French business aircraft services provider SD Aviation has taken delivery of its first Embraer Phenom 300, which will join its charter operation and shared-ownership programme at the end of March.
The light jet (F-HLRS) is the largest aircraft in SD Aviation's eight-strong business aircraft line-up and the company – based in La Roche-sur-Yon, western France – says it has no plans to acquire larger-cabin aircraft.
SD Aviation
"The line-up is ideal for our customers, who are made [up] of local companies who require often regular access to business aircraft for short-haul executive travel,” says SD Aviation founder and chief executive Sebastien Dubreuil.
"Many of these businesses have factories across Europe, often in remote locations that are not typically served by commercial airlines," he adds.
SD Aviation offers two shared-ownership schemes: the first is a jet programme known as GIE Mustang, and consists of the Phenom 300, two entry-level Phenom 100s and a Cessna Citation Mustang; while the second, called GIE Diamond, is focused on piston-twins, using three Diamond DA62s and a single DA42.
Each scheme is effectively a separate company, in which customers become shareholders. The numbers of hours purchased determines the size of the stake, says Dubreuil, with 25h per year the entry point.
A monthly management fee is also levied, along with variable costs when the customer flies, to cover maintenance, fuel, pilots, airport and en-route taxes.
Dubreuil says the shared ownership programmes have been "very well received", with 52 businesses now stakeholders across both GIE schemes, and each aircraft flying around 400h per year for their members.
While the Phenom 300 and one of the 100s are also offered by SD Aviation for ad hoc charter, priority for the pair is given to GIE shareholders, says Dubreuil.
Source: Flight International
