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4 APRIL 2008 EUROPEAN BUSINESS AIR NEWS Air Alpha formally gives up helicopters for jets Denmark-based Air Alpha Group is implementing a growth strategy designed to place it among leading Scandinavian business aviation companies, according to Stig Naesh the current ceo. Naesh, who will become chairman later this year when a new ceo is appointed, says the group has received an equity capital injection of DKK95 million (US$19 million). “This will assist further growth through company acquisitions and alliances here and abroad.” The group will no longer conduct helicopter operations and flight training at its facilities in Odense. But its acquisitions already include the Aviation Interior Center, Danish Aircraft Painting, both located at Odense Airport, and Dansk Flyelektronik in Roskilde. Naesh says: “Incorporating the expertise of these companies, the Air Alpha Group gains the status of a so-called ‘completion centre’ in the industry also known as a ‘one-stop-shop’ that will focus on business aircraft.” The move, he adds, will emphasize that Odense is now the centre of the Air Alpha activities. “The Baltic States and Russia are still the absolute top priority and we intend to add to the existing sales contracts in Russia regarding the Swiss built turboprop aircraft Pilatus PC12 in addition to sales of business jets.” The Air Alpha Group is to build 2,000 sq. metres of new hangar facilities in Odense. “This will make room for maintenance, parking, and display of the business aircraft that from now on will be the cornerstone of the Air Alpha activities of sales, maintenance, and operation,” says Naesh who succeeds Poul Lübbert as chairman. Corporate Air, formed only a year ago, is reporting increasing take up by businessmen of its shared aircraft ownership facility. “Our aim is to be known as the people who provide jets in Ireland and promote St. Angelo airport at Enniskillen as the corporate airport for Ireland,” says Tony Ringland, one of Corporate Air's partners. “We see a great demand in Ireland for business aircraft and for Enniskillen as the business aircraft airport in Ireland. We average three days per week in each aircraft and that would relate to between 7,000 and 10,000 miles per week. We are looking closely at the VLJ market.” Ringland adds: “You can leave London City airport at 5.30 p.m. in a Corporate Air jet and be sitting down for dinner in beautiful County Fermanagh by 7.30 p.m.” St NetJets reports huge influx of pilots Pilots are flocking to NetJets amidst an industry wide pilot shortage, the fractional operator reports. “NetJets Europe employed 341 new pilots last year,” says ceo and chairman Mark Booth, “bringing the total to 908 at the end of 2007.” He says NetJets Europe flies to 900 airports which means a pilot can expect to fly to more than 70 airports in 21 countries operating hundreds of unique city pairs every year. Qualified first officers with more than 3,000 hours of flight experience can upgrade to captain in as little as six months, he adds. “Our recruitment drive has extended the company’s total workforce to 1,653.” In 2007, NetJets Transportes Aéreos employed 144 new aviation professionals, based at the operations centre in Lisbon, in areas such as training, maintenance, dispatch, scheduling and customer service. Another 41 new sales and marketing staff based in London, Munich, Paris and Rotkreuz (Switzerland) also joined the NetJets Europe team along with 25 new cabin crew members. Staff at the new Lough Erne Golf Resort celebrate the hotel's investment in one of Corporate Air's aircraft. Corporate Air invites businesses to share in success Get in. Take off. Business. You are looking for fl exibility and want to save time? Business aviation is your answer. It’s the mode of transportation which gets business people to that important appointment – Safe, Flexible, Direct, anywhere within Europe. Stuttgarter Flugdienst GmbH General Aviation Airport Stuttgart D -70629 Stuttgart Tel. +49 (0)711-9 90 50-96 Fax +49 (0)711-9 90 50-98 www.stuttgarterfl ugdienst.de A relaxing dinner is just a two minute speedboat ride from stepping off a jet at Enniskillen's St. Angelo airport. Angelo airport is building a new jet hangar and business centre to cater for business aircraft and a runway extension is proposed for later this year. Corporate Air, from its base in the north of Ireland, offers shares in aircraft which, at present, are all preowned. Each owner is allotted periods of aircraft use that reflect their shares. A 50 per cent ownership Gama Holdings says its managed fleet will exceed 60 aircraft following its acquisition of PrivatAir, Inc, the US-arm of the Swiss-based PrivatAir Group. “It is a significant acquisition as the group enters its 25th year of operation,” says Marwan Khalek, Gama's ceo and founder. The price is not being disclosed. Headquartered at Farnborough airport in the U.K., Gama focuses on activities including aircraft ownership, charter services, business aircraft management, medical transport operations and aircraft maintenance. Khalek adds: “Gama has enjoyed significant growth over the past 25 years, particularly in the last six. This year has seen our expansion in a number of key markets to make Gama one of the leading international business jet companies. PrivatAir, Inc. equates to six months’ time usage spread throughout a year. Another aircraft is being lined up for prospective owners. “We have an offer on a second 2001 C550 Bravo and should have this in operation by May 2008,” says Ringland. The new aircraft will be jointly owned by two companies with business in Europe and will be mostly used for business trips. The Bravo was chosen for its range and payload. Corporate Air combines organising share purchases in aircraft with managing business aircraft at St Angelo. “At present we look after three Citations (Bravo, Citation II and a C500) and two PA31s (Navajo and Chieftain),” Ringland says. Corporate Air also provides crew for other PA31s, C500 and C550 aircraft based in Ireland. The company’s expansion has enjoys an excellent reputation throughout the United States, a crucial market for any international business aviation company, and we look forward to working with our successful team in continuing to deliver the highest standards of safety, customer care and service.” The company will be branded as Gama Aviation, Inc. and will remain based in Stratford, Connecticut. sparked interest amongst job seekers. “We mostly head hunt pilots and do not have any vacancies at the moment but welcome CVs,” says Ringland. “All our pilots are special and it is interesting that just two out of 14 are ex-airline.” Ringland says that Corporate Air is planning to further build its business. “We have, in a very short time, acquired the reputation as safe efficient corporate aircraft operators with some of the best corporate pilots in Ireland. We are driven by customer care and attention to detail and, as with any organisation, the best marketing is by word of mouth.” Corporate Air is organising a jet day at St Angelo and is inviting some of Ireland's top companies and businessmen to view aircraft and discuss their travel requirements. PrivatAir acquisition gives Gama 60-plus international fleet with widespread appeal Greg Thomas: PrivatAir is focusing on growth markets. Gama is already present at Teterboro, New Jersey. Khalek points out that the Gama fleet comprises aircraft from all of the major manufacturers. PrivatAir says it will be focusing major efforts on developing its European. Middle East and Russian business. “We believes that the current buoyancy of the US private aviation market makes it the perfect time to sell our US division,” says Greg Thomas, PrivatAir ceo. “Following the sale, PrivatAir SA is now ideally placed to aggressively target new growth markets.” He adds: “We always keep an eye out for good investments but we do not have any specific acquisitions in mind at present. In addition to the proceeds from the acquisition we have substantial cash reserves and this leaves us well placed.”
EUROPEAN BUSINESS AIR NEWS Royal Jet celebrates award-winning five years and introduces aircraft work experience training scheme for UAE nationals Royal Jet has been named the ‘world’s leading private jet charter’ in the World Travel Awards (WTA) as it celebrates five years of operation. The award was presented to Royal Jet’s president and ceo Shane O’Hare by the WTA’s executive director Manon Han in London. Guests included HE Mohammed Al Zaabi from the UAE embassy in the U.K. Four months ago Royal Jet won the 'business jet provider of the year' award at the aviation business awards ceremony in Dubai. Royal Jet is jointly owned by Abu Dhabi Aviation and the Amiri Flight, the royal flight service, and is chaired by HE Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan. Royal Jet’s fleet includes five Boeing Business Jets, two mid-range Gulfstream 300s and a IVSP, Avro RJ85, a medevac Learjet LJ55 and two Learjet G650 aims to prove big is beautiful Gulfstream is preparing to launch the G650 – an aircraft it believes will become one of the world's biggest business jets in 2012. Joe Lombardo, president, Gulfstream Aerospace. “I can think of no better way to celebrate our golden anniversary than to introduce the Gulfstream G650. Created with significant input from customers, the G650 offers the most advanced flight deck and the widest array of cabin comforts. Its performance and aesthetics are unprecedented.” The G650 aims to make a big impact. Lombardo says the G650, when deliveries start in 2012, will be capable of traveling 7,000 n.m. at 0.85 Mach or 5,000 n.m. at 0.90 Mach. “Using an advanced aerodynamic design, the G650 has a maximum operating speed of 0.925 Mach, which will make it the fastest civil aircraft flying. It can climb to a maximum altitude of 51,000 feet, allowing it to avoid airline-traffic congestion and adverse weather.” Based on the aircraft development schedule, the company projects it will receive FAA type certification and validation by EASA in 2011. First flight of the G650 is scheduled for the second half of 2009. The unfinished aircraft cabin measures 102 inches wide and 77 inches high, designed to make it one of the largest business jet cabins. Lombardo says: “The extra space allows for a lengthier living area, more seat recline, expanded leg room and increased stateroom capabilities as well as larger galleys, lavatories, storage and crew rest areas. An 84inch-wide floor provides for larger seats, wider aisles and the ability to seat three across.” “The Gulfstream G650 uses stateof-the-art avionics to give operators a visual edge,” said Pres Henne, senior vp, programs, engineering and test, Gulfstream. Because the G650 flight deck has the same basic layout as the G550, the pilot type rating for the G650 is expected to be the same as the GV and the other in-production, largecabin Gulfstream business jets. Royal Jet executives attended a day dedicated to improving contact between students and employers. LJ35s. Its operations include air charter, medical evacuation, aircraft management and acquisition consultancy and an FBO/VIP terminal at Abu Dhabi. In Abu Dhabi, Royal Jet announced that it will offer UAE students the chance to gain work experience across the business over Hawker Beechcraft Chairman and CEO Jim Schuster focuses intently on the company’s number-one business priority: “exceptional customer service and support.” A big part of this emphasis on the overall customer experience is making sure that the quality of the training matches the quality of the product and support. “We’re very proud of the heritage and the continuing evolution of both the Beechcraft and Hawker brands,” Schuster says. “As our training provider, FlightSafety has been a great partner for nearly two decades. the coming months. ‘Internship 2008’ is a programme designed to offer eligible and qualified students the opportunity to acquire direct practical CEOs on Training A SERIES “At Hawker Beechcraft, FlightSafety helps us deliver an exceptional customer experience.” JAMES E. SCHUSTER Chairman and CEO, Hawker Beechcraft An executive with more than 25 years of aerospace and defense experience, Jim Schuster has held positions at companies including Westinghouse and AlliedSignal. He’s served as chairman and CEO at Hawker Beechcraft since 2001. Previously, Schuster was president of Raytheon Aircraft Integration Systems. “We know we can count on FlightSafety to help us meet our own high standards.” For more information, please contact any of our Learning Centers or call Scott Fera: 636.532.5933. Our headquarters are at the Marine Air Terminal, LaGuardia Airport, New York 11371-1061. Email: fsi.sales@flightsafety.com flightsafety.com APRIL 2008 5 experience in Royal Jet’s operations, according to Amna Saif Al Mansouri, vp of human resources and administration. “We will provide training for them in order to open up new horizons – not just within this company, but with other organisations working within the aviation sector.” Royal Jet also supported this year’s first annual sponsorship day organised by the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) and held at the Abu Dhabi Men’s College (ADMC) campus. Al Mansouri explains. “Royal Jet is keen to provide opportunities for students to have access to professional organisations that can provide them with continuing education and networking opportunities. The event provided students an opportunity to learn more about the aviation industry and to develop valuable contacts.”
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