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Aviation History
2002
2002 - 3735.PDF
BUSINESS & GENERAL AVIATION FRACTIONAL OWNERSHIP KATE SARSFIELD / LONDON Bombardier Flexjet plans expansion in Asia-Pacific Rising demand for business aircraft charter in region prompts operator to add to fleet Bombardier Flexjet Asia-Pacific is planning to expand its fleet and route network in 2003 as demand for business aircraft charter begins to heat up in the region. Flexjet's Asian charter network was launched in December 2001 and began operations in February with seven Bombardier business jets. "We have since added another aircraft and are scheduled to add two or possibly three more in 2003," says Greg Kalinin, Flexjet Asia Pacific managing director. He notes that the Asian charter- based arm of US fractional owner ship company has found notable success within China, where in December Flexjet added Lhasa Gongga in Tibet to its network, fol lowing a successful route-proving flight in December using a Challenger 604 large business jet. Kalinin says the Chinese market is doing particularly well, "benefit ing from a buoyant economy and strong international investment", which has led to increasing num bers of individuals and businesses using corporate aircraft. Kalinin adds that the programme has benefited from partnering with Shandong Airlines' corporate avia tion subsidiary Rainbow Jet, not least because it "understands" the workings of the military-controlled airspace. "These types of relation ships are the best way forward and we would like to sign another part ner within the next 12 months," he says. Other partners within the Flexjet Asia-Pacific network are Philippino Subic International Air Charter, Jet Asia of Macau, Sing apore Technologies' Pacific Flight Services and Execujet Australia. Flexjet is keen to expand its route network to include emerging markets such as India, where the explosion in high-technology com panies has created a wealthy elite and made the country a sought- after destination for international investors. Kalinin says charter is the first choice for customers and operators "for now", as the Asian market is too immature and complex to embrace the fractional ownership concept. Flexjet is eyeing possible block charter deals with companies based in or having connections within Asia to add to the recent contract between Rainbow Jet and Dutch energy company Shell. He says: "We are looking at the possi bility of customers buying a block number of hours which will afford access across the entire network." CHARTER Siam GA sees money in medevac Thai turboprop charter operator Siam GA (SGA) is to offer med ical evacuation flights in a bid to increase use of its first aircraft. From January, SGA will fly patients from points in rural Thailand and neighbouring coun tries to its Bangkok base. The company flies overnight cargo services in its Cessna 206B Grand Caravan. SGA managing director Jain Charnnarong says demand for overnight express cargo is grow ing in Thailand as companies reduce their inventories and streamline logistics. "We would like to build the overnight service and the Cessna authorised ser vice centre business," says Jain. SGA says there is significant demand for flights to Bangkok's medical facilities and it is explor ing other daytime uses of the 12-seater aircraft, including eco- tourism to remote airstrips and aerial surveying. UTILITY AIRCRAFT Gippsland to step up GA-8 production Gippsland Aeronautics will boost production of its eight- seat GA-8 Airvan utility aircraft from 16 aircraft a year to 48 by the end of 2003. Managing director Michael Hall says type certification was received in December 2000 and "we are now moving into full-scale manufacturing". New staff are being employed to cope with the increase in operations, with the workforce expected to climb to 100 by early 2003. Extra capacity under con struction will boost floor space to 7,500m2 (81,000ft2). "The demand for the Airvan is there," says Hall. "We could produce 200 a year, but don't have the infrastructure for that scale of operations just yet." HELICOPTERS PAUL LEWIS / WASHINGTON DC Sikorsky S-92 gains FAA approval The Sikorsky S-92 has been awarded US Federal Aviation Administration certification, which the company hopes will boost orders for the 19- seat helicopter. The S-92 is Sikorsky's first civil rotorcraft to be certificated since the debut of the smaller S-76 in 1978. The helicopter was certificated under Federal Aviation Regulations Pt29 after clocking up l,570h of flight tests under the "most strin gent rotorcraft safety requirements imposed to date", says the com pany. Launch customer Cougar Helicopters is not scheduled to take delivery of the first aircraft until the Heli Expo air show in early 2004. Sikorsky expects certification to kick-start a sales drive for the hith erto slow-selling aircraft. "We now have a green light to start selling a ""^^n_^ ^s ^•HJ HI The S-92 is Sikorsky's first civil helicopter to be certificated since 1978 certificated aircraft and are working hard to have some sales to report relative to 2004 deliveries," says the company. Sikorsky has commitments and deposits covering 18 civil machines for Norway's Air Contractgruppen, Finland's Copterline, East Asia Airlines of Hong Kong, Gulf of Mexico operator Era Aviation and Vancouver-based Helijet, as well as Halifax, Canada-based Cougar. Sikorsky has ordered long lead items and subassemblies for the first machines, but declines to say how many will be delivered in 2004. Sikorsky has no orders for the H-92 military utility version nor for the HV-92 government VIP variant. Sikorsky hopes to secure European certification in late 2003, while work is carried out in Alaska to expand the aircraft's maximum ceiling to 15,000ft (4,575m) and allow take-offs and landings from an 11,000ft elevation. www.flightinternational.com FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 31 DECEMBER 2002 - 6 JANUARY 2003 19
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