Missouri-based JetCorp expects to secure within the next few weeks a new supplemental type certificate for converting Bombardier CRJ100/200s into corporate aircraft.
JetCorp business development and customer support vice-president Anthony Sanchez says it has completed one CRJ200 corporate conversion for an eastern European customer and expects to secure an STC for the interior modification by early November. He says a second aircraft for another eastern European customer is also nearly complete and both aircraft should be delivered by year-end.
JetCorp joins a growing list of conversion centres offering CRJ100/200 conversions as demand for the type grows. Warren Hoppe, director of sales for Bombardier Commercial Aircraft's asset management group, says there are now about 25 CRJ100/200s undergoing or being committed to conversions and this number is likely to increase as airlines continue to offload 50-seat regional jets.
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JetCorp, which traditionally has specialised in cabin refurbishments and installations rather than conversion, is not as well known as most of the other six companies now offering CRJ conversion products. Sanchez says JetCorp has not yet marketed its CRJ conversion product, but plans to launch a campaign after the STC is secured.
He says JetCorp is also offering an auxiliary fuel tank option, using a system supplied by Delaware-based PATS Aviation. JetCorp's initial two CRJ customers opted against auxiliary fuel tanks because they did not require the range, but Sanchez says JetCorp is talking to several potential customers interested in CRJ200 conversions with the extra fuel capacity.
JetCorp will join the Indianapolis Jet Center, Canada's Field Aviation and Russia's Arfus in offering CRJ corporate conversions with the PATS auxiliary fuel tank system. "We ended up getting into the programme because everyone was maxed out and didn't have the capacity," Sanchez says. "We had the capacity, the capability and the talent."
JetCorp, based at Spirit of St Louis airport, offers a mix of maintenance and refurbishment services in addition to running a fixed-base operation. Its single largest customer is its parent company, charter operator JetDirect. JetCorp is abel to work on four aircraft simultaneously, but is looking to add capacity next year.
Source: Flight International
