Executive Airlines plans to expand at the double Executive Airlines ...

12 APRIL 2008 EUROPEAN BUSINESS AIR NEWS
Europe’s aircraft management
companies report that demand is
growing but customers are not
prepared to settle for less than the
best. EBAN reports the views of
Executive Airlines of Spain;
FlyingGroup of Belgium, Hamlin Jet
of the U.K.
The wave of privately-owned
VLJs expected to wash over Europe
in the coming years will increase
the demand for aircraft management.
But companies say that, despite
the expected added demand, the
emphasis will still be on quality
and reliability.
Executive Airlines, which plans to
more than double its fleet to 28 jets
(see accompanying news item) has
built much of its expansion on aircraft
management. Juli López, ceo,
confirms that quality and reliability are
major requirements.
Belgium’s FlyingGroup is another
operator that has built a big aircraft
management operation but feels an
international dimension is essential
for future development. “We have
nearly 15 years’ experience. But,
although we are a leading operator for
private and business aviation in
Benelux, we are making sure that our
share of the French market will also
growing steadily,” says Ben Paindavin,
marketing & PR director. "Through the
economies of scale companies can
save enormous amounts that would
otherwise be spent on their own
facilities; meanwhile they can rest
assured that their investment is
operating according to the most up-todate
European standards,” Paindavin
adds. As an EASA approved Part 145
facility, FlyingGroup offers aircraft
maintenance on its complete fleet.
“Aircraft management should
simplify life, cost thousands of Euros
less than an in-house flight
department, provide all the benefits
and advantages of business aviation
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including pilots and maintenance,
have aircraft ready to fly when needed,
and provide worthwhile charter
revenue,” says Paindavin.
In the U.K., Hamlin Jet also believes
in reliability and personal service.
Diners at an exclusive restaurant
expect to enjoy a meal of their choice
at their leisure and pay the bill after a
pleasant evening where it is a given
that all the chores are taken care of.
But, if they were Hamlin Jet customers,
they might also be collected and
delivered by limousine.
Mike Hamlin, who ran the Lotus
Cars fleet before transferring his skills
to Hamlin Jet, believes aircraft owners
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AIRCRAFT MANAGEMENT
Demand set to grow but quality and reliability are still
the keys to successful business expansion
The Flying Group management regard an international dimension as key to success. Pictured (left to right) are Ben Paindavin, marketing and PR manager; Pascal Ravel, gm, France;
John Van Lokren, ceo Flying Service; Beernard Van Milders, president; Michael Daems, director of operations; Jurgen Van Campenhout, commercial director; and Bart Boury, vp and
general counsel.
Hamlin Jet...punctual service
should be similarly and discreetly
waited on. “The client should be able
to just decide the when and where of
travel and how and when to pay and
the management company should
take care of the rest,” says Hamlin.
Hamlin Jet was established over 20
years ago to provide impartial advice
on buying, owning and running a
private jet. Hamlin says: “Many clients
have purchased up to four different
aircraft through the company.”
His picture of the aircraft
management company of the present
and the future is of “one that can do
everything that needs to be done
for the client and the aircraft
including providing the staff,
processing the travel formalities,
ensuring the maintenance, sorting the
schedules and flight plans, and
ensuring value for money in tandem
with meticulous accounting.”
Operations should run so smoothly
that they might appear to be run with
ease. But nobody in aircraft
management is under any illusions as
to the effort involved in making sure
the client is at the place he or she
wants to be at the time desired.
Slots must be available and
specialist knowledge will be needed to
ensure the formalities are taken care
of. “The aircraft owner doesn’t want to
know about problems,” Hamlin points
out. “He or she wants to fly to
the destination, step out of the aircraft,
get in the car and go. So the
aircraft management must do
whatever it takes to ensure that the
owner can accomplish this. The work
involved at some airports might be
heavy and complex but that is not the
owner’s concern.”
He adds: “In-house maintenance
is a prerequisite. An aircraft
management company ideally wants
complete control so it doesn’t have
to negotiate with maintenance
companies and fit in with their
schedules. If the aircraft comes in at 6
p.m. on a Friday night you don’t want
to have to wait until Tuesday to get it
back into operation. You want it sorted
immediately and ready if the owner
wants to fly out again on the Saturday.”
Tight administration is vital. “Each
aircraft involves administration of at
least €1 million each year,” says
Hamlin. “The work involves keeping
track of bills for insurance,
maintenance, fuel etc. – all the
associated costs of running the
aircraft. The accounts should be
presented meticulously. The client
should receive a regular neat one-page
summary of the outgoings; the bills
packaged in apple pie order for perusal
as desired and the cheques made out
for the right amount awaiting only
authorisation and signature.”
It might not be as straightforward as
ensuring an evening at the restaurant
is a memorable highlight with no
downside. But the result, Hamlin says,
should be the same.
Aircraft management
business priorities
Capt. Nils Hoffmann, who flies a Lear
60XR managed by the U.K.’s Gama
Aviation for a private owner, says
aircraft management companies
should provide complete support
ranging from flight planning to
maintenance and hotel bookings.
Karsten Sensen ceo and md of
Bavaria International Aircraft
Leasing, part of the Schörghuber
Corporate Group, says the an aircraft
management company must be
honest, reliable and on time wherever
possible. He adds: “There must be a
strong focus on safety they must be in
a position to say ‘no’ if necessary to
stay safely within operational limits.”
He adds: “We own a Challenger
604 operated by ACM Air Charter
based in Rheinmünster which is an
excellent company and use it for
corporate travelling, mainly within
Europe, but also to the U.S. and South
Africa and charter for selected
business customers worldwide.”
Leon Smith, chief pilot of
Heliservices, which operates aircraft
including the AS355, the A109 and the
B206, for corporate use and training,
says honesty is the most important
asset for an aircraft manager.
Will Banks of the U.K.’s Cheshire
Helicopters, which provides aircraft
management services as well as
private and corporate charter,
confirms that clients look for
efficiency and contactability.
Aurel Bitianu is md of the
Romanian private company Mia
Airlines which has aircraft including
a Falcon 900B on its AOC. He says
that clients value privacy and
stability of operations from aircraft
management companies.