Aviation Week Show News - November 11, 2007 - (Page 18)

VVIP AIRCRAFT DU BAI 2007 Helidubai Develops UAE’s First Heliports Starting at The Gate in Dubai Helidubai, owned and operated by the government of Dubai, is developing the first dedicated heliport in the UAE. City Heliport, situated at The Gate in the heart of the new Dubai financial district, is open now for daylight operations and restricted night ops, but is expected to be open 24 hours a day by early 2008. “We will also be opening new heliports on the Bur Dubai and Deira sides of the Creek,” said Captain Andrew Masterson, Helidubai’s marketing and security manager. “All of this will mean that access will be available to anyone, anytime, from anywhere, straight into the centre of Dubai.” Helidubai plans to have an upgraded and expanded fleet in 2008, with the priority acquisition of an 8/10-seat long-range business jet for corporate charter, and a heavy four-engine turboprop cargo aircraft. Service entry of its first Eurocopter AS 350B3 will herald the phasing out of Bell JetRangers as it tailors a modern and economical airborne camera system service which is increasingly in demand by the local and regional film industry. For public transport the company currently operates one Agusta AB 412EP and two A109E Powers. Two more 412s are being reconfigured for a role yet to be disclosed. An important part of the demand for Helidubai’s “helitaxi” services is based on airport-to-hotel, hotel-to-hotel or hotel-to-desert trips. Both the Jumeirah International and the Burj Al Arab hotels have named Helidubai as their preferred helicopter service provider. “We serve many other individual VIP and prestigious organizations,” says Masterson. “Group tours or transfers are possible almost anywhere in the UAE.” Dubai Air Wing Gets Second 747-400 Jet Aviation (Stand E546) delivered to Dubai Air Wing the second B747-400 to receive a VVIP cabin interior at Jet’s Basel center. The company was awarded the contract for two B747-400 completions in 2004, of which the first was presented at the Dubai Air Show in 2005. The second was completed in 6 months. Interior work, by Jet’s in-house design department, was more extensive compared to the first, including a large shower area and a lounge in the upper deck. The First A318 by Fokker Services Stork subsidiary Fokker Services recently welcomed the arrival of the first Airbus A318 at its Woensdrecht, Netherlands completion center (an Airbusapproved outfitter) for VIP cabin outfitting with a “very bespoke interior.” The aircraft arrived green from the Airbus factory and is destined for delivery to an undisclosed Middle East operator in mid-2008. Fokker’s A318 outfitting will follow recent completion of an Airbus ACJ for Austria’s Stumpf AG. Fokker also delivered a converted Bombardier CRJ700 to an undisclosed customer. The company replaced the existing interior with a three-cabin arrangement that was designed in-house. Stork is at Stand W538. and a CRJ700 Exec Conversion Fokker Services recently delivered a converted Bombardier CRJ700 to an undisclosed customer. The company removed the existing interior and installed a new three-cabin arrangement that was designed in-house. In addition to 21 seats certified for takeoff and landing, the cabin boasts a private bedroom with shower and restroom, a conference and dining room, lounge, a private office, storage and wardrobe space, galleys and lavatories, in addition to new sidewall and ceiling panels, soundproofing materials, satcom, and inflight entertainment and cabin management systems. Fokker parent Stork Aerospace is at Stand W538. A Pair of A330s for Lufthansa Technik Lufthansa Technik’s completion center has signed Letters of Commitment with undisclosed customers for the completion of two VIP Airbus A330-200s. They both will be outfitted in Hamburg. The first A330 will arrive for completion at the beginning of 2008. The second aircraft is scheduled for end-2009. While Lufthansa declines to identify the clients it notes that both aircraft are for different owners and both are brand new -200s. Lufthansa Technik is at Stand C518. ExecuJet Tempts Customers With Supersonics ExecuJet Aviation (Stand E542) has been named exclusive representative for all non-U.S. sales of the developmental Aerion supersonic business jet. Aerion is already accepting Letters of Intent for a limited number of early delivery positions for its emerging SSBJ design. Now ExecuJet is offering 40 early delivery positions to international customers for the aircraft—priced at $80 million in 2007 dollars. A refundable deposit of $250,000 is required. “Market demand has driven our decision to begin accepting deposits,” said Aerion vice chairman Brian Barents. “As confidence in the Aerion program has grown, we have been approached by a number of prospective customers wanting to secure positions. We would be remiss to ignore their enthusiasm and interest.” Airbus Corporate Jet Center Gets Green ACJs The Airbus Corporate Jet Center in Toulouse recently received its first two ACJs for cabin outfitting, and is to invest more than $7.25 million in improving its facilities there as part of its efforts to provide a world-class cabin-outfitting service. The Center is based at the former EADS Sogerma facility, and regroups most of the firm’s cabin-outfitting personnel under a new management team. An expansion and improvement program due for completion in 1Q 2008 will enable the newly outfitted hangar to accommodate three ACJ family aircraft, two of them in docks. www.aviationweek.com/shownews The Gate, Dubai. 18 November 11, 2007 http://www.aviationweek.com/shownews

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