CORPORATE SHUTTLES are becoming more commonplace, with the NBAA debut of a corporate version of the Saab 2000 high-speed regional turboprop. The aircraft was one of three ordered by General Motors to replace its aging Convair 580 shuttles. Inside, the aircraft is outfitted with 36 passenger seats instead of the standard 50, Saab says.
Also on display was a Dornier 328 corporate shuttle owned by Corning. The US company operates two 328s, configured for 19 passengers instead of the 34 standard in the high-speed regional turboprop. Dornier has sold two other 328 corporate shuttles to undisclosed customers.
AlliedSignal has acquired a Jetstream 41 corporate shuttle from British Aerospace's turboprop-leasing arm JSX Capital. The aircraft will be configured for 14 passengers. Stevens Aviation, meanwhile, will add two Jetstream 31 corporate shuttles to its charter fleet later this year, and has three more on option.
Fokker, which displayed one of two 48-passenger Fokker 70 corporate shuttles for Ford Motor at 1994's NBAA, says that it has created a new department to focus resources on marketing the Fokker 50, 70 and 100 as employee shuttles and executive and VIP aircraft.
Source: Flight International
