Dassault was also keen to emphasize range while stressing that the Middle East market for business jets was beginning to show signs of recovery. Dassault has a growing fleet of Falcon business jets in the region, which it plans to grow by 30% over the next three years. Dassault Falcon has sold 14 aircraft in the Middle East in the last two years and has a backlog of 15 additional aircraft to be delivered to regional buyers by 2013.Dassaults current regional fleet size is about 60 business jets. Forty percent of the company's new business jet sales are coming from the Falcon 7X and the company delivered its tenth Falcon 7X to the Middle East before the end of 2010.
Dassault has also expanded its presence and infrastructure with a new regional sales office and recently appointed a new regional sales director in Dubai, as well as a second Authorized Service Centre and a new customer service manager, in Saudi Arabia.CAE SimuFlite, Dassaults training provider partner, will open a brand new Falcon training centre in Dubai in the second quarter of 2011.Dassault confirmed that it is working toward a 2016 certification date for the new SMS Falcon business jet; the twin-engine SMS will be the successor to the trijet Falcon 50. During MEBA, Dassault announced that the Falcon 200LX had gained approval for operations at London City Airport (LCY), well known for its steep approach paths.
Bombardier Breakthrough
Bombardier achieved a breakthrough sale at the show for its new Global 7000 aircraft when Comlux signed a contract for two of the ultra-long-range jets. It was the first of two deals signed by the Canadian manufacturer at the show on one day, which is set to go home from Dubai with at least $ 285-millionin new business.Comlux selected the new model with the Middle East very much in mind. The Global 7000 will allow the aircraft management and charter operator to fly passengers nonstop from its new regional base in Bahrain to the US.
The Canadian manufacturer introduced its ultra-long range Global 7000 and Global 8000 aircraft at the NBAA trade show in Atlanta in October. The newcomers are Bombardiers response to the challenged posed by Gulfstream's new G650 large cabin product. The entry-into-service date for the Global 7000, the larger of the two new aircraft, is set for 2016.Comlux is scheduled to take delivery of its first that year and it's second in 2017.Bombardier also showed the Learjet 60 XR, Challenger 300, Challenger 605, Challenger 850 and the Global Express XRS in the static display.
ME Growth
Hawker Beech craft Corporation (HBC) also continues to experience growth in the Middle East ,the company displaying four of its business jet and turboprop aircraft at MEBA .These were the Hawker 4000,Hawker 900XP,Beechcraft Premier IA and Beech craft King Air 350i.Hawker Beech craft Services (HBS) revealed that it had acquired the first test aircraft and initiated design engineering on its $2,24-million high performance upgrade for Hawker 400XP/Beech craft 400A aircraft.
The Hawker 40XPR, which is expected to receive certification in 2012, offers improved range and airfield performance, while reducing noise and emissions by replacing the existing Pratt & Whitney JT15D-5 engines with new Williams International FJ44-4A-32 dual FADEC high-bypass turbofans. The upgrade also features the addition of Hawker composite winglets and an optional modernized flight deck with Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 avionics.
When considering suitable aircraft types for conversion to business or VIP aviation, the Lockheed Hercules is not the first one that comes to mind. On the opening day of MEBA, the Alsalam Aircraft Company, of Saudi Arabia, delivered a Lockheed L-100 Hercules in VIP configuration, to an undisclosed customer. The aircraft featured an interior designed by MAZ Aviation, also of Saudi Arabia, and among the many refinements are new, larger windows well removed from military look of the usual run of Hercules.
ExecuJet Middle East and ExecuJet Europe were in buoyant mood and announced the addition of a further seven new aircraft into their managed fleet, with a further four aircraft in the pipeline expected to join over the next few months.ExecuJet Middle East has just signed a brand new Challenger 605 which was due to have been delivered last month.
In an effort to create further coordination and higher optimization of the charter services offered, ExecuJet has decided to merge the charter sales teams within the Middle East and Europe and will now manage a team of over 10 charter professionals. Both regions will be working on a common IT Platform to further harmonize their services that will enable the team to sell flights for the entire fleet to all charter clients.
ExecuJet Middle East also revealed a partnership with Al Faisal Holding, in Qatar, to form a business aviation company in Doha to be named ExecuJet Qatar. The new company has been established to secure an Air Operating Certificate (AOC) and provide aircraft management and charter services to clients in Qatar.
During the show, Emirates-CAE Flight Training (ECFT) signed a contract with GainJet Aviation SA for Gulfstream G450, Gulfstream G550 and Bombardier Global Express pilot training at the Dubai centre.GainJet is a private aircraft charter operator and management company headquartered in Athens, Greece.
CAE also provides training for GainJet pilots on the Embraer Phenom 100 aircraft at Embraer-CAE Training Services in Burgess Hill, and the Gulfstream G200 at the CAE North East Training Centre in Morristown, New Jersey.
The UK-based Gama Group was keen to note that its Gama Aviation FZC has met its planned targets for its first year of operation in the region. In addition, a fifth wide-bodied business jet, privately owned Bombardier Global XRS, is now on line under management.
Gama is now in the of applying for its UAE GCAA CAR 145 maintenance approval which it hopes to achieve in the first half of 2011 and is working to complete a new 12000 square metres hangar facility at Sharjah.
Inevitably there was strong support from local companies, typically Sharjah-based provider of flight support services, Avjet Routing which emphasized its services at MEBA.
Spot Air chose MEBA to launch a new concept in VIP travel. The company has recognized the need to provide VIP flights for large groups of people, from 30 to 60 passengers.
Spot Air is targeting this market sector following a sharp increase in the number of flights the company has undertaken to Dubai and the UAE.
Thrane & Thrane introduced its new Aviator wireless handset for the first time at MEBA.Designed specifically for in-flight communications; the Aviator offers a range of advanced features for voice and data communications. Anyone aboard the aircraft can use the Aviator to make and receive in-flight calls.
The solution provides an extensive range of innovative features that includes echo and noise cancellation to ensure audio quality.
MEBA was also used to present the Thrane & Thrane Aviator 200, which recently received Inmarsat Type Approval, following successful installation and testing on a Cessna Citation .The Aviator 200 simultaneously provides data speeds up to 200 kbps and a single AMBE 2 channel for voice calls, offering users aboard smaller aircraft a complete communications capability where this was previously not achievable.
Perhaps the pace of aircraft sales was not a frenetic as has been experienced in the past but the show underlined the rapid and extensive development of infrastructure provision.
Air traffic control and ground facilities continue to be modernized through-out the Middle East .Most recently, Jordanian private jets (JPJets) signed an agreement with Alaeddin Construction to complete the third phase of Aqabas VIP Terminal project, which will open for operation early this year.
It seems that the continued success of the show has grown the facility at Dubai and the search is on for an alternative site for 2012.
A decision is expected within the year.
Dassault has also expanded its presence and infrastructure with a new regional sales office and recently appointed a new regional sales director in Dubai, as well as a second Authorized Service Centre and a new customer service manager, in Saudi Arabia.CAE SimuFlite, Dassaults training provider partner, will open a brand new Falcon training centre in Dubai in the second quarter of 2011.Dassault confirmed that it is working toward a 2016 certification date for the new SMS Falcon business jet; the twin-engine SMS will be the successor to the trijet Falcon 50. During MEBA, Dassault announced that the Falcon 200LX had gained approval for operations at London City Airport (LCY), well known for its steep approach paths.
Bombardier Breakthrough
Bombardier achieved a breakthrough sale at the show for its new Global 7000 aircraft when Comlux signed a contract for two of the ultra-long-range jets. It was the first of two deals signed by the Canadian manufacturer at the show on one day, which is set to go home from Dubai with at least $ 285-millionin new business.Comlux selected the new model with the Middle East very much in mind. The Global 7000 will allow the aircraft management and charter operator to fly passengers nonstop from its new regional base in Bahrain to the US.
The Canadian manufacturer introduced its ultra-long range Global 7000 and Global 8000 aircraft at the NBAA trade show in Atlanta in October. The newcomers are Bombardiers response to the challenged posed by Gulfstream's new G650 large cabin product. The entry-into-service date for the Global 7000, the larger of the two new aircraft, is set for 2016.Comlux is scheduled to take delivery of its first that year and it's second in 2017.Bombardier also showed the Learjet 60 XR, Challenger 300, Challenger 605, Challenger 850 and the Global Express XRS in the static display.
ME Growth
Hawker Beech craft Corporation (HBC) also continues to experience growth in the Middle East ,the company displaying four of its business jet and turboprop aircraft at MEBA .These were the Hawker 4000,Hawker 900XP,Beechcraft Premier IA and Beech craft King Air 350i.Hawker Beech craft Services (HBS) revealed that it had acquired the first test aircraft and initiated design engineering on its $2,24-million high performance upgrade for Hawker 400XP/Beech craft 400A aircraft.
The Hawker 40XPR, which is expected to receive certification in 2012, offers improved range and airfield performance, while reducing noise and emissions by replacing the existing Pratt & Whitney JT15D-5 engines with new Williams International FJ44-4A-32 dual FADEC high-bypass turbofans. The upgrade also features the addition of Hawker composite winglets and an optional modernized flight deck with Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 avionics.
When considering suitable aircraft types for conversion to business or VIP aviation, the Lockheed Hercules is not the first one that comes to mind. On the opening day of MEBA, the Alsalam Aircraft Company, of Saudi Arabia, delivered a Lockheed L-100 Hercules in VIP configuration, to an undisclosed customer. The aircraft featured an interior designed by MAZ Aviation, also of Saudi Arabia, and among the many refinements are new, larger windows well removed from military look of the usual run of Hercules.
ExecuJet Middle East and ExecuJet Europe were in buoyant mood and announced the addition of a further seven new aircraft into their managed fleet, with a further four aircraft in the pipeline expected to join over the next few months.ExecuJet Middle East has just signed a brand new Challenger 605 which was due to have been delivered last month.
In an effort to create further coordination and higher optimization of the charter services offered, ExecuJet has decided to merge the charter sales teams within the Middle East and Europe and will now manage a team of over 10 charter professionals. Both regions will be working on a common IT Platform to further harmonize their services that will enable the team to sell flights for the entire fleet to all charter clients.
ExecuJet Middle East also revealed a partnership with Al Faisal Holding, in Qatar, to form a business aviation company in Doha to be named ExecuJet Qatar. The new company has been established to secure an Air Operating Certificate (AOC) and provide aircraft management and charter services to clients in Qatar.
During the show, Emirates-CAE Flight Training (ECFT) signed a contract with GainJet Aviation SA for Gulfstream G450, Gulfstream G550 and Bombardier Global Express pilot training at the Dubai centre.GainJet is a private aircraft charter operator and management company headquartered in Athens, Greece.
CAE also provides training for GainJet pilots on the Embraer Phenom 100 aircraft at Embraer-CAE Training Services in Burgess Hill, and the Gulfstream G200 at the CAE North East Training Centre in Morristown, New Jersey.
The UK-based Gama Group was keen to note that its Gama Aviation FZC has met its planned targets for its first year of operation in the region. In addition, a fifth wide-bodied business jet, privately owned Bombardier Global XRS, is now on line under management.
Gama is now in the of applying for its UAE GCAA CAR 145 maintenance approval which it hopes to achieve in the first half of 2011 and is working to complete a new 12000 square metres hangar facility at Sharjah.
Inevitably there was strong support from local companies, typically Sharjah-based provider of flight support services, Avjet Routing which emphasized its services at MEBA.
Spot Air chose MEBA to launch a new concept in VIP travel. The company has recognized the need to provide VIP flights for large groups of people, from 30 to 60 passengers.
Spot Air is targeting this market sector following a sharp increase in the number of flights the company has undertaken to Dubai and the UAE.
Thrane & Thrane introduced its new Aviator wireless handset for the first time at MEBA.Designed specifically for in-flight communications; the Aviator offers a range of advanced features for voice and data communications. Anyone aboard the aircraft can use the Aviator to make and receive in-flight calls.
The solution provides an extensive range of innovative features that includes echo and noise cancellation to ensure audio quality.
MEBA was also used to present the Thrane & Thrane Aviator 200, which recently received Inmarsat Type Approval, following successful installation and testing on a Cessna Citation .The Aviator 200 simultaneously provides data speeds up to 200 kbps and a single AMBE 2 channel for voice calls, offering users aboard smaller aircraft a complete communications capability where this was previously not achievable.
Perhaps the pace of aircraft sales was not a frenetic as has been experienced in the past but the show underlined the rapid and extensive development of infrastructure provision.
Air traffic control and ground facilities continue to be modernized through-out the Middle East .Most recently, Jordanian private jets (JPJets) signed an agreement with Alaeddin Construction to complete the third phase of Aqabas VIP Terminal project, which will open for operation early this year.
It seems that the continued success of the show has grown the facility at Dubai and the search is on for an alternative site for 2012.
A decision is expected within the year.
