VISTAJET BOOST
Privately owned all-Bombardier charter operator VistaJet is taking on five aircraft this year to bring its fleet to 28, with 20 on order for delivery to 2014, including the new Learjet 85. Its passenger numbers rose 25% last year, to 16,5000, and performance in the first four months of this year points to a similar increase in 2010. Company founder Thomas Flohr says VistaJet has attracted much of its custom from shareholders in fractional programmes who have veered away from ownership as asset prices have plunged in the recession. "This is the first time in this industry there is an alternative to fractionals," he says. VistaJet sales offices and bases have been opened in Dubai, Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong.
CESSNA LANDMARKS
Turkish Airlines Flight Training Academy has ordered two Cessna Citation Mustang business jets. The new aircraft, to be delivered later by the end of this month, will be based at Istanbul Ataturk airport and used for flight training purposes. Textron-owned Cessna gave its $9 million Citation CJ4 light business jet a European debut at the show. It expects the European Aviation Safety Agency to approve the type this year.
JET REFURBISHMENT
Jet Alliance International has launched a Cessna CitationJet refurbishment programme. The Monaco-based corporate jet consultancy plans to source pre-owned CJ series aircraft and, in partnership with Duncan Aviation, refurbish them via new avionics, a complete OEM-level strip-and-paint and a luxury cabin. The refurbished CitationJets will be branded as CJ-NewGen aircraft.
MOUNTAIN CLIMBING
Intermountain Healthcare has ordered three GrandNew light twin helicopters from Finmeccanica-owned manufacturer AgustaWestland, and taken options on two more. Intended to provide in-flight patient care, the aircraft will be equipped with an emergency medical systems interior featuring single or dual stretchers in addition to a rescue hoist, wire strike protection, snow skis and night-vision goggle compatibility.Two AgustaWestland A109K2 helicopters are already in service with Intermountain, performing medevac missions in Utah and northern Nevada.
OCEAN SKY HANGAR
Ocean Sky has agreed a multimillion dollar deal to buy one of Monarch Aircraft Engineering's two hangars at London Luton airport. The 4,275m2 (46,000ft2) hangar will give Ocean Sky stand capacity for up to 20 aircraft and allow it to operate a second full engineering facility for Bombardier business aircraft, on top of the one at its Manchester Jet Centre in the north of England. The company is also keen to extend this offering to other airframers - notably Dassault - at a later date.
TRAINING SUPPORT
ExecuJet has awarded Emirates-CAE Flight Training (ECFT) and CAE a three-year contract to provide pilot and technical training services on more than 30 aircraft types - including models from Bombardier, Cessna, Dassault, Gulfstream, Hawker, King Air, Turbo Commander and Westwind. The training will be conducted at four sites across CAE's global network of aviation training centres: ECFT in Dubai, UAE, and CAE business aviation training centres in the London (Burgess Hill) UK, New York (Morristown, New Jersey) and Dallas, Texas areas.
LE BOURGET PLANS
Jet Aviation expects to launch its new line maintenance and aircraft on ground operation at Paris Le Bourget this month, pending approval by the European Aviation Safety Agency. The operation, established in partnership with ground support provider Universal Aviation, will support various aircraft types, including Airbus, Boeing Business Jets, Bombardier, and Gulfstream models.
Source: Flight International
