Nextant has returned to EBACE to promote its 400XTi in both a special missions and a charter role and to announce its plans to expand its Middle East sales operation.
The light business jet – a re-manufactured version of the Hawker 400XT featuring new engines and avionics – is currently performing “flawlessly” in a special missions role for New Zealand’s Skyline Aviation, says the Cleveland, Ohio-based company.
Skyline took delivery of the aircraft in January equipped with a quick-change air ambulance interior. “The 400XTi was immediately put to work on emergency duties all over New Zealand, Australia and many remote Pacific islands and quickly proved the perfect choice,” says Mike Toogood, founder and managing director of the Napier-based venture. “We operate in some of the toughest conditions in the world, including long over-water legs to challenging runways on small islands. It’s literally a life-or-death business, and people trust us to turn up without fail. The 400XTi gives us that reliability plus the range, speed and cabin size to do the job,” he adds.
Since entering service in 2012, the Williams FJ44-3AP-powered 400XT/XTi fleet has notched up 50,000h of “trouble-free service” says Directional Aviation Capital-owned Nextant.
These numbers were welcomed at the show by Czech Republic-based charter operator and Nextant distributor Time Air, which in 2012 become Europe’s first 400XT/i operator and now has a fleet of three of the seven-seat twin jets.
“Our extensive experience with the 400XTi has proved that it really is the ideal choice for our European operations,” says Time Air managing director Martin Pražský, “It’s that combination of great performance, low operating economics and Nextant’s product support department that makes the 400XTi a perfect solution for our business. Our pilots and customers give us very positive feedback, and it’s the same story in the finance department.”
Meanwhile, Nextant regional sales agent JetHQ has just celebrated delivery of its first 400XTi to a Saudi customer and is now setting its sights on additional markets in India and Sub-Saharan Africa. JetHQ founder and managing director Garett Jerde is upbeat about prospects for his new enlarged territory. “This is an exciting opportunity for customers in India and southern Africa to get the advantages in range, comfort, performance and operating economics of the 400XTi,” he says. “To meet the increased demand we have opened an office in Johannesburg to better serve our customers.”
Source: Flight International
