Boeing Business Jets (BBJ) is meeting its approved completion centre representatives here in Geneva to talk though a new concept for the BBJ family.
BBJ sales staff have already been testing the reaction of customers to the concept – a multi-mission business jetliner.
“The idea is simple,” says BBJ’s chief executive Steve Hill. “We are looking at a derivative of the Next Generation Boeing 737-700 fitted with a side cargo door and a cargo floor as well as the BBJ tanks, flightdeck configuration and possibly the winglets.”
The company expects to make a decision on the proposal within three months as the feedback is recorded.
“This multi-mission baircraft is aimed at government uyers,” Hill says. “Politically some nations have difficulty justifying a head-of-state aircraft that doesn’t get full utilisation. What this aircraft allows is the option to move from a head-of-state of VVIP aircraft into a utility aircraft that could be used for medical evacuations, disaster relief or even transporting military personnel and equipment within a 24h timescale.”
The VIP seating and fittings would be part of a palletised interior that could be removed through the cargo door and fitted to tracks on the cargo flooring. “This is the challenge for the completions folk. How can we do this? We know it is technically feasible to incorporate the BBJ tanks, flightdeck suite and winglets, but how will the head of state seating work.”
Hill believes that there is a sizeable market that would opt for this fourth member of the BBJ family. “I can see some corporations being interested in this concept as well,” he says.
For BBJ, the real challenge will be getting Boeing Commercial to release green aircraft to them quicker.
“At the moment we are taking orders for 2008. There are some people who don’t want to wait that long. There are others that recognise that the size and the range of BBJ is worth waiting for – but I wish we could offer aircraft sooner,” Hill says.
“We really can’t meet demand at the moment. Over the past 18 months there has been huge interest in our aircraft with record numbers of proposals prepared. What is fascinating is that the enquiries and the sales are coming from all parts of the world.”
Source: Flight Daily News
