VistaJet goes for the treble chance VistaJet goes for the treble chance

8 JUNE 2008 EUROPEAN BUSINESS AIR NEWS
CZECH
REPUBLIC/
SLOVAKIA
REVIEW
When EBAN last interviewed charter
operators in the Czech Republic for
the regional review many were
uncertain about what would happen
over the coming years and some were
unsure that joining the European
Union had even had a positive effect
on business levels. Many were
predicting that either they or some of
their competitors might not be
around for much longer.
Four years on, and the business
aviation sector is looking much more
promising. Operators are continuing
to add aircraft to their fleets and many
are busy developing the service they
provide at the base for a more ‘allround’
business offering.
The Czech Republic’s main exports
comprise car and transport
equipment, manufactured goods and
beverages and thousands of tourists
flock to its capital Prague every year to
experience its famous architecture
and art history, something that charter
operator VIP Helicopter Czech has
been wise to exploit.
“We provide regular Prague
sightseeing tours and are working with
companies in the Czech Republic
marketplace,” says managing director
Marek Kratky.
Last year, VIP Helicopter Czech
added useful revenue to its private
charter income with additional
services to tourists provided by a
managed Bell 206. Its managed fleet of
helicopters has grown since the
company launched in 2004, with
good demand for its BO 105 and
Robinson 44. Its fleet also comprises a
Schweizer 300, R22, R44, Bell 206 and
AS355. Furthermore, the company
leases a number of Cessna aircraft
including a Citation X and a light twin
Cessna 340.
Demand for its aircraft is split
50/50 between business missions and
tourism. Kratky says: “Business has
been OK for us. We’ve increased sales
by 35 per cent and we’re expecting
growth to continue at the same pace at
around 30 per cent a year.
“Real estate is a key business sector
for us. There are a lot of houses being
built here at the moment. Flying by
helicopter is a great opportunity to
check your acquisition before putting
your money on the table. Eighteen
months ago we took the president of
08 09
HANDbook of
business aviation
in Europe
EUROPEAN BUSINESS AIR NEWS
The new edition is out now.
Czech Republic and
Slovakian charter,
handling and
maintenance
The 2008/09 EBAN Handbook of
Business Aviation in Europe, now
available, covers the Czech Republic
and Slovakia, and contains useful
details about charter operators. It also
details business aviation facilities and
services including airports, FBOs and
maintenance centres. The details can
be accessed through a search of
aircraft operated or the airport bases.
For more information please visit
www.handbook.aero.
Czech Republic and Slovakia look to new ideas
and better aircraft to keep the business fresh
VIP Helicopter Czech provides regular sightseeing tours of Prague.
Hyundai out in one of our aircraft. The
company wanted to survey the prime
spot in which to locate a new
automotive factory. More and more
people are counting time as money
and people are trying to like more
luxury and freedom.”
New ideas, new horizons
As well as operating a healthy charter
business, VIP Helicopter Czech has
also been working on another project
to develop a new way of extinguishing
fires using helicopters. The company
has already patented the technology
and has exhibited the product on a
number of occasions.
“We’re working on a new way of
extinguishing fires that would work
well in cities which have a lot of high
buildings and which will need
helicopters to extinguish the fires.
We’re still at the testing stage but we’ve
had a positive response and we’re
waiting to sign contracts with
potential clients that include the
mayor of New York,” Kratky explains.
Aerotaxi operates a range of Piper
aircraft including a Seneca and a
Cheyenne III, with plans to acquire
more aircraft later this year if business
continues to fare well. The company
confirmed that its first year of
operations was not as busy as
expected but over the coming year it is
determined to increase the number of
flight hours from 300 to 400 hours for
the Cheyenne and 250 to 350 hours for
the Seneca.
Acquiring an AOC for operating a
single-engine aircraft has not been
easy however, a spokesman explains.
“It’s something that the Czech
authorities are not familiar with so it
has caused us a few problems but we
have been working with them to sort it
out. We’re hoping that operating such
an aircraft will be cheaper and will
help us to attract new clients.”
Silesia Air operates a Citation 560,
560 XL and a CitationJet 525 for
charter and air ambulance missions.
Its most recent acquisition is a
luxuriously outfitted Citation Excel.
The aircraft are solely owned
and operated by Silesia, which
allows total operational control and
continuous availability for charter.
This latest addition is performing
extremely well and is a favourite
All Seagle Jet aircraft have moved to
VIP Air.
amongst industry brokers for both
business and private missions.
ABS Jets operates out of both the
Czech Republic and Slovakia, with
bases in Prague and more recently
Bratislava. In business since 2004, ABS
provides handling and hangarage at
Prague Ruzyne airport. Its fleet
consists of four Legacy 600s, two
Citation 550/551s and a Learjet 60XR.
Commercial director Jan Vana says:
“Prague Ruzyne airport is very wellequipped
for business and general
aviation. ABS Jets is building its own
FBO capability at the airport, which
we expect to open in 2009.”
On the move
PonyExpres is currently located at
Prague Kbely airport but at the request
of its customers the company is
planning to reposition its aircraft at
Prague Ruzyne airport. PonyExpres
performs a number of services
including aerial works, freight and
passenger charter. Most recently, the
company acquired a Cessna 421
Golden Eagle. Says flight operations
manager Michal Bures: “It fits all our
requirements – it is fast, reliable and
spacious enough for passengers and
cargo and the big positive is that its
very economical.”
So how busy is the charter market
for the company at present?
“The charter market is still in the
phase of development and grows by
tens of per cent every year. We have
special marketing activities on the
basis of the work with selected
companies and regular customers, but
we are also working on projects to
increase the overall awareness of the
public and respective clients about
business aviation. One of the most
memorable flights recently was to
Europe's highest airport in Samedan,
Switzerland. This airport not only
offers unusual visual procedures in the
deep alpine valley, but provides
passengers with unbeatable views on
approach and departure.”
According to Bures, there are plans
to develop Kbely airport further and
despite the company's planned
repositioning, he is supportive of the
plans. “For the future, there are
development plans for Kbely airport,
which has the ideal position to
become the secondary business
aviation airport for Prague. Its unique
position and development plans
promise to serve industrial zones on
the eastern part of Prague, but it can
also be used as a cargo airport for the
close production plants,” he says.
At the heart of Europe and with a
history strongly-linked with that of its
closest neighbours, Slovakia also
joined the European Union in 2004. Its
modest size and close proximity to
other European countries means that
operators must compete for business
within Slovakia and abroad.
Fortunately there are few competitors
compared with other parts of Europe
and some tend to use older, well-used
aircraft rather than brand new jets.
Air Transport Europe operates five
Agusta K2s and an AS355N Ecureuil
helicopter. With five bases spread
across the country including its main
site in the capital, Bratislava, the
company performs a range of services
from emergency medical services and
repatriation to aerial work and
sightseeing, mostly within Slovakia.
Emergency medical services fly for
around 1,000 hours per year. It also
performs a few sightseeing trips,
though this is mostly seasonal, and
conducts occasional repatriation
missions in Hungary, Poland and the
Czech Republic.
Twelve pilots currently work for the
company, eight full-time and four
part-time but every pilot works only
for Air Transport Europe, according to
chief pilot Wiliam Kriwak. As part of
the company’s plans to acquire
another base, taking their offering to
six, and ultimately a 24-hour
operation, Kriwak said the firm may
have to recruit more staff. At this stage
however, he is not sure when that
might be.
“Yes, of course we would like to hire
more people. It depends on the
Cessna 421: PonyExpres’s latest aircraft.
situation with the emergency medical
market. We’d like six bases and we
want to have a 24-hour operation
instead of 12-hour so for that we may
need an additional five pilots,
perhaps.”
As well as increasing the number of
bases Air Transport Europe would also
like to acquire additional aircraft.
“Our Agusta has accrued more than
3,000 hours total flight time so perhaps
we will acquire more aircraft in the
future. Once again it depends on the
market and the economy. We’d like
more aircraft but it's hard to say when
that will be and which aircraft we
would choose.”
A necessary change
Staying competitive in any market is
difficult and Slovakia is no exception.
Seagle Jet recently merged with VIP Air
to form a new, independent company.
From 1 May, all aircraft and some of its
personnel and pilots will be operating
former Seagle Jet aircraft under VIP
Air’s AOC.
Dusan Blascak left his post as sales
manager at Seagle Jet when the
company was sold, along with most of
the former Seagle Jet management
team. He began a new role one month
ago as commercial director of a
different company called Seagle Air.
According to Blascak the company
recently acquired a B737 aircraft and
has plans to acquire four more similar
aircraft over the coming two years. He
explains: “Lots of people at Seagle Air
are former employees of Slovak
Airlines and have great experience
flying with 737s so we have the know-
Business and tourism demand split
50/50, says Kratky.
how to operate them effectively. We
might consider operating other
aircraft in the future but for now our
type rating is with 737s and that’s what
we know best.”
Arpad Agocs is sales executive with
the revised VIP Air. According to
Agocs, all aircraft listed in the Seagle
Jet fleet have moved to VIP Air. It now
consists of three Citation jets, three
King Air aircraft and a Piper
Cheyenne. At the end of June, the
company is also hoping for a Hawker
800XP to join the fleet.
“There are also plans for additional
aircraft deliveries, however no exact
decision was made if the Cessna or
Raytheon Hawker types would be
preferred. Just this year we delivered
three brand new aircraft and are
hoping to purchase new types in the
future. With the mixed fleet of
turboprops and jets we will have no
limits to our operations.”
Agocs also confirmed plans to
develop a rebranding and marketing
action, that may include a name
change, to mark the last step of this
fusion of companies.