Bombardier Aerospace has delivered a second 50-seat Bombardier Q300 to Cairo-based Petroleum Air Services (PAS) for support of Egypt's petroleum and tourism sectors. The first of two firm-ordered aircraft was delivered in May 2002.
PAS flies from Cairo International Airport to 11 sites within a 700km (380nm) radius on behalf of 12 Egyptian and multi-national companies. It also operates charter flights within Egypt and to surrounding countries to support the country's tourism sector.
PAS is the fifth company to select Bombardier Q/Dash 8 Series aircraft to transport petroleum company employees between major centres and petroleum exploration and drilling sites, joining Saudi Aramco in Saudia Arabia, BPX Colombia in Colombia, Abu Dhabi Aviation in Abu Dhabi and Schreiner Airways in Africa. Prior to the introduction of the Bombardier Q300, the PAS fleet consisted of five 50-seat De Havilland Canada Dash 7 turboprops and 23 Bell helicopters.
"Our decision to acquire the Bombardier Q300 was based on its economics and performance characteristics," said General Samir Abdel Salam Youssef, chairman of PAS. "Our experience with the Dash 7 – the forerunner of the Bombardier Q Series family – has given us an appreciation for the ruggedness and dependability of the Bombardier turboprop family.
"The Noise and Vibration Suppression (NVS) system was also an important factor in our consideration of the Bombardier Q300," he added.
Chris Beaton, Bombardier vice president, international sales, said: "We are very pleased that Petroleum Air Services will be showcasing the qualities of the Bombardier Q300 in northern Africa.
Source: Flight Daily News
