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Aviation History
2004
2004-09 - 0401.PDF
Business aviation •B "As more trade is done internationally, the use of business jets will expand, partic ularly large cabin types, which are being used in increasing numbers," says ABAG's Febeliano. Brazil will take delivery this year of the first Boeing Business Jet and Gulfstream 550, he adds. Dassault's Jacob agrees: "We sell around seven to eight aircraft a year in Central and South America, but demand for longer- range, large-cabin aircraft, such as the Falcon 900EX and 2000EX, is starting to grow, particularly in Mexico where we will deliver three 2000EXs alone this year." In its forecast Honeywell says over a third of the new aircraft that Latin American operators expect to take delivery of over the next five years will be new or derivative models. Product ranges The company points to the mid-size and super-mid-size business jets as being the class of equipment prospective Latin American buyers most commonly mention. Manufacturers, however, signal an interest from the region across their product ranges. Bombardier's Rebello says demand for the new Challenger 300 super mid-size has been strong, but sales of the Learjet 40 and 45XR, light and superlight business jets are also taking shape. All three types are sched uled for delivery to the first Latin American- based customers by the end of the year. "Our orderbook for the region covers air craft across our range," he adds. Raytheon vice-president of international sales Ted Farid suggests says the mid-size Hawker 800XP has sold well in the region, but sales of its renamed and upgraded Hawker 450XP light jet and Premier I entry level type have been particularly strong. Out of a total 259 sales last year, Raytheon LABACE in its sixth or seventh year to other South American countries" ADALBERTO FEBELIANO, ABAG sold 21 to Latin America, but the US com pany's major presence lies in its Beech King Air turboprop brand, which it says repre sents 24% of the region's fleet. Cessna's out of production Citation II and Bravo light jets top the fleet table, with 50 aircraft followed by the mid-size Citation VIIs, also out of production, and Excel with around 20 aircraft each. Cessna's Excel replacement, the XLS, will enter service in Latin American in the fourth quarter. Gulfstream, meanwhile, says 10% of sales for all of its products are for Latin American customers, while Embraer has forecast sales of 40 Legacies in Latin America over the next decade - more than 3% of its worldwide prediction for the super mid-size jets. Interest in the new generation of very light jets is also gaining ground as opera tors seek to replace ageing piston twins and turboprops. Cessna and Satire Aircraft say 10% of Mustang and Satire Jet orders are from Latin American customers. Helicopter manufacturers are also flock ing to LABACE to woo local operators with their latest wares. While Brazil has the largest helicopter fleet in Latin America, The city of Sao Paulo, a host to LABACE, has the The increase in international trade is fuelling demand for large cabin jets third-highest concentration of helicopters after New York and Tokyo, estimated at about half of Brazil's nearly 900-strong rotorcraft fleet. The city also has around 200 elevated helipads and about 50 heliports. Growth in civil helicopter sales is driven by market forces, says Febeliano. As with business jets, the poor infrastructure leaves many parts of Latin America accessible only from the air, but often the rugged ter rain makes access to the developing oil and mineral industries in remote regions acces sible only by helicopter. Helicopter appeal Helicopters have also become a regular mode of transport for wealthy individuals seeking to avoid traffic congestion as well the carjacking and kidnapping for ransom that have become commonplace. Law enforcement agencies too are discovering the benefits of policing from the air, he says. "The most popular helicopter in Sao Paulo is the single turbine - the Eurocopter AS350 for example," says Febeliano. "But larger cabin twins, such as the Agusta/Westland A109, Bell 430 and the EC135/155 are being used increasingly as larger groups of customers are travelling greater distances." The appeal of Brazil and Sao Paulo as the base for LABACE cannot be understated, yet the organisers are eager to promote and focus the event on the wider Latin American market. "We will start to take LABACE in its sixth or seventh year to other South American countries such as Argentina, Chile or Venezuela as the economies there pick up," Febeliano says. As well as providing a showcase for products and services, LABACE will also provide a forum for discussion on key issues affecting the Latin American busi ness aviation. Hot topics include the intro duction of reduced vertical separation, scheduled, as in the USA, for implementa tion in January 2005; CNS/ATM and equi table access to airspace and airports as well as safety and security issues that affect air ports and operators alike. • 38 13-19 APRIL 2004 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL www.fliqhtinternational.com
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