UK business aviation charter operator London Executive Aviation (LEA) is negotiating with Cessna to advance the delivery slot of the first of its order of nine Citation Mustang very light jets in a bid to educate the market ahead of full fleet delivery.
The operator is planning to provide its own air taxi business from the UK capital and regional cities once all the aircraft are received. LEA is currently scheduled to take delivery of its first aircraft late next year, with two Mustangs following every quarter in 2008. However, Patrick Margetson-Rushmore, LEA chief executive, says the company is now in talks with Cessna to move its first slot to early-to-mid 2007, depending on European certification.
Cessna has several slots held by aircraft brokers, which could be sold to LEA or swapped for its own delivery positions, he says. LEA has placed the largest European order for Mustangs and Cessna is keen to promote the aircraft, which could lend support for its bid to acquire an earlier position, Margetson-Rushmore adds. The London City airport-based operator would use any early delivery to "educate" the market of the potential cost savings of the VLJ, which LEA expects to be around 30-40% lower than for the existing fleet.
However, much also depends on certification by the European Aviation Safety Agency of the 6-place jet. The agency has yet to place the Mustang on its list of priority airframes, although LEA says it understands Cessna is pushing to reverse this position.
JUSTIN WASTNAGE / LONDON
Source: Flight International
