UK business aviation services provider Gama Aviation is gearing up to launch charter services before the end of 2009 from its new facility in the Middle East if its aircraft operator's certificate is awarded as expected in the coming days.

Farnborough-based Gama, which expanded into North America in March 2008 with the acquisition of Privat­Air's US arm, opened a sales office in the emirate of Sharjah in June. It recently added two more managed business jets - a Bombardier Challenger 605 and an 850 - to its single-aircraft fleet in the region.

Challenger 605 In Flight 
 Challenger 605
"We will add the Challenger to the AOC as soon as we get it and the 850 will be added early in the new year," says Gama Group general manager Dave Edwards, who has been heading company development in the region. He says the market for business aircraft has remained stable throughout the economic downturn with much of the demand coming from high-net-worth individuals mainly within the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

"This region has great potential," Edwards adds. "We plan to grow our business here and will break ground early next year on a new fixed-base operation - the first in Sharjah."

Gama manages and operates a fleet of 75 aircraft across its bases in the UK, North America and the Middle East, of which it owns eight.

"We are growing the business gradually in the Middle East and expect to add up to five more aircraft to our managed fleet here before the end of 2010," it says.

Source: Flight International