CONTRACT EXTENSION
Abu Dhabi-based VVIP charter company Royal Jet has extended its contract with Safran to provide maintenance, repair and overhaul services on the CFM56-7B engines that power the operator's six Boeing Business Jets - the largest fleet of its kind.
PRIVATE FUNDING
UK online business jet booking network PrivateFly.com has completed the first phase of its funding. The capital will be used to increase marketing spend, expand its workforce, "drive business in the UK market, and develop a presence in new European territories", says the company.
MEXICAN EXPANSION
ExecuJet Mexico has opened a new office at Toluca airport. The business aviation service provider - which has been operating in Mexico since 2002 - also has bases in Monterrey´s Mariano Escobedo and Del Norte International airports, from where it offers aircraft charter, sales, management and maintenance services.
EX-GOVERNMENT LEASE
Air Niugini of Papua New Guinea has leased an ex-government Boeing 767-300ER from Icelandic lessor Loftleidir. The late-model 767 was leased to Loftleidir by BAE Systems on behalf of the Presidential Flight of Abu Dhabi, and is in Iceland awaiting delivery on a sublease to Air Niugini.
ENGINE CONVERSION
US engineering company Aero Twin has received US approval for improvements to its Honeywell TPE331-12JR-701AT/-703AT engine conversion for the Cessna 208 Caravan, Grand Caravan and Super Cargomaster. Supplemental type certification for the engine upgrade - which became the first US Federal Aviation Administration-certificated Honeywell conversion for the single-engined turboprop family - was originally awarded to Anchorage-based Aero Twin in July 2007. Recent improvements include flight into known icing for gross weights of up to 4,115kg (9,060lb) for the Grand Caravans and the Super Cargomasters and 3,595kg for the 208 Caravan.
Source: Flight International
