Aircraft and equipment remarketing company Cordner Aviation Group (CAG) is hoping to clinch its first sale of a BAe 146-200 MultiJet Surveyor before the end of the year.

The deal with an undisclosed buyer will also mark the Berlin-headquartered company's first foray into the mining aircraft industry. "We hope to complete the sale by the end of the year and deliver the aircraft - called the MultiJet Surveyor - to its new owner early in the new year," said CAG founder and president Stewart Cordner. The MultiJet brand was launched by CAG last year, offering revamped and remarketed out-of-production BAe 146 and Avro RJ aircraft for the VIP and multi-mission markets.

"This current BAe 146 is fitted with 97 economy seats, but we hope that the medevac rear end quick change (QC) is taken up along with the VIP QC front end - both of which can be changed in a matter of hours to suit operational requirements," said Cordner. CAG unveiled the Surveyor interior for the mining and resource industry in October. Cordner says it will take the wraps off two more MultiJet cabin designs in the first six months of 2012.

Cordner Aviation mining BAE 146

 © Cordner Aviation

The QJets modular interiors will be launched next month "using the latest technology material and modifications to improve performance", said Cordner. The Private 11 cabin design, targeted at the VIP traveller, will be unveiled in May. Only the Avro models will be offered for the QJets and Private 11 MultiJets, as these are the most recent examples of the four-engine aircraft family.

Cordner admits the economic climate is hampering sales of the 146 and Avro. "People are not inclined to buy older aircraft at the moment," he said. "But older equals cheaper and these aircraft offer great value for money."

Source: Flight International