European Business Air News - March 2010

BUSINESS AIR NEWSE U R O P E A N

ISSUE 201 MARCH 2010

Topjet Executive is celebrating its tenth anniversary with fleet and facility expansion plans. Pictured left to right inside Topjet’s Hawker 850XP are Dino Rasero, president andHawker captain; Luca Cantabene, operations manager; Thomas Bolla, sales and operations coordinator and Hawker pilot; and Marco Dulitchi, sales manager. Full story in the Italyfocus on pages 12-14.

Abu Dhabi-based Al Jaber Aviation(AJA) is bringing its first Lineage1000 into charter operation in April.The company reports “enormousinterest” from the marketplace. “Itvery much supports our decision tobe the largest Lineage 1000 operatorwith a fleet of five of the aircraft,”says Dr Mark Pierotti, the company’scoo who points out that thecompany’s A318 will also soon bebrought into service.

AJA operates two Legacy 600 jetsand, as well as firm orders for fouradditional Lineage 1000s, plans toadd four Legacy 450s and fourLegacy 500s.

“This is a very exciting time forour company, and the delivery of our first Lineage 1000 is animportant milestone for our growingbusiness,” says Dr Pierotti. “AJA ispushing strongly into the top end of the market and will be able to offer its elite guests a superior levelof service.”

AJA is part of the Abu Dhabi-based Al Jaber Group and launchedcharter services from Dubai and AbuDhabi in June 2009 with two newLegacy 600s. Dr Pierotti says: “With a

fleet of 21 aircraft on order, AJA ispositioning to be a global leader inthe Middle East vip charter market.”

“These aircraft were selected fortheir superior cabin space, reliabilityand advanced technology,” says AJAceo Mohammed Obaeid Al Jaber.“AJA’s plans to serve clients from theMiddle East, Russia, Asia, Europeand Africa are going well.”

Al Jaber Group is one of the largestprivate sector employers in the UAEwith 55,000 employees and interests

in construction, oil and gas pipelinesbuilding, oil rig refurbishment,industrial fabrication, heavy liftingand heavy transport.

AJA has signed a joint ventureagreement with Avisa AviationSystems setting up Avisa Gulf whichprovides locally sourced expertservices and training to airlines, fleetand individual operators andmaintenance repair organisations.

Dr Pierotti points out that theLineage 1000 is Embraer’s biggestexecutive jet and can carry 19passengers in five cabin zones. Itsrange of 4,400 nm with eightpassengers, or 4,500 nm with fourpassengers, both with NBAA IFR fuelreserves, means that it is able to flynonstop from London to Dubai;from Dubai to Johannesburg; fromNew York to Moscow; or fromSingapore to Sydney (Australia).

“The interior design gives priorityto comfort and refinement, and was designed in conjunction withPriestman Goode from the UK,” he adds. “Configurations meet all passenger requirements withenough space to work, rest and hold meetings.”

AJA puts Lineage at the heartof charter expansion plans

Mohammed Obaeid Al Jaber: elite service.

Finland’s border guard has ordered afourth AW119Ke equipped forspecial operations and patrol in theArctic Circle’s harsh environmentaland weather conditions.

The first three helicopters orderedwill enter service during the thirdquarter of 2010 and will operate fromHelsinki and Rovaniemi to cover theentire Finnish/Russian border.

“They will be fitted withdedicated tactical equipment andcertified to perform missions usingnight vision goggles,” thegovernment says. “The AW119Ke hasa patrol time of about five hours and also has the largest cabin in itsclass which can be quicklyreconfigured for different missions.It will guard territorial waters as well as land borders and performSAR operations as well as firefighting duties.”

The Finnish border guard, whichis responsible for internal security,operates the AB206 JetRanger andAB412 helicopters.

It says: “The border guard will beprovided with a tailored training andsupport package as part of thepurchasing contract.”

Fourth AW119Kebolsters Arcticborder patrol

Alpha Exec Flugbetriebs will add aKing Air 350 to its AOC in March. The company’s Marcus Kaiser saysthat the new aircraft will complementthe German company’s current fleetof a B200, a B350 King Air and aPremier 1A.

“The 350 not only fits in very wellwith our other aircraft but it also has agreat cabin and a good range/loadprofile,” says Kaiser.

The company, which reports thatits strong profile in the market bringsa steady stream of job applications,says that the new acquisition will giveit enough aircraft to immediatelymeet foreseeable charter demand.

Kaiser says: “The B350 has beenredone outside and refurbishedinside. We expect it to be very popularwith both our business and leisureclients. A four-strong fleet will give usmore opportunities for economies ofscale and greater scope in meetingclient needs.”

The company, which waslaunched in 2004 and gained its AOCin January 2005, says the King Air 350will bring cost and operationaladvantages. “Major improvementsthat our clients will enjoy include astretched fuselage making it moreroomy and the addition of winglets,which will add to fuel efficiency andreduce costs,” says Kaiser.

He points out that the 350 has agood passenger capacity for betweeneight and 11. “We expect much of the demand to centre on eightpassengers with up to 550 lbs ofluggage,” says Kaiser. “Obviouslyairport access is no problem with the350; it is capable of landing at mostairports in Europe and thoseanywhere in the world in fact. We willbe able to take our clients very closeto their destinations and avoid thehassles and delays that might occur atthe larger and busier airports.”

King Air 350fits the bill for Alpha

Future is bright forten-year-old TopjetFuture is bright forten-year-old Topjet

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

Sonnig to augment fleet with Falcon 7X page 3

Vinair celebrates first orders of Grand New page 4

FAI reports record income page 6

RAE shuts down and sells fleet page 11

NetJets captain launchesweb site with militaryprecision page 14

SPECIAL FOCUSES

Buying your next aircraft with confidence page 6

Review of Italy page 12

FBO news roundup page 14

FBO RelationshipManager

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The founders of Hawkrise Air Servicesbelieve an EC130 will bring inbusiness from an under-servedcharter niche in the UK Midlands.Local businessmen and aviationenthusiasts Steve Verrall and ClintonSmith say the helicopter was initiallydesigned for the US market to offerultra quiet tours of the Grand Canyon.

Verrall adds: “We identified a nichethat the EC130 is well suited for. It isone of the world’s most modern andcomfortable helicopters. The largecabin provides an unrivalled view for passengers, combined with spaceand comfort. We believe that thisraises the bar in premium travel andoffers an exclusive opportunity totravel in style.”

Smith says: “Our service is aimed atleisure and corporate clients. The

helicopter will comfortably seat sixpassengers and our clients areguaranteed a first-class service fromthe moment they meet the pilot untilthey reach their destination. With atrip from Birmingham to Londontaking just 45 minutes, and toEdinburgh just over two hours, theEC130 offers business people andcorporate clients the opportunity toarrive in style, rested, stress free and to their own timetable.”

Verrall adds: “Hawkrise is offer-ing block bookings of flying hours to make business travel more cost effective.”

The founders, successful in theengineering and IT sectors, haveowned and operated helicopters andfixed wing aircraft for personnel useand had an AS350B2 for more than ten

years before buying the EC130. Verrallsays: “We believe there has been adearth of modern generation aircraftavailable to charter in the Midlandsarea and that aircraft utilisation couldbe improved by providing a vipcommercial service.”

The flight crew is headed up bychief pilot Oliver Byard-Jones, whohas more than 18 years experience,flying vip charters and has alsoworked in the police and airambulance sectors.

“The machine is just outstanding,”said Byard-Jones, who has qualified as an instructor and examiner on the EC130. “The helicopter has a full vip interior with leather seats, airconditioning and a noise reducingdesign to make the cabin ascomfortable as possible.”

MARCH 2010 3EUROPEAN BUSINESS AIR NEWS

Hawkrise EC130 targets under-servedUK business and leisure niche

BUSINESS AIR NEWSE U R O P E A N

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The business aviation communityhas long been committed toreducing its environmental impactand we have improved the fuelefficiency of our aircraft by 40 percent over the past 40 years. Lookingahead, our commitments parallelthose of the airline sector and wepledge an average of two per centimprovement in fuel efficiency per year from now until 2020 on afleet-wide basis. We also recognisemarket-based measures as anessential, if small part of our globalbusiness aviation strategy toachieve our stated 2020 goal.

However, in an earlier column(December 2009) I drew attentionto the ongoing problems with the practical application of EU-ETS to aviation and, inparticular, to the difficulties somany small corporate operatorsare experiencing, because of thedecision to set a de minimisthreshold of 10,000 tonnes of CO2

emissions for commercialoperators, but no such baseline for non-commercial operators. Inconsequence, we forecast that the system would provedisproportionate and unworkable,and now the accuracy of ourposition is being confirmed byofficial figures.

The European Commissionpublishes a list of operatorsassigned to each EU member state,but the list published earlier thismonth, like all previous ones, is fullof inconsistencies and errors. Themain problem is that a largenumber of operators are stillidentified by service providerdesignation and not by name.Many operators should not be onthe list at all, while the time toregister operators varies hugely byoperator and member state. Toconfirm the muddle, the UKdepartment for transport hasadvised that over 250 operators’ETS emissions plans have beenapproved, with another 100 inprogress from a total UK list of 894operators. But 341 (38 per cent)remain unaccounted for andpotentially not compliant with thismandatory element of the ETSscheme. Yet this 38 per centaccount for less than one per centof the UK’s aviation emissions,proving the absurdity of thescheme, particularly for small non-commercial operators, many ofwhom emit only a few tonnes of“eligible” CO2. Moreover, even

those small emitters that are rightlyin the scheme, as yet have no“simplified tool” to help themcalculate their liabilities.

To help resolve this mess theEBAA is committed to two mainobjectives: in the short term, we are pressing hard to get the EU-ETS Support Facility up andrunning despite the politicaldifficulties of such a scheme beingrun by Eurocontrol. This will then allow small emitters to havetheir emissions independentlycalculated without the need for expensive independentverification.

In addition, we are asking theEuropean Commission to raise thesmall emitter reporting thresholdfrom the current 10,000 tonnes toas high as the accuracy of thesystem allows. We hope, if it iswithin plus or minus two per cent,that this will be as high as 500,000tonnes, so that EU-ETS does notbecome a consultants’ bonanza. Inthe longer term, we want to see theFramework ETS Directiveexemption threshold for non-commercial operators raised to thesame level as commercialoperators (up to 10,000 tonnes ofCO2). This will eliminate thecurrent absurd levels ofbureaucracy and nugatory costs onsubjects and regulator alikemanaging those that emit virtuallynothing, while ensuring that thoseabove a sensible threshold rightlypay for their emissions in amanageable way. Then, and onlythen, will we have a workablesystem that can be supported by all stakeholders!

Prompt action is needed toresolve EU-ETS muddle

By Brian Humphries, presidentEuropean Business AviationAssociation (EBAA).

EDITORIAL COMMENT

The new EC130 charter team, pictured left to right, are director Clinton Smith, chief pilot Oliver Byard-Jones and director Steve Verrall.

Geneva-based Sonnig will bring aFalcon 7X into service in 2011 tomeet demand globally and in Europe.

Proprietor and former ice hockeystar Riccardo Mortara says the Falcon7X’s addition to a fleet that alreadyoffers a Citation V, a Citation Ultra, aSabreliner 65, a Hawker 1000, aChallenger 601 and a Challenger 604will be timely.

“The industry has a couple ofunpredictable years ahead, where wemust adapt to a constantly changingenvironment and carefully manageour assets,” Mortara says. “Thisdemands that business is handled

tactically rather than strategically.The 7X will be deployed worldwideand will help us consolidate our

business. We have a very loyalEuropean customer-base at Sonnigwhich chooses to travel with usbecause we suit both their leisure andbusiness needs.”

Sonnig, established in 1964, chosethe 7X because of its range and cabinsize, he adds.

Mortara, who used to play icehockey for Italy, raced a works Volvo in the World Rally Champion-ship in the 1970s and now supportshis son, Edoardo Mortara, who racesin the Formula One feeder series GP2and who won the Macau Grand Prixlast November.

Sonnig to supplement fleet with Falcon 7X

Riccardo Mortara; timely fleet expansionPhoto: Thomas Butler/Realise Creative

4 MARCH 2010 EUROPEAN BUSINESS AIR NEWS

Vinair Aeroserviços and AgustaWestland celebrate the Grand New order. Pictured are Luís Inácio Dos Santos, Giuseppe Orsi, GrahamCole, Vasco De Almeida Araújo and Angelo Raimondi.

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Portugal’s Vinair Aeroserviços S.A.has become the launch customer forthe Grand New after ordering two ofthe light twin engine helicopters.Chief pilot Luís Inácio Dos Santossays the first next generation Grandshould be delivered this summer and

will be used for corporate transport.He adds: “The next generation of

the Grand model will significantlyenhance Vinair Aeroserviçosoperations providing unprecedentedlevels of advanced technology, cabinspace and comfort, performance,

safety and low operating costs andoffering a unique flight experience.”

Vinair Aeroserviços operatesmixed rotary and fixed wing aircraftthat serve clients travelling todestinations in Portugal, Europe, theAmericas, Africa and Asia.

Vinair is first in line for the Grand New

The ExecuJet Aviation Group, whichhas added seven new aircraft to itsEuropean fleet, says tougher EUregulations are driving up thedemand for management.

Jean-Louis Cehovic, ExecuJet’sEurope director aircraft managementsales, says: “Issues such as the newrules on emissions trading –daunting for individual owners – areinfluencing them to partner with anexpert organisation.”

The company has brought intoservice a Challenger 300 and an 850,two Global Express, a Global 5000, aFalcon 2000 and a Gulfstream 100.Cehovic says: “These aircraft arebased in London, Moscow, Kiev and Nice. With more Global Express,Gulfstreams and Falcons also in the pipeline for arrival in the nextweeks this takes ExecuJet Europe’smanagement fleet to more than 50 aircraft. This will mean more wide-bodied aircraft in ourmanagement fleet.”

Business jet owners areincreasingly looking to earn revenue,Cehovic says. “ExecuJet is also seeing more of its clients commit tofull management packages andbenefit from the organisation’sbuying power in terms of fuel,insurance, maintenance, crewtraining and other economies of scale.”

The company, he adds, hasdeveloped an aircraft managementpackage that makes the switching ofoperator a seamless process.

“It is important to keep the aircraftflying while we perform all the workrequired to get the aircraft under a new AOC and maintain the maintenance supervisioncontinuity,” says Cehovic.

ExecuJet Europe, Cehovic says,meets the mandatory new OTAR(Overseas Territory AviationRequirements) applicable to allbusiness jets and turbopropsregistered in Bermuda which cameinto force on 1 November last year. Itis also IS-BAO certified.

ExecuJet, which offers British,Danish, German and Swiss AOCs,reports an upward trend in activitysince the third quarter of last year,especially with wide cabin, longrange jets, in regions including theMiddle East and Russia.

Stricter EU rulesdrive up demand

for aircraftmanagement

Greg Thomas, president and ceo PrivatAir, and Antony Simmins, coo PrivatAir Bahrain,are discussing Bahrain launch plans.

PrivatAir SA plans to offer charterservices from Bahrain by mid-summer. The Swiss operator, thelaunch company for BBJs, is equippedto compete for business at the top endof the market.

President and ceo Greg Thomaspoints out: “PrivatAir operates a fleetof five BBJs on behalf of its airlinepartners, as well as a vip-configuredBoeing 757 that is available for privatecharter. Through its network ofspecialist partners, PrivatAir alsoprovides private charter of almost anytype of aircraft.”

He adds: “We are extremely excitedabout our commitment to set upoperations in Bahrain, which is ahighly attractive and welcoming

regulatory and business-orientedenvironment from which to operate inthe Gulf region. PrivatAir will finallyestablish a physical presence in theregion in response to demand fromclients and potential clients.”

PrivatAir, which is in its 33rd year ofoperations, furthered its launch plansat this year’s inaugural BahrainAirshow. “PrivatAir is spendingsignificant time and effort in planningand organising for this launch,”Thomas adds.

The company, headquartered inGeneva, already has operating bases inZurich, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Munichand Amsterdam. Its services includeaircraft sales and management,ground services and training.

PrivatAir refines summer launchplans for Bahrain charter

Germany’s DC Aviation says it isnegotiating with numerous owners tointegrate their jets in its aircraftmanagement division.

“We are very confident that we willfinalise a number of contracts thisyear,” says ceo Steffen Fries. “Many ofour jet owners already offer availableflight capacity to the market. Thiscurrently enables us to offer 20aircraft in our executive chartersegment, ranging from the CitationXLS to the Gulfstream 550 and thevvip A319.”

The company is also expanding itscharter fleet. Fries says: “We areextremely proud to be one of the firstEuropean charter providers towelcome two Legacy 650s into ourfleet. They will expand our long haulcapability. The new Legacy 650s willenable us to offer comfortable, non-stop flights on business routessuch as London-Dubai or Dubai-Singapore.” DC Aviation operatesmore than 30 jets with ACJs to bedelivered by this spring.

Other planned additions include aGlobal XRS and a G550.

DC Aviation ready to further

expand fleet

Comlux, which has ordered its tenth ACJ and eleventh Challenger,confirms that the top end of theprivate charter market remainscentral to its development plans.

Richard Gaona, president and ceoof Comlux The Aviation Group, saysthe company’s third ACJ will take thefleet to 10 including four A318s, threeACJs, two A320 Prestiges and oneA330-200 Prestige. “It makes us thelargest Airbus ACJ family customer,”he adds. “With this acquisition, FlyComlux confirms its leading positionin the top-end charter business. The aircraft will be equipped withCFM56-5 engines and will beoutfitted in our completion centre inIndianapolis with a cabin designed by Comlux Creatives.”

But although the top end of the market remains central tomanagement and charter plans,Gaona stresses: “Comlux is one of the largest providers of vvipchartersat the top end of the market, a sector that continues to have gooddemand but our global strategy is tobe a player in almost all businessaviation sectors.”

Comlux is also bringing anotherChallenger 605 into operation takingthe number of Bombardier aircraft inits fleet to 11. “Comlux successfullybegan six years ago with theChallenger 604,” says Stephen Laven,

ceo, Fly Comlux. “The addition of anew Challenger 605 to our fleetsupports our main objective ofalways operating brand new aircraft,offering the best value for money toour vip clients.”

He adds: “The aircraft will beoperated from our facility inKazakhstan. From central Asia, it willbe ideally placed to serve Europeandestinations and the growing chartermarket in Asia.”

Fly Comlux’s fleet includes threeChallenger 605s, two Challenger 850s,two Global 5000s, two Global Expressand two Global Express XRS jets.

Comlux and MAZ Aviation(MAZAV) are launching an operationin Bahrain – the Comlux Middle East Company. An A318 Elite and anACJ will serve the region and bejoined by an A320 Prestige by the endof this year.

Tenth ACJ order confirmsComlux’s top-end focus

The luxury ACJ cabin wins business.

SaxonAir says its new EC120 marksthe beginning of its venture into vip helicopter charter. “The newaircraft is intended to be the first in a larger fleet of helicopters offeringa broader range of services to our existing and successful private jet charter business,” says md Chris Mace.

Based out of the UK’s Norwich

international airport, the new EC120will initially be operated jointly underthe AOC of London HelicopterCentres which has bases atCranfield, Redhill, Gloucester,Wolverhampton and Enniskillen.

Mace says SaxonAir hasexperienced continued growth sinceit was established in 2007 despiterecent economic conditions and has

built a fleet including a Mustang,Hawker 400XP, a King Air 200 and aKing Air 350.

He adds: “The EC120 enables fourpassengers and a pilot to travel attheir ease with unobstructed,excellent visibility. Unlike manyhelicopters, there is a great deal ofluggage space, enough for about fivelarge suitcases.”

SaxonAir adds vip helicopter operation to fixed wing services

Helicopter line pilot Anna Loake.


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The hunt is always on for aircraft that willdo the job and hold their value well

Astute aircraft purchasers identifyaircraft that will not just fulfill theirdesired role profitably and cost-effectively but will also hold theirvalue well in good and bad times. It isa tall order and due diligence criteriaobviously differ widely between newand pre-owned aircraft.

At the top end of the privatecharter market, companies that havejudiciously converted large pre-owned acquisitions into luxuriousbusiness and leisure aircraft areseeing a fair return on theirinvestment. And case studies andmarket analyses support theconclusion that many buyers of newMustangs and Phenoms are now well-placed for the future.

Hans Pfeiffer, co-founder of theDusseldorf-based Triple Alpha which has 15 managed aircraft in itsfleet, says the company focuses onaircraft that are likely to hold valuewell while meeting an identifiedmarket demand.

“The choice of aircraft largelydetermines the route that a buyermight take. The Phenom 300, forinstance, looks to be an aircraft that

FlairJet’s David Fletcher, happy with the value and operation of the Phenom 100, is looking at Phenom 300s. Other careful buyers can achieve similar satisfaction.

is right for national markets likeGermany and the requirements ofEurope,” he explains. “It can beexpected to hold its valuecomparatively well. In the case of apurchase of this aircraft it would bevery much a case of negotiating withthe manufacturer. Even in theeconomic downturn those who havepurchased a position want a goodenough premium to show a profit.”

Triple Alpha, part of the Ocean SkyAviation Group, says that thecompany is also looking at bringingin a Phenom 100 at the right price. “One of the most importantthings is not to pay over the odds,”says Pfeiffer.

The UK’s FlairJet is happy that its two Phenom 100s will meet thevalue criteria and its ceo DavidFletcher says it is now looking atadding two Phenom 300s. AndGeorge Galanopoulos, md of the UK’sLondon Executive Aviation is another

who predicts that both Mustangs andPhenoms will do well in Europe.

So how do other buyers get to thestage where they are happy with whatthey’ve acquired and are likely to gofor more of the same?

Delivery dilemmasThey will need to make the correctdecisions well before the operationalstage, from market analysis andpurchase right through to finaldelivery. And the delivery of Phenoms from South America tobuyers in Europe and the Middle Eastcan be far from straightforward.

Chris Rycroft, who purchased aPhenom 100 as a private owner,decided to call in experts. Thedecision delegated a testing five-dayflight which was managed andorganised by JetSolutions (Europe)md Robert Posselt. The experiencesof pilot Bill Minkoff, accompanied onthe first leg to the US by first officer

Allan Howell and up the East Coast,across the North Atlantic and into theUK by first officer William Rowell,proved it can pay for owners todelegate delivery.

The Phenom 100 faced extremeturbulence and torrential rain aftertake off from Fort Lauderdale buthandled perfectly. After a 24-hourweather delay with heavy snow alongthe entire North East coast, thePhenom 100 landed and managedthe wet runways of Bangor Main andGoose Bay perfectly. Minkoff says:“Approaching the landing strip atKangerlussuaq in Greenland wasreminiscent of my early flying careerwith the US Navy when I had toaccomplish a landing onboard anaircraft carrier at sea.”

Then it was on to Reykjavik for anovernight stop before entry into theUK via Wick in Scotland. The aircraftwas finally safely delivered to Rycroft in Leeds five days after initialtake-off.

The Czech Republic’s GrossmannJet Services is strongly focusing onVLJs while still servicing demand inthe heavy and midsize ranges.Industry contacts and knowledge arekey. Dagmar Grossmann, ceo, says: “Iknow the people I deal withpersonally, including the brokers andthe suppliers. I choose the best butthe selection of manufacturerdepends on the needs andpreferences of the clients.”

She says that now may be a goodtime to buy because there is scope forbargaining with the manufacturers.But she warns: “This scenario will lastmaybe for only one or perhaps twoyears. The disadvantage is that if youwant to sell you have a reversesituation, so it means that buying isonly interesting if you stay with thechosen aircraft for at least five years.”

Grossmann says she relies on herpersonal knowledge and contacts. “Iuse several brokers that I have foundto be trustworthy over the years. If thejet is pre-owned the technical status

Top ten tips from the experts• Study the global marketplace and employ recommended and trusted

specialists

• Be very sure that the aircraft can do the job intended

• Do due diligence on how well the aircraft can be expected to retain its value

• Delegate the deliver y of smaller aircraft over long distances toexperienced pilots and organisations

• Painstakingly check the airwor thiness and maintenance histor y andensure that all records are included

• Ensure necessary options are identified and cost-effectively installed bythe manufacturer prior to delivery to save on costs

• Apply the ‘basic choice’ formula: up to 100 hours, charter: 100 to 200hours, consider fractional; 200-plus hours consider ownership

• Acquire sooner rather than later as financing is likely to become moredifficult, prices could rise and deals could become less readily available

• Check for hidden mortgages through registry research

• Choose the registration jurisdiction with care to maximise tax andefficiency advantages

A strong market presence in Russia is paying off for Jetalliance, accordingto md Jörg Sabitzer. The companysays its Moscow-based CJ3,configured for six or sevenpassengers, and its Citation Sovereignwhich takes nine or ten, are winningbusiness away from heavier jets.

Sabitzer adds: “The two aircraft are perfectly suitable for first-timeusers. Although the market hasshown a tendency for large cabinaircraft, the Citations also attractmore and more customers throughlower prices.”

The total Jetalliance fleet nownumbers 31 after the delivery of aCitation X and a 7X for undisclosedclients. The company says its IATAOperational Safety Audit (IOSA)accreditation has been well receivedby clients and in the marketplace.

Germany’s FAI rent-a-jet AG hasstarted building new solar-poweredfacilities after reporting recordincome. Consolidated total revenuefor the fiscal year of 2009 reached €38million including €6 million fromFAI’s Swiss subsidiary NomadAviation. The company says thisreflects an increase of 45 per centcompared to €27 million in 2008. Itadds: “For 2010 FAI is expectingrevenues of close to €50 millionwhich would be a further increase of30 per cent.”

The company says work isprogressing fast on FAI’s new hangarand office building which includes a100 kwp rooftop solar power plantdesigned to ensure carbon neutralground operations.

FAI currently operates 13 Learjets– two 35As, seven 55s and four 60s – and one DA900. Six of theseaircraft are operating under NGOcontracts in Africa and Haiti. Nomad’sfleet has been expanded to five –three Challenger 604s, a Legacy andCitation Jet.

FAI builds onrecord incomefor the future

Sovereign andCJ3 win business

in Moscow

Jetalliance: winning business in Russia.

SPECIAL FOCUS – BUYING WITH CONFIDENCE

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is critical but GJS is very strong on the technical side.

“Maintenance is absolutelycritical,” she points out, “as safetyalways comes first.”

The need for due diligence doesnot finish with choosing the aircraft.Phill Rawlins, director of RadeAviation Ltd warns that problem-freedelivery cannot be taken for granted.“All aircraft entering and transitingEurope that have not been importedand have had VAT paid must beentered into a customs procedure, beit import, temporary import orcommunity transit (T1) althoughspecial dispensation is given forscheduled airline operators.”

He explains: “This particularlyaffects imported aircraft and withVLJs being ever more popular andturboprops being an economicalternative, there are more aircraft onimport delivery whose range restrictsthem from direct entry from outsidethe EU to the point of import.

“Traditionally a number of aircraftstop in Scotland and across the UKfor fuel and this becomes their entrypoint in the EU. What manyoperators are not aware of is, once theaircraft lands in the UK, then VAT isdue to paid before the aircraft can bemoved again regardless of anypending import elsewhere. And thisalso affects aircraft going outside of the EU.”

For example, a Mustang beingdelivered to the UAE could beseriously held up in Europe ifcustoms clearances are not sought.The T1 procedure allows the aircraftto continue on its trip to point ofimport or exit from the EU. Rawlinssays: “This is a simple andstraightforward procedure and when arranged in advance willprevent any delays and in many casesclear the aircraft upon arrival in theUK so further travel is not impeded inany way.”

T1s can be issued at all UKaerodromes covered by a customsoffice or agreement, generallyspeaking the majority of airports thatcan accept an international flight.

Failure to comply has led to manyaircraft being stopped andimpounded until the issue has beenresolved – usually by intervention of a specialist customs agent such asRade Aviation.

Maintenance recordsThe complexities and pitfalls ofchoosing the right pre-ownedaircraft, however, can make even theorganisation of round-the-worlddelivery of new aircraft seemrelatively straightforward. DavidLeach, a director of the UK’s Essex-based Aviation Quality ManagementServices (AQMS), warns: “It is a very good time to buy both new and second hand aircraft but careneeds to be taken to ensure that the aircraft is not going to cost youyour livelihood.”

AQMS has been called in to helpcompanies to check their recordsbecause of issues of non-complianceon recently purchased aircraft.

Leach says: “There are a largenumber of used aircraft available atbargain prices. But several cases wehave come across recently show that,without due diligence, millions canbe spent on an aircraft. Buyers’concerns tend to focus on range,

capacity, livery, design of the interior,and what registration tag is available– not always in that order – and theairworthiness and maintenancehistory of the aircraft may be givenscant consideration until a problemarises.”

Leach tells purchasers: “To protectyour asset due diligence means thatyou need to ensure a thoroughinspection of the records is carriedout before a decision on purchase ismade. We have come across severalcases recently where incompleteand/or inaccurate records has meantthat an outlay of hundreds ofthousands – sometimes going into six figures – is needed to make theaircraft airworthy and to allow anARC to be issued.”

Leach, a quality manager for morethan 10 years who sits on the BritishBusiness and General Aviation(BBGA) engineering committee, saysan existing ARC issued by an EASAcountry should provide the purchaserwith reassurance that all is well butnot all countries require that thesame records be kept, or agree on thelength of time that they should bekept for.

“EASA is still working towards apartnership agreement with memberstates about what should be kept andfor how long. Until this agreement ismade and ratified we advise clientsnot to dispose of any aircraft records,particularly ‘dirty fingerprint’ copiesof work packs which will often giveevidence that an airworthinessdirective has been complied with.Aircraft from outside EASA canpresent an even greater difficulty as often these valuable documentsare missing.”

Aircraft records, Leach says, aremore important now than everbefore. “Without the correct recordsyour aircraft can lose value, be un-exportable or even groundedcompletely. Lack of good recordkeeping can also affect an insur-ance claim.

“For example, within the EASAmember states there are currentlydifferent requirements about whatrecords need to be kept. The CAAadvises that dirty fingerprint workcards may be discarded oncescanned. This is fine under thecurrent rules and while the aircraft ison the UK register, but if you want toexport your aircraft to another EASAstate, the importing NAA may requireall dirty fingerprint copies to beavailable for import C of A’s and fullback to birth records.”

EASA currently has a workinggroup to standardise the require-ments across the European Union.

But Leach says: “We do not yet knowwhether the new requirements willfollow the CAA model or somethingelse altogether. This means that thereis a risk that you may have problemsrenewing airworthiness certificatesif you discard something that is laterrequired. Likewise the introductionof EASA Part M has meant that someaircraft have been grounded or evenscrapped because the cost of redoingwork that cannot be proven to have

been certificated is greater than thevalue of the aircraft.”

Once an aircraft goes in formaintenance the owner needs to askfor copies of all EASA Form 1s and8130s to be attached to the work packdocumentation and returned, andkeep these with the records.Traceability of components isrequired and the batch or serialnumber of the component may notbe of any use if the Part 145organisation has ceased trading.EASA Form 1 and 8130 are the legaldocuments that certify componentsas fit for service and contain allinformation required to meet thetraceability criteria.

Leach warns: “Records are moreimportant now than ever before.Ensuring that yours are kept wellhelps to keep your aircraft flying andmaintain its value, you should haveno problems getting an ARC and yourcommercial viability is not damagedby expensive and unnecessarymaintenance keeping your aircraft inthe hangar.”

Bespoke needsBut buyers should be wary of abargain even with full records if itsadvantages are not tailored tooperational needs. Capt Tony Corlett,md of The Private Jet Company basedin the Isle of Man, points out thateach buyers’ needs tend to be unique.“Only after careful consideration as towhat they plan to do with the aircraftcan we advise properly. We will fullydiscuss requirements during aninitial meeting.”

He adds: “We also have a goodworking relationship with the majormanufacturers enabling us to dealdirectly and in a timely manner onnew aircraft. This allows us to fullyspec the new purchase in accordancewith client wishes. Specifyingequipment in an aircraft is a specialist job; getting it wrong canmake a huge difference to its value inyears to come.”

The Private Jet Company, he says,has a strong global network ofassociates who work to fulfill exactrequirements. “Once sourced oursurveyors will give the aircraft a fullcheck to make sure it meets our strictstandards, as well as make sure that ithas the appropriate equipment to flythrough known relevant countries.Our searches will ensure all relevantaircraft certificates, paperwork,engine maintenance programs etcare present, correct and up-to-date.This is an extremely important part ofthe process.

“Once the aircraft has passed itssurvey we can arrange finance ifrequired, organise insurance, sourcecrew and arrange any crew trainingthat may be required. We will then goon to deliver the aircraft. In simpleterms we will make sure that thewhole process from your decision topurchase up to delivery runs assmoothly as possible.”

The company also offers aircraftmanagement covering maintenance,financial monitoring and reporting,sourcing hangarage at the aircraft’sbase or offering hangarage on the Isleof Man at Ronaldsway. “This is aservice that The Private Jet Companywill be increasing when it completesits business aviation facility at Isle ofMan airport towards the end of 2010,

The Phenom 100 is thought by someoperators to have a good chance ofholding its value.

Phenom 100 handover ceremony with the Embraer delivery team. Pictured left to right are Robert Posselt of JetSolutions (Europe) Ltd and Laor, Elias, Elena Tateshi, Marcelo Cruz and Ivan Alessandro from Embraer. It pays to invest in getting the delivery right.

David Leach: Risk warning.

Continued on next page


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when we will also be able to offerhangarage to visiting aircraft.”

Owners also need to choose theright jurisdiction in which to registertheir aircraft.

The Isle of Man, Corlett points out,provides company formation andfiduciary services as well as the Isle ofMan aircraft register. “We can arrangeeverything from the sale of aircraftright through to the delivery andmanagement – or we can simplyprovide support and advice derivedfrom our 25 years of operating private jets.”

Pricing contextLow prices in themselves may not begood value. Dennis Rousseau,president of AircraftPost.com says:“As current market data provides avery myopic perspective in thebuying process, it is critical to beinformed on fleet statistics includingoriginal cost new, standardequipment, interior configurations,inspection cycles et al and recentsales over periods ranging from 30days to six or 12 months.”

Current market data can still behelpful in determining thepercentage of the fleet available andprovide a guide on ask price. ButRousseau warns: “If the majority ofaircraft are priced at make offer,further investigation would bewarranted to determine theunderlying reason. If there is 15 percent of the available fleet on themarket, a prospective buyer can getan idea of average equipment andtotal time by year, and determinepercentages of those with an engineprogram and options. Also it isadvisable to compare pricing, times,equipment etc for competing makesor models. Further, one should try toacquire an aircraft with the requiredoptions installed, as it is always morecostly, in downtime and cash terms,

to incorporate after the fact.”The majority of pre-owned aircraft

sold from the EU and Middle Eastinto those same markets today seemto originate in the US and areexported. Rousseau points out: “Afew years back the majority sold fromthe North American market to NorthAmerica.” Due to the customisationas well as globalisation of businessjets an owner needs to peruse theglobal marketplace to get a goodcross section of the market.

Business jet market prices aredown 40 per cent from the height in2008 and on average 15 per centbelow market value. “Historically,recoveries in the business jet markethave lagged behind economicrecoveries by 18 months. If the

current recovery started in the thirdquarter of 2009, the business aircraftmarket should recover in the firstquarter of next year, but once again,

this recession is not like others, thereare different dynamics in play,”Rousseau says.

Some OEMs have indicated thatnew business jet deliveries areprojected to decline further, beforestarting a recovery in 2011. Businessjets, though, are selling in themedium and long range categories.Rousseau adds: “Some 50 per centmore aircraft were sold in 2009 thanin 2008 although the majority areselling at an average 15 per centbelow market value or 50 per cent lessthan market price at the height of the market.”

Buyers, he says, must realisebusiness jets are depreciating assets,not commodities, and typically havea useful life of 30 years “From a very

simplistic view, if we were to focusmore on market values, when buying,selling, lending or upgrading, wecould perhaps be on more stablefooting during the economic swings.”

AircraftPost, a web-based infor-mation resource providing real-timevaluations for owners of selectbusiness jets, has launched a real-time current market feature detailingmake, model, serial number, askingprice, photos, condensedspecification, owner/broker contacts,market summary showing totalaircraft on the market, averagemarket time and high/low ask prices.

Finance and objectivesBarclays Corporate Jet & Superyachtshas committed to over $1 billion oflending including the financing ofmore than 40 aircraft, according todirector Paul Fowkes. Buyers, hepoints out, need to decide betweenoutright ownership, chartering andfractional options by correctlyevaluating personal and businessneeds – asking the question: “Is it justa lifestyle?”

There is a basic formula involvingutilisation – up to 100 hours, charter;100 to 200 hours, consider fractionalownership; 200-plus hours, look atownership. Buyers also have toconsider destinations, operatingcosts, time savings including the non-usage of first or business classcommercial flights, flexibility ofplanning, assets value and re-marketing.Fowkes says: “They haveto ask themselves questions like whowill operate the jet, what are thesafety and privacy issues, is theregood direct access to regional andlocal airports, and if there are anyrelevant tax issues.”

If finance is required ensure that aspecialist aviation finance provider isqualified to recommend the correctstructuring of any loan and highlightpotential pitfalls.

The Private Jet Company’s Tony Corlett, Ed Miles and John Bean praise the Isle of Man’s aircraft registration advantages.

Phill Rawlins: delivery advice.

Continued from previous page


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Buyers also have to know, or trackdown, the right reputable jet broker,manufacturer or fractional ownershipcompany. An adviser and a lawyermay be needed to check sale andpurchase agreements, warranties,title, maintenance records, damagenotification history, history ofownership and root of title, any liens that exist on the jet. Duediligence may include a pre-buyinspection and ascertaining whocovers the costs of discrepancies or repairs. There are also the issues of insurances, de-registration and registration, valuation andappraisal and future valuation andcommissions to brokers.

‘Operators found that by simply taking

documents hostage they can delay re-marketing

and re-registration’

Dr Daniel Lütolf, managingpartner of Swiss Aviation Consultants(SAC), points out that businessaircraft finance has followeddifferent patterns compared tocommercial airliner finance. “Unlikein the US, strictly asset-basedfinancing has had a scarceavailability in Europe.”

European lenders not only securethe asset itself but keep a watchfuleye on debtors or lessees. “This

strategy, together with moreconservative loan-to-value ratios, ispaying off now,” he says. “Fewerrepossessions have taken place inEurope compared to the US.However European aircraftfinanciers are drawing theirconclusions from financings thathave turned sour during the latestmarket turmoil.”

The European market, he pointsout, includes not only aircraftregistered in European countries butthose registered off-shore and others predominantly used bycustomers originating in the CIS.Lütolf adds: “Typically businessaircraft financing takes the format offinance lease structures and to alesser extent the form of aircraft

loans secured by mortgages. Thereare many instances of moresophisticated structures with lesseesor debtors and so-called dedicatedlegal entities such as Special PurposeVehicles (SPVs) where shares arepledged by the beneficial owners tothe financing institute.”

Most business aircraft in Europe,Lütolf says, have been acquired to

support the transport needs ofindividuals, families or enterprisesrather than for the purpose of theaircraft earning money. “Europeanregulations have fostered the use ofpublic transport structuresexempting aircraft and operationscost from VAT – as long as theoperator predominantly fliesinternationally. This trend willprobably continue as regulationsissued by EASA and many of theOverseas Territories implement morestringent rules for the operation ofcomplex turbine-powered aircraftresembling those of EU Ops.”

Lütolf says the result tends to betriangular structures between thefinancing institute, the ‘beneficialaircraft owner’ and the aircraftoperator and AOC holder. “Manyaircraft lawyers have tried toanticipate in legal language anypossible scenario of wrongdoing andthe consequence has been financingcontracts of dozens of pages.”

Some finance institutes havehired aircraft asset managers to helpsafeguard the technical anddocumentary status of the aircraft intheir portfolios. Others have relied onasset values staying ahead oftechnical shortfalls.

Lütolf says: “European banks havecorrected asset values on their booksand in a few cases have cancelledfinancing agreements and seizedfinanced assets but this really has been the exception rather thanthe rule.”

SAC believes the legal structuresand contracts have tended to workunder the stress test of repossessionsduring the last 12 months. “However,the cost of recovering the aircraft hasbeen entirely underestimated andone unexpected but costly problemsurfaced. Whereas under leasestructures it is relatively easy to get ahold of the physical assets, the

Aoife O’Sullivan: choice of broker is critical and warranties need to be negotiated carefully.

RADE Aviation: care with deliveries.



financiers were surprised by theoperator resistance to handing overthe aircraft’s documents. They foundthat by simply taking the documentsas a hostage they can delay the re-marketing and re-registrationprocess. As a result of this ‘hasslefactor’ banks were inclined to agree to contribute to the unpaidoperation invoices pertaining to their aircraft. This is a factor whichwas not anticipated in the contractsnor in the cost reflected in theborrowing margins.”

An aircraft asset manager wasrecently quoted as estimating thecost of repossession toapproximately US$1 million per case.

SAC Swiss Aviation, anindependent aviation advisorycompany headquartered inSwitzerland with representation inCanada and the UAE, believes thatlease transactions will continue to bethe norm because of the relative easeof repossession and that borrowerswill be more closely evaluated aspure asset-based aircraft financingdisappears. Lütolf predicts: “Thefinancing of business aircraft purelyfor charter will become more difficultand loan-to-value ratios will remainconservative. The value of anindividual asset will be more closelyassessed and monitored over thefinancing period. The asset itself andthe entities managing it – bothtechnically and operationally – willbe more firmly monitored.”

He adds: “The aircraft will remainentrusted to an operator but themanaging of the documents or theirarchive will be separated from theoperator. In Europe and in the Over-seas Territory this trend is facilitatedby isolating maintenance controlfrom operation by the appointment ofan independent CAMO.”

Lütolf also predicts financing willbecome more expensive as financingcompanies insist on higher margins.He adds: “The amortisations builtinto the leases will remain given thelower pricing level of the assetsupfront. Public transport categoryoperation will gradually replaceprivate aircraft management.”

Business aircraft financing willremain feasible given the currentreasonable values of the assets in themarket. “However, the financinginstitutes will be even more carefulwith whom they work and whom they entrust the management of the aircraft.”

Purchase guidelinesRex Reese, an attorney based inMcLean, Virginia, says currency

advantages and bloated pre-ownedjet market inventories meanEuropeans and Middle Eastnationals will continue to look to theUS for buying opportunities. “Theywill require comprehensive andintegrated service to initiate,prosecute and conclude theacquisition, financing and export oftheir aircraft.

“For instance, we represented amajor international financial concern

which handled the acquisition andexport of a Gulfstream V aircraft.

“This included the negotiationand documentation of the letter ofintent and the aircraft purchaseagreement; overseeing, through anaffiliate, the technical inspection;establishing an ownership trust for temporary US registration;applying for a US certificate ofairworthiness and for foreignregistration number and import

certificate of airworthiness;conducting state sales, tax researchand developing and implementingtax avoidance strategy and closingthe acquisition including FAA andinternational registry filings.”

The firm, he says, has handledmore than 1,000 corporate aircrafttransactions over two decades.

Designated airworthiness repre-sentative Douglas Lowry suggeststhat five basic checks are among themost important and warns thatmany aircraft sales go sour due topotential buyers not doing theirhomework.

His checklist includes:1. Examining the serial number

prior to buying to ensure that itwill be legal for the aircraft toreturn to the US and to go to othercountries (sometimes aircraft aremanufactured according tospecifications that don’t meet USor other type certificate, datasheet/type design).

2. Insisting on good recordaccounting with all primaryinformation in English and thatall modifications have thenecessary US FAA approved dataor EASA approved data.

3. Ensuring that all repairs are FAAapproved or country/factory ofmanufacture approved withDER/engineering sign-off.

4. Being well represented during thewhole process to save money inthe long run and ensure they getwhat they are paying for.

5. Making full engine and APU checks.

Aoife O’Sullivan, a partner withthe City of London-basedinternational law firm Gates andPartners points out that buyers willneed an aircraft and an ownershipstructure that satisfies the majorityof their regular travel needs, keeps time and costs efficienciesintact, and has been bought at a

GainJet makes the most of a big pre-ownedchallenge and plans more acquisitions

Client demand for a large corporatejet was identified by GainJetAviation’s management team inearly 2008 and led to a major project for the Athens-basedbusiness jet operator.

The company already had theadvantage of experience inoperating a large airliner type forprivate and business travel in theform of an MD83. “Feedback fromthe sales team based in the UK ledthe management to consider asecond airframe to join the growingfleet,” reports ceo James McBride.

Capt Ramsey Shaban, thecompany president, had acomprehensive checklist. Herecalls: “We were looking for a‘flagship’. It had to be a youngairframe, ideally under ten years oldand with low cycles. The type had tobe large enough to accommodate60-plus passengers in supremecomfort and with a substantialrange”. This excluded most of themore common airliners such asB737, and the smaller Airbus typesas both the range and capacity werenot suitable. Eventually the choicecentred on the B757.

This particular airliner, McBridesays, has a great reputation as being‘a real pilot’s aeroplane’, blessed as itis with ‘excess power and excellentbraking characteristics. “Thecombination of these qualitiesmeans that the aircraftdemonstrates superb performancewith the capability to operate atlight weights into and out of quiteshort runways.

“Add to this the 180 minutesETOPS capability, a range of nearlynine hours and the capacity forcarrying approximately 10 tonnes ofbaggage/cargo and the result is avery versatile business jet.”

GainJet’s team realised they hadan intensive search on their hands.Shaban recalls: “We started lookingall over the world for the machineand it was not easy to find. We knewthat the conversion from highdensity configuration would takemonths and we selected Air Berlinin Munich to carry out much of thework for us. We needed a quality joband they have the reputation todeliver what they promise.”

A European airline was reducingits B757 fleet and GainJet managedto negotiate the purchase of a latemodel Rolls Royce powered, B757-200ER with low cycles. A specialistteam of engineers from AirClaimswas employed to make a very

careful assessment of the airframeand its technical records.

A new paint scheme by Air Liveryof Norwich airport was followed bythe installation of winglets by AirBerlin and then the completelyrenewed interior featuring 78 firstclass luxurious reclining creamcoloured leather seats. In theforward cabin, 20 of the seats arearranged club style around speciallydesigned Hi-Lo tables and in therear of the cabin another eight seatswere given the same configuration.

A deep pile beige carpetcompleted the cabin fitment whilethe in-flight entertainment systemconsists of 78 high quality DVDplayers with noise-cancelling stereoheadsets. The players are loadedwith options for music, films andgames. “The next phase of IFEdevelopment with the aircraft willinclude broadband capability withWi-Fi so that the passengers mayuse internet anywhere onboard inflight,” says McBride.

Structurally, apart from thewinglets, there has been littlechange to the airframe. Auxiliaryfuel tanks were considered, butShaban says: “We think that to havethe benefits of a 10 tonne cargo holdis preferable and more practical.Certainly when Gainjet flew one ofthe biggest UK premiership football

teams on its 2009 Asia Tour, theclients made full use of this facility.”

The aircraft, Gainjet reports, hasbeen a great success carrying outmany head of state operations toand from Africa and the MiddleEast. “No stranger to ‘the RoyalSuite’ at London Heathrow, theaircraft has a rather specialpresence on the ramp which gives itextra appeal for vvip clients,”McBride says.

Safety, security and quality arethe watchwords for the crewmembers who operate the aircraftand access is strictly limited toprotect the cabin environment. “Wedo not permit airport cleanersonboard, our highly qualified crewensure the cleanliness of the cabinthemselves – they do the best job!”says Shaban. The cabin crew are allhighly trained to deliver top quality,

‘five star’ catering in-flight and hesays the menus can be comparedwith those of the best restaurants inthe world.

A busy summer for 2010 isplanned for the airliner, with amajor rock band tour in prospect,along with more head of statemissions, some flights for a leadingFormula One racing team and aspecial trip to the World Cup inSouth Africa in July. The team atGainJet also plan the fitting of abedroom with en suite facilitiesduring October. “The stateroomproject is important for us becauseit will take our 757 into the nextmarket level. There are only three orfour large flying bedrooms inEurope; we intend our aircraft to bethe leader in this field and firstchoice for our high-end clients”,says Shaban. “We are so pleasedwith the first one, that, in fact ourboard of directors have alreadyapproved the purchase of a secondB757 for delivery in 2010.”

GainJet is adding more airlinerswith a B767 and a VIP B737 due tobe SX-registered in the spring. It isalso expanding the small to mid-cabin fleet with two CessnaCitations, two new G450s and aChallenger 604. The company’s newsales office in Dubai is due to openin summer 2010.

Big has proved beautiful for Greece’s GainJet whose staff are pictured with ceo Ramsey Shaban (right).

Gainjet: Big is beautiful.

Phenom 100 M-PHNM purchaser ChrisRycroft and Barbara Rycroft with RobertPosselt of JetSolutions (Europe) Ltd.



price that makes the aviation taxesand costs effectively balance out thecash outlay.

She says: “Choosing the rightbroker is an essential part of theacquisition process. Many countriesdo not regulate such brokers(arguably you are better protectedbuying low cost housing from anestate agent) and there is a dearth of so-called experts in the field.Choose a professional broker withexperience in the acquisition andsale of aircraft from procurement todelivery. It is worth settling the highlevel terms of the acquisition withthe broker from the outset to avoidexpensive legal wrangling when itcomes to documentation stage.”

Buyers should insist onwarranties from the manufacturerwhich may be assigned to futurepurchasers of the aircraft.

O’Sullivan warns: “Themanufacturer will seek to provide fora unilateral change to the deliveryschedule in the event of anymanufacturing delay. A buyer willusually try to limit the scope of thisprerogative and in some cases maybe able to negotiate discounts forheavy delays, where the delayextends well beyond the estimateddelivery date.”

She points out that the purchaseof an aircraft is not complete withoutan aircraft bill of sale. “The sellershould be asked to produce evidenceof title by way of a chain of bills ofsale, in many cases back to birth.Searches should be carried out onthe aircraft at the registry where theaircraft is currently registered. If theregistry has a mortgage registryattached, searches should be carriedout to ascertain whether or not acharge attaches to the aircraft. Notall registries have mortgageregistries and in many cases the

buyer will have to rely on the seller’sassurances as to whether or not anycharges or encumbrances exist onthe title.”

O’Sullivan adds: “As a buyer, it isimportant to insist that any depositpaid and subsequently the balanceof the purchase price, is held in asecure account. It is important forthe buyer to agree the process bywhich it will be entitled to formallyinspect the aircraft.

“The seller will want some degreeof commitment from the buyerbefore it agrees to its aircraft beingsubjected to a full examination. Theplace and location of delivery underthe contract is very important, notleast because in many jurisdictions,the place of delivery will trigger thepayment of taxes.”

JetBrokers European md TimBarber warns: “All too often we seepeople reselling an aircraft shortlyafter purchase because it simplydoesn’t do what they thought itwould or they haven’t understoodwhat the real cost of ownership is.”

He adds: “With so many aircrafton the market, knowing their true

origin is essential for a smoothtransaction and for achievingfunding. Always make sure theaircraft is owned by the person youthink it is, and that they have theauthority to sell it.”

There is also inherent value ingoing through a pre-purchaseinspection. “The inspection shouldconsist of a written agreement withan inspection protocol, detailed logaudit, historical records and includeany specific queries the buyer has. Ifthere have been alterations, it isessential to check for compliance asinappropriate work could affectairworthiness.”

Ivan Klugman of Integral AviationSolutions Inc (IAS) says the processof buying an aircraft is too complexfor an amateur to contemplate. “I aman aviation consultant with 30 yearsof experience in the industry and Ican tell you that it requires at leastthree consultants to do the job. If Iam the primary consultant duringthe process I will bring into the loopan aviation attorney and an aviationaccountant.

“I have experienced individualsthat I match with the needs of myclients in regard to the legal and accounting aspects of the transaction. I handle thenegotiations with the seller whetherthat is a manufacturer of a newaircraft or the owner of a pre-ownedaircraft. I also arrange and overseethe pre-purchase of pre-ownedaircraft or the acceptance processand completion oversight of a newaircraft. Like a conductor of anorchestra I see to it that we are allreading the same sheet of music andplaying our parts at the right time.”

Buyers can only purchase a newaircraft with confidence if they have,or hire, the widespread expertisethat is necessary.

Germany’s Regional Air Express (RAE)has ceased all flight operations andput its fleet up for sale. Fabian Theis,ceo, says: “One Metro 23 was sold to OLT Charter and the other threeMetros are for sale. “They are currently hangared at theMünster/Osnabrück home base along

with the sole Citation CJ1.”The company entered the executive

charter market in 2000 and alsooperated wetlease schedule flights forother carriers. “The economicdownturn in 2009 and the resultingloss of several long-term customerscaused the shutdown,” Theis says.

RAE ceo Fabian Theis with one of the company’s Metros.

RAE shuts down and putswhole fleet up for sale

1. What exactly is required from the aircraft in termsof where, how far and how often it will be needed?

Choose the aircraft that is right for you. Do not justtake the recommendation of a friend, whose reasonsand requirements for owning a jet may differ greatlyfrom your needs. In particular, and perhapssurprisingly, be wary of advice from pilots, who canbe emotionally attached to certain aircraft types.Remember that just because an aircraft is fun to fly,or has an impressive cockpit, it may not necessarilybe right for you as a passenger.

2. How do you find a reputable jet broker,manufacturer or fractional ownership company?

Talk to an operator who understands about a largerange of aircraft. There are a dizzying number ofexecutive jet models and variants, so dealing withsomeone who knows the market is very important.The wrong aircraft could be a costly mistake.

3. Does the best purchasing route involve brokers,aircraft manufacturers, or should it be viafractional ownership?

Talk to that operator again to establish what is rightfor you. Having chosen the type of aircraft, establishwhether you should be looking to buy from a brokeror manufacturer.

4. Is now a good time to buy?

Buy now! From a buyer’s perspective, it isundoubtedly still a good time to acquire new andused aircraft. New owners are therefore entering themarket at the moment.

5. Where do you find jets for sale?

Exploit the address book of your friendlyneighbourhood operator. There is no need toestablish ‘cold’ relationships and feel out of yourdepth; operators will already have goodrelationships with brokers and manufacturers. Byextension, an operator will help you secure the bestpossible discount on a new aircraft purchase, as wellas dependable field support later on. (The USmarket, which has large percentage of jetowners/operators is a major source. Websites such

as Av Buyer, and Better Business Bureau couldprovide useful background.)

6. Which comparisons are useful?

Track down a number of quotations for yourfunding. A number of banks have specialist aviationdepartments.

7. How can companies or individuals that falselyclaim to have a jet for sale be weeded out?

Don’t put the legal aspects of buying or registering anaircraft into the hands of your local lawyer; this isspecialist work. Investigate until you find the rightexpert support.

8. What is the best way to obtain all the paperworksuch as ownership details, maintenance, insuranceand inspections.

Consider the history of the aircraft when surveying apotential purchase. For example, if you know theaircraft has been based near a coast, your pre-purchase engineering check should definitelyinclude looking for corrosion caused by a salt-ladenatmosphere. Learn to love the checklist! Theimportance of planning cannot be over-emphasised.There are literally dozens of documents neededsimply to fulfill the most basic requirements ofbuying and delivering a business jet, ranging fromthe certificate of acceptance and transfer of title andrisks, through to the delivery receipt and theshipper’s export declaration.

9. How can maintenance and repairs be costed andorganised?

Investigate warranties and support programs. Thenfind ways to offset the cost of owning a business jet.Charter income, for example, offsets operatingoverheads and covers finance costs. Then you canenjoy some cheap flying for yourself! Owners todayrealise that an aircraft, like any other asset, needs towork to earn its keep.

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Ivan Klugman: warns that thecomplexities of purchase are too muchfor amateurs.

Plos says the company’s twoAS350s are used for work in Italy or innearby countries but Helica hiresaircraft for specific missions abroad.“There has to be a much greaterinvestment in specialist equipment tokeep up-to-date than in aircraft,” heexplains. “Technology moves forwardat an accelerating rate and this meansperiodic reviews, assessment andspending to ensure we gather andprocess data in the most sophisticatedways possible.”

The work requires a combinationof expertise with Helica’s dedicatedteam of 15 experts combining theskills of disciplines ranging from


Italy’s business aviation sector hassuffered in the recession with charterbusiness levels dropping in general byperhaps 25 per cent and some firmsgoing out of business. But EBANresearch of the market has uncoveredsuccess stories where entrepreneurialskills have identified recession-resistant market niches or used thepast 18 months as an opportunity toput long-term profit generatingstrategies in place. Topjet, Helica andEurofly provide prime examples.

Diego Plos, general manager ofHelica, runs a company that isequipped and licensed to carry outaerial works, fire services, executivepassenger charter and photographyand film. But the company estimatesthat up to 99 per cent of its time is nowfocused on specialist survey andsurveillance operations worldwide.

Plos, working for a private chartercompany, decided more than 10 yearsago that the executive passengersector was becoming morecompetitive each year. “All the factorsseemed to suggest a constant battleagainst declining business and I wasnot prepared to settle for that,” Plossays. “I also wanted to go into a fieldthat presented a new challenge, evenif that meant substantial investment.Helica has provided an enjoyablechallenge and the opportunity towork in a sector where business ismore constant and not so subject tothe economic cycles. We have builtsubstantial expertise and a goodclient base in an exciting sector wherewe enjoy longer-term contracts thatenable us to plan ahead.”

availability through a partnershipwith Bizjet SA, part of the Bizjet groupalong with Eurofly Service Spa.

Topjet president Dino Rasero saysthe company has used the recessionof the past 18 months as anopportunity to consolidate, improveefficiency and be ready to take full advantage of the expectedeventual upturn.

“The business climate in 2009 wasdifficult and charter levels werearound 25 per cent down on 2008, afigure which we feel is fairlyrepresentative of the charter industryas a whole,” he adds. “However, wesaw chinks of light at the end of thetunnel in November and Decemberand we are benefiting fromstrengthening our sales team. Ournew executives have helped expandour client base so, although individualcustomers might be doing fewerflights, the overall numbers are muchbetter than they would have been.This strategy has worked well and nowwe stand to serve this expanded clientbase even better through ourarrangement with Bizjet SA.”

Eurofly, a managed aircraftspecialist which can trace its rootsback more than 40 years, hasjudiciously expanded its fleet and isbenefiting from investment in newfacilities at Turin and approval as aregional service station for Falcons.

It will base a new Hawker 750 atMilan Linate and possibly a Learjet 40. These will be on the Eurofly AOC along with Topjet’s fleet. “It is notan exclusive agreement but we will beon the spot with a hangar that opensin June this year and canaccommodate five good sized privatejets,” says Rasero.

Rasero has worked on providingthe new facilities, and then reachingthe cooperation agreement, whichstarts on 1 April, for eight years. “I tookthe opportunity to redouble myefforts during the recession and Ithink the hard work will really pay offin the next three years,” he predicts.

The latest addition to the fleet, theHawker 850XP, has been received wellby clients and two 400As are alsopopular he says. A PC-12 is retainedfor private use. “The Hawker 850XP

attracts an average passenger load ofthree but can be configured for eightor even nine,” he says. “It has given usthe capability to fly to destinations asfar away as Morocco, Egypt andMoscow although destinations inEurope, including Greece and Cyprus,are popular.”

Topjet also operates as a charterbroker and reports that the twoactivities have held up equally wellduring the recession. “Prices ofprivate charter have been depressedbecause of competition for a morelimited amount of business. This hasmeant that the charter arm has beenable to factor in a greater availabilityof aircraft,” he says.

Topjet, he adds, would like toexpand its broker activities in thelarger aircraft market sector.

Esperia Aviation Services offersexecutive charter but is also involvedin the development of infrastructure.It already operates four Grands andhas ordered four helicoptersincluding two AW119Ke, a Grand lighttwin and an AW139 medium twin. Thecompany says: “These aircraft will beused for passenger transportpurposes operating from our RomeUrbe airport headquarters and MilanLinate, and, periodically, in Sardiniaand north eastern Italy to meettourism-related demand.”

A partnership between Agusta-Westland and Esperia, launched inApril 2008, aims to establish a majorhelicopter hub at Rome’s Urbe airport.Esperia will build new hangars andhospitality and office areas.AgustaWestland is establishing ahelicopter maintenance centre for itshelicopters.

Air Corporate Srl, which operatesfrom bases in the north and thecentre of Italy, focuses on aerialworks, passenger, photography andfilm, sightseeing and leisure. It hasbuilt up a fleet of an AS350B1, anA109e, two A109s, an AS 355F1, twoAS355N, an AS355NP, an EC120Bsand an EC155B. Set up in 1999 itservices demand for both thebusiness and leisure sectors withmost enquiries coming direct ratherthan through charter brokers. It saysbusiness levels have remained ‘quitegood’ in 2009 and it expects to do atleast as well again in 2010 and 2011.

Interfly, which is particularlystrong in the north of Italy, says that ithas identified Brescia Montichiari as akey location for the development ofbusiness. The company’s MarcoBalzarini says: “It is an interestingplace for general aviation because it issituated not far from Linate and is alsoclose to Lake Garda.”

Interfly operates a CJ, a CJ2, a CJ2+and a Beech 200 from its three bases atParma, Milan Linate and BresciaMontichiari where it is developing anew full-service FBO. “Initially we arerestructuring a 2,000 sq m hangar and800 sq m offices and, after obtainingthe relative permission, a newdedicated general aviation terminalwill be erected onsite,” says Balzarini.

Interfly’s broad range of activitiesincludes a flight school, Part 145maintenance facilities and aerialworks as well as handling. Businesshas picked up in 2010. “It has startedto improve compared to 2009,” thecompany’s Savero Cusumano reports.

Star Work Sky, which operates

laser and sensor to optical andrecording technologies.

There is a global demand forsurveys to identify valuable resources,assist with urban planning, combaterosion, protect the environment,identify mineral or oil resources, orgather information to anticipate andperhaps mitigate the effects of naturaldisasters such as earthquakes.

Plos reports: “Two to three yearsago a large focus of our work was inSouth America and in Italy. Thegeographic spread has nowbroadened considerably and there areinteresting commissions coming ourway from regions including theMiddle East and Africa.”

The work ranges from charting thebest pipeline routes to helping toclarify the best use of terrain for damsand hydro-electric schemes. “Urbanand motorway planning is muchmore sophisticated today than in thepast and huge savings can be madepossible by modern technology. Thereis a great deal of job satisfaction inwhat we do. The investment andspecialist expertise required forsuccess is so much greater than forgeneral aviation that our marketsector is very unlikely to suffer froman oversupply of services.”

Italy’s Topjet Executive willcelebrate its tenth anniversary byopening a new 1,100 sq m hangar andoffice facility at Milan Linate andexpanding aircraft choice and

AgustaWestland and Esperia celebrate a developing partnership. Pictured are Emilio Dalmasso, Graham Cole, Giuseppe Orsi, MarcoRosati and Andrea Mirteto.

ITALYREGIONALREVIEW

Entrepreneurs make the best of difficult times

Helica: survey expertise.

The 2009/10 EBAN Handbook ofBusiness Aviation in Europe will beavailable soon, and gives details ofmany more Italy charter operators.It also lists business aviationfacilities and services includingairports, FBOs and maintenancecentres. The details can beaccessed online through a searchof aircraft operated or the airportbases. For more informationplease visit www.handbook.aero

ComprehensiveItalian data online

free-of-charge

Air Corporate: broad base of services.

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Manufacturers and maintenance andservice centres, like the charteroperators they serve, are using a timeof generally slacker demand to buildfor the future.

Helicopters Italia, which says it hasthe advantage of being the onlyEurocopter and Turbomeca ServiceCentre in Italy, is expanding.

Daniele Gosetti, quality managerof the Trento airport-based company,explains: “We already offer Part 145 maintenance, Part 147 trainingand Part M, continuing airworthinessmanagement services. We areapplying for ‘full’ Part 21 designapproval.”

Gosetti adds: “The economiccrises has led to a crunch oninvestments and the operatorstherefore have heavy cash flowproblems. But we offer the mostcomprehensive spectrum of servicesand the highest quality and we areBermuda approved for maintenance

and airworthiness management. Weoffer full support for operators base incountries around Italy such asSlovenia, Croatia, Albania, Malta,Turkey, Greece and Austria.

Piaggio Aero Industries is buildinga new manufacturing facility inVillanova d’Albenga, about 70kilometers west of Genoa, planned forcompletion in 2012.

Support services build for the future“This plant will allow Piaggio Aero

to significantly increase productioncapacity, production efficiency and optimise workflow,” says ceoAlberto Galassi.

The company has three mainproduction facilities covering 120,000sq m in the northwest Italian cities of Genoa Sestri and Finale Ligure and a high technology centre based in Pozzuoli, near Naples. Final aircraft assembly and flight testing ofaircraft is located at the main facilityin Genoa, which includes thecorporate headquarters.

Piaggio Aero also operates twoadditional service centres, one atRome’s Ciampino airport and theother at the Pratica di Mare Air Base.Aircraft and engine componentmanufacturing activity, generalengineering, and engine maintenance

ITALYREGIONALREVIEW

Alberto Galassi: Piaggio Aero support services are expanding.

from bases in Alghero, Genoa,Predosa and Thienem, operates threeSA315Bs, five AS350s and one EC135.Davide Subrero, operations director,says the company offers a wide rangeof services including aerial works, airambulance and medevac, fireservices, freight and passenger. It alsooffers photography and film,sightseeing and leisure and surveyand surveillance.

Skybridge AirOps, which operatesits private charter flights out ofCiampino, says there is good demandfor its two Embraer 120s and itsHawker 900XP. The company carriesout both freight and passengeroperations.

Palio Air Service reports thatbusiness is slow but steady. Thecompany, which specialises in aerialworks, passenger services,photography and film, operates anAS355 from a heliport near Florence,

Other operators report that theiraircrafts’ popularity with clients ishelping maintain business levels.These include Delta Aerotaxi, whichoperates the DA2000 and CE510 out ofFlorence and Aliven which chartersfive Citations – a 560XL, a 500 andthree 525s – out of Linate andCiampino. Alba ServiziAerotrasporti, which operates fromMilan Linate, focuses on vippassenger charter offering clients twoHawker 800s, one Learjet 60, aPremier 1 and a Challenger 600.

Air Service Center, whichoperates from bases in Bresso andArena Po, says its diverse range ofservices has helped maintainbusiness. These include aerial works,fire services, passenger charter,photography and film, sightseeingand leisure and survey andsurveillance. Its fleet includes sevenAS350s and one A109.

FoxAir SpA has been renamed K-Air SpA after being acquired by theGF Group. the offices are in AlbengaAirport and the main operating basesare Albenga, Genoa, Linate, Bolognaand Ciampino. It offers a fleet of twoP180 Avanti and four P180 Avanti IIs.

The global recession has providedcharter operators with strongevidence that it pays to be able to offera wide range of services and, ifpossible, be equipped to provide asought after niche service, especiallyduring more difficult economic times.

Argos VIP Private Handling isopening new branches to enhanceits country-wide coverage of Italy.Project manager Maila Paternesisays: “We are already wellestablished in all Italian airportsbut we are always seeking toimprove and expand our FBOservices.

“We are setting up our owncatering company in Rome whichwill ensure our clients enjoy topquality food and refreshments. Wehave also started to provide fuel atcompetitive prices. Our objective isto provide for the clients’ everyneed and these developments willhelp us achieve this aim.”

Argos adds fuel andcatering options

to expanding range of services

Argos: enhancing services.


Know More.

800.553.8638 +1.315.797.4420 JETNET.COM

Worldwide leader in aviation market intelligence.

Elevated Knowledge

NetJets captain launchesweb site with militaryprecisionNetJets captain Richard Yeomanshas combined military precisionwith information gathering andsifting skills to launch Flight CrewFinder Ltd, a specialist recruitmentweb site connecting flight crewswith potential employers.

He, and co-founder and webdeveloper Karen Smallwood,worked round the clock to launchthe web site designed to improveemployment chances for flightcrew in today’s tough marketplace.

Smallwood says: “We discussedhow a lot of jobs came aboutthrough networking and being inthe right place at the right time.”Yeomans, type-rated for the Falcon2000, Hawker 400XP and CitationBravo, says: “Aircraft operators getfree of charge direct access toqualified, fully vetted flight crewfrom a wide range of fleets. Theysimply search the subscriberdatabase, selecting aircraft typeand experience required, toproduce a shortlist of candidateswhom they contact directly.”

Smallwood says: “We’ll also beusing a host of social networkingtools and technology.”

100th Challenger 605enters serviceBombardier’s 100th manufacturedChallenger 605 has entered service,the company has announced. With over 800 aircraftmanufactured, the Challenger 600series has accumulated over4,000,000 flight hours.

PrivateFly launches iPhone appOnline private jet booking platformPrivateFly.com has launched aniPhone application, free todownload, which allows the phoneuser to enter trip details and thenreceive an immediate charter cost estimate.

CEPA conference set for AprilThe Central Europe PrivateAviation Association will host aconference this April 22-23 at theMandarin Oriental Hotel in Prague.

Speakers will include leadersfrom Czech government ministry,air traffic control and companieson the local CEE market.

Cessna rolls out 300th MustangLess than three years after the firstdelivery in 2007, the 300th Mustanghas been completed. It will bedelivered later this year to acustomer in Australia.

Gulfstream G150 approvedfor steep approachThe Gulfstream G150 aircraft hasachieved steep approachcertification from the EuropeanAviation Safety Agency, allowing itto operate at airports with anapproach angle of up to sixdegrees, such as Lugano andChambery.

AgustaWestland unveilsthe Grand NewA glass cockpit, room for up to sixpassengers or two stretchers plusmedical attendants – these are justsome of the benefits thatAgustaWestland says its Grand New helicopter can offer.

The aircraft has alreadyachieved EASA certification.

Falcon 7X interior winsdesign awardDassault Falcon and BMW GroupDesignworksUSA won the “GoodDesign” award for 2009. It wasawarded by The ChicagoAthenaeum and The EuropeanCentre for Architecture Art Designfor their successful collaborationon the new Falcon 7X interioroption. The new interior will beavailable for deliveries starting inthe third quarter of 2011.

I N D U S T R Y N E W S . . .


Richard Yeomans: web site launch.

and overhaul are all undertaken atFinale Ligure.

Galassi says that the company’saircraft are being used for an ever-increasing number of roles. The P166-DL3 APH aircraft has been usedfor photogrammetry missions insupport of a UN mission in the Horn ofAfrica to map the future boundarybetween Ethiopia and Eritrea. TheItalian coastguard, the Capitanerie diPorto utilises the all-weatherequipped P166-DL3 SEM for maritimepatrol, search and rescue andenvironmental surveillance. TheItalian customs police, the Guardia diFinanza, operates the P166-DL3 GdFin maritime patrol, SAR and anti-smuggling surveillance logging morethan 35,000 flight hours.

TAG Bologna srl, which reports

handling 4,798 aircraft movements in2009, has no plans to expand its facilityor services in 2009. But Sky Services,an FBO network based at Milan Linateand Malpensa, Venice Tessera, RomeCiampino and Naples Capodichino(Avitat), is constantly expanding. “Thenetwork is still growing,” says thecompany’s Simone Kluemper. SkyServices handled around 13,000business aircraft movements in 2009and it is adding the new location ofVenice Tessera. “Our plans are to beready by early April 2010 to offer fullhandling services to GA aircraft. Wealso now have a hangar and officespace available for rent at MilanMalpensa,” Kluemper adds.

Claudio Fiume, md, reports thatAeradria Spa, the operator of SanMarino’s Aeroporto Internazionale diRimini, handles more than 8,200

business aircraft movements a yearincluding 200 involving helicopters.The company is building a 1,500 sq mhangar, completion due this summer,and it also plans to have a GAToperational within four years.

Universal Aviation Italy says thatits nationwide capability has stood itin good stead during the globaldownturn. It provides full executiveground handling services at RomeCiampino and Milan Linate but alsoco-ordinates handling requirementsat all other Italian locations.

Companies who have invested inthe good times seem to be faring bestin difficult times.

Following our survey of specialistbusiness aviation handling facilitiesaround Europe and the Middle East in the February edition, we arepleased to add the followingadditions and corrections. The fullsurvey is available online atwww.ebanmagazine.com.

Finland

Helsinki (Vantaa)

Finavia Business Flight CentreTEL: +358 9 8277 2780

WEB: www.finavia.fi

OPS MANAGER: Erik Lindholm, supervisor

FLIGHT OPS: 24hr ops. No flight planning (flight planningservices available 24hrs at FBO’s AIS/MET). Weather byMet Office and computer (AIS/MET services available24hrs). Crew transport on apron and by taxi to hotel. Crewrest rooms at airport facility (quiet lounge available). 5-30mins to preferred hotel.

HANDLING: Third party hangarage up to B747. Third partymaintenance by authorised Dassault Falcon servicecentre, Airfix Aviation. Third party catering by VantaaCatering Service and Finnair.

PASSENGERS: GA terminal - business flight terminal onemile south-east from main terminal. Own vip facilitiesincluding lounge - vip terminal (vip president), vip centreat the main terminal.

FUTURE PLANS: Vip meet and greet service, meetingrooms in Business Flight Center and vip terminal.

France

Lyon (Bron)

Aeroports de Lyon Executive HandlingTEL: +33 4 7826 8109

WEB: www.lyonaeroports.com

OPS MANAGER: Eric Dumas

FLIGHT OPS: 0630 - 2230 (24hrs on request). Flightplanning by pilot terminals (Met and Notam by staff).Weather by computer. Crew transport on apron and bycrew bus to hotel. Crew rest rooms within FBO(comfortable flight crew lounge with shower, TV and DVD,courtesy shuttle to hotels within 5 km radius). 3 mins topreferred hotel.

HANDLING: In-house hangarage up to wingspan21m/height 8m/length 24m. Third party maintenance byBCA, Loc’Heli and PAM up to Beechcraft and Cessna.Third party catering by Eventys and Lyon Air Traiteur.

PASSENGERS: GA terminal - Lyon Bron is a dedicatedbusiness aviation airport. Own vip facilities includinglounge and office services - vip lounge “Salon Prestige”.

Germany

Hamburg

Air HamburgTEL: +49 40 70 70 889 17

WEB: www.air-hamburg.de

OPS MANAGER: Wim Van Vlaenderen

FLIGHT OPS: 24hr ops with night restrictions. Flightplanning by staff and pilot terminals (DFS Terminal).Weather by Met Office and computer. Crew transport onapron and by crew bus to hotel. Crew rest rooms at hotel.10 mins to preferred hotel.

HANDLING: Third party hangarage up to BBJ. Third partymaintenance by Lufthansa Technik and Aero Technik. In-house catering.

PASSENGERS: GA terminal. Own vip facilities includinglounge and office services. Limo access to aircraft withprior permission.

Italy

Milan (Malpensa)

G.S. AviationTEL: +39 02 5858 3656

WEB: www.gsaviation.it

OPS MANAGER: Cpt. Silvano Galli

FLIGHT OPS: 0600 - 2200 LT (24hrs on request). Flightplanning by pilot terminals (ACK, PPR, slot coordinationprovided). Weather by Met Office and computer (completefolder meteo - TAF, METAR, NOTAM, SIGMET, low/high leveletc). Crew transport on apron and by taxi to hotel. Crewrest rooms at airport facility. 5-10 mins to preferred hotel.

HANDLING: In-house hangarage up to 2,000 sqm. In-house maintenance up to Hawker 900. In-house catering.

PASSENGERS: GA terminal - with car parking. Own vipfacilities including lounge - office services and businesslounge.

OTHER SERVICES: Shuttle between terminals 2 and 1, carrental in terminal 2, limo service, dedicated refueling JETA1 and Avgas 100LL (own depots and fuel via credit cardor carnet), GPU, stairs, potable water, toilet service,laundry, washing up, de-icing, foreign daily newspapersavailable, third party services on request.

Netherlands

Groningen (Eelde)

Ground ACETEL: +31 50 308 0075

WEB: www.groundace.eu

OPS MANAGER: Celine van Berg

FLIGHT OPS: 24hr ops. if necessary . Flight planning bypilot terminals (pilots’ PC or via WiFi). Weather bycomputer. Crew transport by taxi to hotel. Crew restrooms within FBO. 10 mins to preferred hotel.

HANDLING: Third party hangarage. Third partymaintenance. Third party catering.

PASSENGERS: GA terminal - aircraft: taxi via Delta to Julietapron; cars/taxis: follow signs for GA terminal. Own vipfacilities including lounge and office services. Limoaccess to aircraft with prior permission.

Romania

Bucharest (Henri Coanda)

Ion Tiriac AirTEL: +40 21 350 60 81

WEB: www.tiriacair.ro

OPS MANAGER: Radu Ruse

FLIGHT OPS: 24hr ops. on request. Flight planning by staffand pilot terminals (PPS programme available). Weatherby Met Office and computer (Romanian Air TrafficServices administration/met division). Crew transport onapron and by crew bus to hotel. Crew rest rooms withinFBO (pilot’s lounge). 5-30 mins to preferred hotel.

HANDLING: In-house hangarage up to G-V. In-housemaintenance up to CE560, G200 and A109S. Third partycatering by Alpha Rocas.

PASSENGERS: GA terminal - operated by Ion Tiriac. Own

vip facilities including lounge and office services - all thefacilities needed for vip assistance are available. Limoaccess to aircraft with prior permission.

OTHER SERVICES: Helicopter transfers and in-house travelagency.

U.K.

Gloucestershire

FlightpartnerTEL: +44 1452 856 222

WEB: www.flightpartner.co.uk

OPS MANAGER: Bob Burns

FLIGHT OPS: airport hours. Flight planning by staff.Weather by Met Office and computer. Crew transport onapron and by taxi to hotel. Crew rest rooms at hotel (crewrates available at Golden Valley Thistle Hotel). 5 mins topreferred hotel.

HANDLING: Third party hangarage. Third partymaintenance by Eurojet Engineering. Third party catering.

PASSENGERS: GA terminal. Own vip facilities includinglounge and office services. Limo access to aircraft withprior permission.

Liverpool (John Lennon)

Liverpool Aviation Services (LAS)TEL: +44 151 486 6161

WEB: www.liverpoolhandling.co.uk

OPS MANAGER: Wayne Barrett

FLIGHT OPS: 0800 - 1930 LT (24hrs on request). Flightplanning by staff and pilot terminals (PPS). Weather byMet Office and computer (weather briefing via varioussources). Crew transport on apron and by taxi to hotel.Crew rest rooms at hotel (dedicated lounge area forvisiting crew, nearby Marriott South available for daystops and admission to David Lloyd Leisure Complex fornominal charge). 5 mins to preferred hotel.

HANDLING: In-house hangarage up to Citation X. In-housemaintenance by Ravenair up to pistons, BE90, Citation500 through to CE560XL and CE650. In-house catering byvarious off-airport vendors. Notice usually required.Please advise requirements ASAP.

PASSENGERS: GA terminal - at FBO facility. LAS owns andoperates the only FBO at EGGP. Own vip facilities includinglounge and office services - Business Aviation Centre.Limo access to aircraft with prior permission.

OTHER SERVICES: Brokerage and aircraft management.In-house fuelling available.

FBO survey addendum

Harrods FBO adds fuel servicesHarrods Aviation has introducedtwo new fuel bowsers able to swiftlyrefuel any size aircraft along with anew commercial agreement for fuelpurchase at the newly-refurbishedLondon Stansted FBO.

The company says: “Harrods isnow well positioned to providecustomers with fuel at highlycompetitive rates. New fuelagreements are in force at both ourLondon Stansted and London

Luton FBOs. Along with recentinvestment in owned bowsers, this means that Harrods can act independently with trainedoperatives fully prepared to meetcustomer demand.”

The company’s extensive six-month redesign and refurbishmentproject of its Stansted facility,involving an investment totalling inexcess of £1 million, has beencompleted.

The main passenger lounge at London Luton.

ITALYREGIONALREVIEW


Falcon 900EX2001, S/N 092: 3240 TTAF, Engines & APUenrolled on MSP HUD, SATCOM, SATAFIS,Triple IRS, Dual FMS, FDR, C c/w 02/08 by JetAviation-Basel, EU OPS/EASA Approved.Fourteen passenger configuration, newpaint/interior Feb/2008. Tel +1 713 681 0075Par Avion Ltd.. Web: www.paravionltd.com.Email: [email protected]

DORNIER

328JET “Executive” ER2001, S/N 3162, TSN 4133, CSN 2668, range2000 nm, MTOW 15.660 kgs, JAR-OPS 1 /EASA cert., CAMP, engs. P&W 306B on ESP,Phase IV upgr., 2 QC interiors 16 VIP/32 pax.Jörn Deistler Tel: +49 4881-936693 GermaniaExecutive Aviation. Web: www.fairchild-dornier.com. Email: [email protected]

EMBRAER

Legacy 600S/N 14501003. September, 2007 in-servicedate. Factory warranty, only 890 TT, JAR-OPScompliant, engines on Rolls-Royce CorporateCare. 13 passenger plus observer & cabinattendant seats. Airshow 4000, Can convertto Pininfarina Edition! Call for price! Tel: +1954 771 1795 Aero Toy Store Inc. Web:

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HAWKER BEECHCRAFT

800B1993, G-WYNE, 1993 S/N 258240, TT 5,758hours, EU-OPS compliant, MSP Gold,Hawker 1000 flight deck, TCAS II, Dual FMS,EGPWS, New paint / interior refurb 2006.Available for immediate sale, $2.95m, offersinvited. Contact: Ben Dean Tel +44 208 5643701 Airclaims Ltd. Web: www.airclaims.com.Email: [email protected]

800B1989, G-GRGA, S/N: 8130. TTAF 6,230 hours.MSP Gold. Zero time since inspections plusnew leading edge and ailerons. New Price$2.595m. Contact: Roger Stainton, JetFlightLtd, Tel: +44 1353 661636 JetFlight Ltd. Email:[email protected]

PIAGGIO

Avanti II2010, New, corporate interior. SAT-Tel,Collins Proline 21 integrated avionics, IFISupgrade, maps & charts, TCAS & TAWS, JAR &FAA ready. Delivery June. Ops and Rentbackavailable. Tel: +49 6332 97200 WinairGermany. Web: www.winair.eu. Email:[email protected]


MarketplaceAircraft for sale

Contact Mark Ranger on: +44 (0)1279 714509 [email protected]

BOEING

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747 SP-31S/N 21961. Fly non-stop 16 hours! 6,300nm+range! Luxurious forward cabin, mid cabinand second floor. Seven lavatories, twogalleys - one midcabin and one aft. The aftcabin is configured with 64 commercial seats.157 total passenger capacity! Tel: +1 954 7711795 Aero Toy Store Inc. Web:www.aerotoystore.com. Email:[email protected]

BOMBARDIER

Challenger 6042005, 2005, S/N 5623. TT 1,360 hours. EU-OPS compliant. Collins Pro-line 4 Avionics.Honeywell Mark V EGPWS. Exterior paint2006 silver/black. 6 Club in medium brownleather + 3 seat divan in black cloth. Airshow

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Challenger 605

S/N 5728. Brand new! JAR-OPS compliant,USD$1.2 million+ in options. Direct TV,Datalink, Triple IRS, LDS, RAAS, videoencoder, EVAS. Floorplan 1 ten pax interiorwith four place berthable divan. Two 21”monitors, microwave oven. Won’t last! Tel: +1954 771 1795 Aero Toy Store Inc. Web:www.aerotoystore.com. Email:[email protected]

Learjet 40

2004, G-MOOO, S/N 45-2007, 2004 model,attractively priced, call for details. TTAF 1600hours. Engines on MSP, on Bombardier SmartParts Program, JAR-OPS 1 certified, 2nd UNS-1E Flight Mgmt Sys., recent inspections, 6passenger interior tastefully completed inblack leather. Tel: USA +1 201-891-0881Offered by Leading Edge Aviation Sol. Web:www.leas.com . Email:[email protected]

BRITTEN NORMAN

BN2T Executive Islander

2004, TT 430 hours. As new, up to datemaintenance, RR250-B17C engines, BendixKing, Century 2000, club seating (creamleather), CD player, refrigerator, airconditioning and immaculate white paint.Tel: +44 20 3371 4000 Britten Norman. Email:[email protected]

CESSNA

Citation CJ22007, S/N 525A-0375, TSN 815, CSN 595,EASA, JAR OPS 1, CJ2+ Value Package 4E, TAPELITE Progr., Cescom/CAMP, 6-7 pax,Bravo/Encore style entry steps, steepapproach cert., engs. Williams RR FJ44-3A24on PBH progr., Collins Pro Line 21. JörnDeistler Tel: +49 4881-936693 GermaniaExecutive. Web: www.germania-executive.com. Email: [email protected]

Citation CJ2+2008, G-NMRM , 525A - 0408. Based ExeterUK. 290TT IFR 2008 Paint. 7 seats. Wellspecified. JAR-OPS 1 compliant. Price: $5.5m.Contact: IL Lione Alato, William Bradley Tel:+44 1395 269233 or +44 7866 767 850 BradleyManagement Services. Email:[email protected]

Citation SovereignVP-CMH, SN 171 September 2007 TT 581. Allprograms. Best maintenance by Jet Aviation.Honeywell EPIC, 8 passenger, phone, HF,microwave, jumpseat. Like new, ready to go.Asking price US$13M. Make offer.Te: +49 1714691656 Fax: +49 7824 3027700. Email:[email protected]

DASSAULT

Falcon 20001999, S/N 094: 2620 TTAF, Engines enrolledon CSP Gold, APU enrolled on MSP,SATCOM, Dual FMS/GPS/IRS, FDR, CVR, Cc/w 12/05, 3A/3A+ c/w 09/09, EU OPS/EASAapproved. Ten pax configuration, New PaintNov/2009. Tel +1 713 681 0075 or +1 201 4455660 Par Avion Ltd. www.paravionltd.com.Email: [email protected]

Special packages are available for advertisingaircraft for sale in EBAN and on our web site(www.ebanmagazine.com).

Picture adverts (40 words of text plus colourpicture) cost £75 each. You can also chooseour new display advertising option for largerinventories.

FBO Relationship Manager

London, Competitive Salary and Benefits

World Fuel Services is the global leader in the downstream marketing and financing of aviation, marineand ground transportation fuel products and related services. Through our Aviation, Marine andGround business segments, World Fuel Services provides fuel and services to commercial and corpo-rate aircraft, petroleum distributors and ships at more than 2,500 locations around the world.

In order to enhance our position as a supplier/distributor and value added reseller of jet fuel andrelated services in the Business Aviation industry we are seeking to recruit a high calibre individual tojoin our team to build and maintain strong relationships with FBOs and handlers.

Your specific responsibilities will include:- Development of contract fuel programmes for individual FBOs or chains

- Identifying opportunities to develop FBOs as customers, collaborating with our SupplyManagement team to negotiate bulk fuel contracts

- Promoting the use of AVCARD as the preferred charge card for non-contract fuel transactions

- Assisting in the resolution of operational issues

- Supporting our ITP product through the development of a preferred agent network

- Collection and maintenance of market data

You will be an experienced aviation professional with a clear understanding of the role of the FBO(ideally you will have worked for or with FBOs). You will have strong interpersonal skills, along with asound commercial acumen. Although the role is based in our London office there will be the necessityto travel across Europe.

For further details, and the opportunity to apply online, please visit www.wfscorp.com. Our careerspage can be found in the “About Us” section.

Pool Aviation | Hangar 3 | Blackpool Airport | Blackpool | Lancashire | FY4 2QY | UK

For sale with 50 hours TT, located Blackpooland available immediately.

Premium DoorDemonstrator LiveryADFFull EASA Spec2nd Transponder with Mode S with DiversityELT/NAVElectronic ChartsElectronic ChecklistCockpit Flood LightsIn Flight Sat PhoneAnd much more.

Sold with delivery included in Europe (worldwide available) and 6 months crew and operational support. Full time management available if required.

2010 EmbraerPhenom 100Serial Number 50000112M YTOY

For more information contact:Simon MenziesDirect Line: +44 (0) 7831 121612

E: [email protected]: 01253 407070W: www.privateairmanagement.com

The North West Jet Centre

Regional Sales & Marketing Manager - Europe

Textron is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Competitive pay and benefits package for the right candidate.

Interested parties please apply online: www.bellhelicopter.com/en/careers/

Career opportunities

KING AIR 350i KING AIR B200GT KING AIR C90GTx

Europe’s business aircraft of choice.Discover the Beechcraft KING AIR.

MORE VOLUME. MORE VALUE. Flying need not be a pain in the neck. Unliketraditional round cabins, the King Air design employs an innovative “square oval”cross-section, delivering more headroom and shoulder space for passengers.

With aircraft that set the standards in their class, the Beechcraft® King Air family continues to dominate

business aviation in Europe and around the world. Choose from the King Air 350i, the segment’s most

advanced business aircraft; the King Air B200GT, Europe’s most widely used business aircraft1; or the

new King Air C90GTx, offering versatility and quality that VLJs can’t match. Environmentally, each King Air

leads by being THE “GREENEST” AIRCRAFT IN ITS CLASS—delivering better fuel efficiency and lower

cost per seat-mile. Plus, King Air owners fly with the assurance that their aircraft is supported by the larg-

est worldwide service network in the industry, available 24/7/365, combined with one of the best safety

records in general aviation. Learn more. +44 (0)1244 523 803 or HawkerBeechcraft.com/KingAir

1. PER EUROCONTROL STATISTICS AND FORECAST SERVICES (STAR FOUR) AIRCRAFT MOVEMENTS FOR THE PAST THREE CONSECUTIVE YEARS. ©2010 HAWKER BEECHCRAFT CORPORATION. HAWKER AND BEECHCRAFT ARE TRADEMARKS OF HAWKER BEECHCRAFT CORPORATION.

Bring unmatched economy, efficiency, and capability to your business.

KING AIR 350i CITATION CJ2+

European Business Air News - March 2010

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Transcript of European Business Air News - March 2010