ACJ picks up basic JAA certification

The Airbus Corporate Jetliner has received its basic certification from the European JAA prior to two aircraft being delivered for interior outfitting. The type certificate for the ACJ is not new, but rather is an amendment of the existing A319 type certificate required by additional modifications implemented in the Corporate Jetliner model of the aircraft.

September 1, 1999   Full report

Second Golden Eagle delivers comfort and economy

Capital Trading Aviation has introduced a second five-seater Golden Eagle to its fleet, to supplement an existing line-up of three aircraft and meet a growing demand for charter in the UK. Lisa Humphries of CTA said: "Spending £250,000 on a new aircraft is a major step for us, but the business is certainly there."

September 1, 1999   Full report

Lynton's open book policy precedes Premier 1 order

Lynton Aviation is to purchase eight new aircraft from Raytheon Aircraft, including four Premier 1s, one King Air B200, one King Air C90B and two Baron B58 aircraft. The agreement, according to Lynton, was confirmed last month. Christopher Tennant, Lynton's chief executive officer, said of the new aircraft: "The propeller aeroplanes will be in operation in the next six months. Regarding the Premier 1s, we've got three coming next year, the first of which should arrive around May/June of 2000. Of course this is a tentative date as the aircraft is not yet certified."

September 1, 1999   Full report

Pioneering Learjet interior designer goes back to his roots

Bombardier clearly believes it has achieved something of a coup in appointing Benn Isaacman as chief of design for Bombardier Aerospace, Business Aircraft, based at Tucson, Arizona. The company describes him as a man who has impacted virtually every major business airframe manufacturer in the last thirty years. Vice president and general manager of business aviation services and Learjet operations, Jim Ziegler, is under no illusions about the experience that Isaacman will bring to the job. "Benn Isaacman is synonymous with the most impressive interior designs of the past three decades and we're happy to have him 'return to his roots'," he said.

September 1, 1999   Full report

Executive Jet Charter speeds towards millennium with first Citation X

Courtesy of Farnborough-based Executive Jet Charter, the UK's first Citation X will be available for charter from the end of September, 1999. Barry Johnson, EJC's director, told EBAN: "It's the first aircraft to be delivered to the UK, the first to be owned in the UK, and we're now in the process of developing a charter market for it. We think with a 3,000 mile range, flying at 47,000 feet, at Mach 0.8 to 0.9, and with eight passengers and baggage, there's a niche market for it." The aircraft is owned by Yorkshire-based boat and aircraft charter company, Red Aviation Services Limited, which in turn is owned by entrepreneur Barry Rubery. Rubery, whose professional exploits include ownership of Huddersfield Town football club, said of his recent acquisition: "In looking around for the most suitable aircraft, there seemed to me to be no choice but the Citation X and my personal use of the aircraft in the relatively short time I have owned it, has well justified the decision."

September 1, 1999   Full report

UK Regional Review addendum

A couple of additions to the major overview of UK business aircraft charter in our August issue have been received, and we are delighted to include them here by way of an addendum:

September 1, 1999   Full report

Makkawy appointed to boost European sales

The Wings Associates and Rifton Aviation partnership has appointed Rick Makkawy to promote sales in Europe and the Middle East. In his new position, Makkawy will be responsible for promoting the Wings/Rifton business of acquiring, selling and servicing pre-owned jets and will also market Rifton's FBO services in New York and the UK. Makkawy comes to the partnership from Executive Jet, where he marketed the Boeing Business Jet within NetJets. Previously he was a market researcher for Lynton Group.

September 1, 1999   Full report

Gulfstream makes symbolic 50th delivery

Gulfstream Aerospace has delivered its 50th Gulfstream V aircraft which has gone to none other than the corporation's chairman and chief executive officer Theodore J. Forstmann. The aircraft has now attracted nearly 150 orders in its third year of customer deliveries. Forstmann is reported to have offered other Gulfstream customers his delivery slot on three separate occasions due to the high demand for the long-range aircraft, so that they may receive their aircraft sooner. "The Gulfstream V is clearly the market's choice. The aircraft's record-breaking performance and proven in-service reliability is undisputed," said Forstmann.

September 1, 1999   Full report

Brothers with 'flying in their blood' add Hawker 800

Gold Air International has unveiled its most recent acquisition - a brand new HS 125-800. Speaking at the launch of the aircraft, GAI chairman Michael Vaughan told a 50-strong audience: "This is exactly what you'll need for your clients. However, it starts flying in the morning so you'd better get in quick! We believe we'll be very busy." Registered G-OLDD, GAI launched the Hawker 800 onto the market at the broker and press presentation on September 2 at Gold Air House, Biggin Hill.

September 1, 1999   Full report

PrivatAir scores a European first for ISO accreditation

PrivatAir SA has declared itself the first vip charter operation in Europe - and indeed, one of the first airlines in the world - to receive ISO9002 accreditation for its whole operation. It took the Zurich-based company one and a half years to achieve the milestone, which was longer than the company had at first envisaged. Speaking from PrivatAir's offices, James Hay, commercial director, told EBAN what was involved. He said: "Simply speaking, ISO is looking at what you do, writing it down, seeing if there's a better way of doing it and following the procedures that you write. Staff have got to be trained in the procedures and follow them. It's a good process, requiring hard work and we've benefited a lot out of it.

September 1, 1999   Full report