In another world first for Farnborough, the first ever Fokker 100 Corporate Shuttle, or F100CS, is on show in the Business Aircraft Park.
The aircraft is under lease from Farnborough-based aviation management company Aravco and will be operated by Platinum Jet on routes from Calgary to destinations in Canada and the US.
CJ Peter van Oostrum, business development manager, Fokker Services, said from 1 October Platinum Jet would begin operating two of the aircraft, with a possible third to be added at a later date.
The aircraft on display is a Fokker 100, formerly operated by US Airways, that has been completely overhauled. The executive cabin configuration has 56 first-class seats and features a mid-cabin bar. Cabin space has been increased by removing overhead luggage bins on one side. The aircraft has a still-air range of approximately 3,300km (1,800nm).
A second aircraft, also under lease from Aravco, is currently undergoing conversion. "It is a concept we believe in very much," van Oostrum says.
Work is ongoing to extend the range of the Fokker 100. Fokker Services and Aravco are developing an Auxiliary Fuel Tank System.
The basic system with six fuel cells (four in the forward belly cargo hold and two in the rear) will extend the Fokker 100 Executive Jet (F100EJ) range from 3,700km to 6,000km (2,000 to 3,200nm).
Configuration
A lower-capacity derivative system is also being developed for the F100CS. Depending on the interior configuration and number of auxiliary fuel tanks, the actual range will be around 4,600km (2,500nm).
These developments form part of Fokker Services' FUTURE programme, which it launched in early 2003 to remarket Fokker 100s and turboprop Fokker 50s that had become redundant.
TIM SCHWARZ
Source: Flight Daily News
