1,852 meters or 1.15 statute miles.

NDB (Non-Directional Beacon) A radio transmitter at a known location, used as an aviation or marine navigational aid.

PAN PAN International call signal for urgency, indicating uncertainty and usually followed by the nature of the alert.

PART 91 The parts of Federal Aviation Regulations on non-commercial operations covering corporate flight departments.

PART 121 The parts of Federal Aviation Regulations on scheduled airline operations, including the publication of a schedule.

PART 135 The parts of Federal Aviation Regulations on non-commercial operations covering charter carriers.

PART 145 Certificate allowing an organisation to perform maintenance and alterations on US-registered aircraft.

PATTERN The path of aircraft traffic around an airfield, at an established height and direction.

PAYLOAD Anything that an aircraft carries beyond what is required for its operation during flight.

POSITIONING Ferrying aircraft for departure from other than originating airport.

RADAR System that uses electromagnetic waves to identify the range, altitude, direction, or speed of moving and fixed objects.

RAMP The apron or open ‘tarmac’ in front of an FBO or terminal facility. This space is busy, used for deplaning, parking of aircraft, etc.

ROLL One of three axes in flight, specifying the action around a central point.

ROTATE In flight, any aircraft will rotate about its centre of gravity, a point which is the average location of the mass of the aircraft.

RUDDER Aircraft control surface attached to the rear of the vertical stabiliser (fin) of the aircraft tail. Forces the plane to veer left or right.

RUNWAY HEADING Magnetic direction corresponding to the centre line of the runway.

SLATS Small, aerodynamic surfaces on the leading edge of the wings of fixed aircraft which allow the wing to operate at a higher angle of attack.

SLIPSTREAM The flow of air driven backward by a propeller or downward by a rotor.

SMALL-CABIN JETS Typical capacity5-8 passengers.

SQUAWK A four-digit number that a pilot dials into his transponder to identify his aircraft to air traffic controllers.

STATUTE MILE A unit of length equalto 5,280 feet.

SVS (Synthetic Vision System)A technologies that use 3D to providepilots with intuitive means of understanding their flying environment.

TAIL NUMBER An airplane’sregistration number.

TARMAC A paved airport surface, especially a runway or an apron at a hangar.

TAXI TIME Portion of the trip spentrolling between the gate, terminal, or ramp and runway.

THRUST The forward force produced in reaction to the gases expelled rearward from a jet engine. Opposite of drag.

TRAILING EDGE The rearmost edgeof an airfoil.

TRANSPONDER An airborne transmitter that responds to automated air traffic control interrogation with accurate position information.

TURBINE Engine that uses compressed air to generate thrust to spin a metal shaft inside the motor, used in jet engines and turboprop aircraft.

TURBOPROP An aircraft in which the propeller is driven by a jet-style turbine rather than a piston.

VERY LIGHT JETS (VLJ) Small jet aircraft approved for single-pilot operation, maximum take-off weight of less than 10,000 lb (4,540 kg).

VFR (Visual Flight Rules) A defined setof FAA regulations covering operation of aircraft flying by visual reference to the horizon.

VOR (VHF Omnidirectional Range) Ground-based radio navigation aid.

VORTICES Regions of high velocity that develop at the tip of a wing as it flies through the air.

WIND SHEAR Large changes in either wind speed or direction at different altitudes that can cause sudden gain or loss of airspeed.

WINGLET A small, stabilising, rudder-like addition to the tips of a wing to control or employ air movement, thereby increasing fuel economy.

YAW One of the three axes in flight, specifying the side-to-side movement of an aircraft on its vertical axis.

YOKE The control wheel of an aircraft, akin to an automobile steering wheel.

PLANE SPEAK

JETGALA150

MARCH 2011

01-03 MAR BUSINESS AIRPORT WORLD EXPO 2011 FARNBOROUGH AIRPORT, LONDON, UK www.businessairportworldexpo.com

01-06 MAR AVALON 2011 AVALON AIRPORT, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA www.airshow.net.au/avalon2011

08-10 MAR ASIAN AEROSPACE INTERNATIONAL EXPO AND CONGRESS 2011

ASIAWORLD-EXPO, HONG KONG (SAR CHINA) www.asianaerospace.com

APRIL 2011

05-07 APR AIRCRAFT INTERIORS EXPO 2011 HAMBURG MESSE, GERMANY www.aircraftinteriorsexpo.com

13-15 APR SIBAS 2011 (SHANGHAI INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS AVIATION SHOW)

SHANGHAI INTERNATIONAL HONGQIAO AIRPORT, SHANGHAI, CHINA

www.shanghaiairshow.com

13-16 APR AERO 2011 MESSE FRIEDRICHSHAFEN, GERMANY www.aero-expo.com

MAY 2011

17-19 MAY EBACE 2011 PALEXPO, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND www.ebace.aero

27-29 MAY AVIATION EXPO, EUROPE 2011 BITBURG AIRPORT, GERMANY www.expo.aero/europe

JUNE 2011

20-26 JUN PARIS AIR SHOW 2011 LE BOURGET, PARIS, FRANCE www.paris-air-show.com

17-19 JUN AEROEXPO, UK 2011 SYWELL AERODROME, UK www.expo.aero/uk

JULY 2011

14-17 JUL EXPO AERO BRASIL DEPARTMENT OF AEROSPACIAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, SÃO JOSE DOS CAMPOS , BRAZIL

www.expoaerobrasil.com.br

AUGUST 2011

11-13 AUG LABACE 2011 SAO PAULO, BRAZIL www.abag.org.br/labace2011

SEPTEMBER 2011

21-24 SEP BEIJING AVIATION EXPO CHINA NATIONAL CONVENTION CENTRE, BEIJING, CHINA

www.beijingaviation.com

29 SEP-01 OCT CEPA EXPO 2011 VODOCHODY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC

www.cepaexpo.com

OCTOBER 2011

10-12 OCT NBAA 2011 LAS VEGAS, NV, USA www.nbaa.org/events/name

NOVEMBER 2011

13-17 NOV DUBAI AIRSHOW AIRPORT EXPO, DUBAI, UAE www.dubaiairshow.aero

JANUARY 2012

19-21 JAN BAHRAIN INTERNATIONAL AIRSHOW SAKHIR AIR BASE, KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN www.bahraininternationalairshow.com

FEBRUARY 2012

14-19 FEB SINGAPORE AIRSHOW 2012 CHANGI EXHIBITION CENTRE www.singaporeairshow.com

28 FEB-01 MAR ABACE 2012 (ASIAN BUSINESS AVIATION CONFERENCE & EXHIBITION)

HAWKER PACIFIC BUSINESS AVIATION CENTRE, HONGQAIO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, SHANGHAI, CHINA

www.abace.aero

NBAA 2010, Atlanta. Photo by www.williamsonimages.com

AIRBORNESHOWDIARY

EBACE2011BUSINESS AVIATION – LINKING COMMUNITIES AND ECONOMIES

to:

www.ebace.aero

US Air Force photo by Captain John Peltier

JETGALA152

LAST ROLL

AIRBORNETAILHOOK

by Rainer Sigel

AS SPACE SHUTTLE ATLANTIS ARCS AWAY AT OVER 1,600 KM/H INTO SPACE, an F15 Strike Eagle appears as if frozen in awe in mid-air.

This launch on 14 May 2010 from Kennedy Space Center was Atlantis’ last flight. Atlantis is one of three surviving Space Shuttles, along with Discovery and Endeavour. Discovery was scheduled to make its last flight in February 2011. Endeavour will fly its last mission this April 2011, closing the era of the Space Shuttle.

Two other shuttles were lost in flight. Challenger went after take-off on 28 January 1986, and Columbia disintegrated during re-entry on 1 February 2003. On both missions, all seven crew members perished.

There was a sixth shuttle, the less known Enterprise. First built for NASA as part of the original Space Shuttle test flight program, it was constructed without engines or a functional heat shield. Incapable of spaceflight, it was retired and partially disassembled in 1977. Certain parts were reused in other shuttles, and the hull went on an international exhibition tour. In November 1985, Enterprise was shipped to Washington, DC, where it found a permanent home at the Smithsonian Institution.

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Ann.Monaco&Beijing_Sales_220x300.indd 1 14.02.11 15:16

Invention of the Tourbillon, 1801

With the Classique “ Grande Complication” Tourbil lon Messidor wristwatch, Breguet reinvents its most spectacular invention, the tourbillon, designed to compensate for the effects of gravity. Held between two sapphire crystals, the tourbillon floats weightless inside its carriage, while the sapphire dial offers a transparent vision of the complex proprietary movement and its meticulous hand finishing. History is still being written …

www.breguet.com/inventions

Breguet, the innovator.

B R E G U E T B O U T I Q U E – B1 - 119 T H E S H O P P E S A T M A R I N A B A Y S A N D S 2 B A Y F R O N T A V E N U E S I N G A P O R E + 6 5 6 3 3 8 6 0 0 6 – W W W . B R E G U E T . C O M

jetgala magazine issue 5

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