B/CA Show News - NBAA 2007 Day 1 - (Page 134) N B A A 2 0 07 SPn’s First Fraxxie Order–PlaneSense The U.S.’s fifth largest fractional operator, PlaneSense, has placed a 25-ship order for Grob’s SPn light jet, the first frax order for the German company. The first of the $7.5 million (retail price) aircraft is due to arrive in late 2008, and all will feature the Porsche Design six-seat executive B/CA Fast Five F. Lee Bailey, Attorney, Lynn, Mass. Among the most prominent and controversial defense attorneys of modern times, Bailey was an aviator before he was a litigator, earning his Navy wings in 1954 and then flying FJ-2 Furies for the Marines. His aviation credentials include past ownership of Enstrom Helicopters, consultant to Fairchild Aircraft, and stewardship of the Bailey Bullet, his much-upgraded Piper Twin Comanche. He has logged in excess of 20,000 hours. By William Garvey cabin. The aircraft will be managed by parent company Alpha Flying Inc. PlaneSense president and CEO George Antoniadis told Show News that he hopes to double this order once the SPn has been FAA certificated and gained FAR Part 91, Subpart K approval. He says the SPn, with its rough field performance and jet speed, is the ideal fractional stablemate for the company’s 30 Pilatus PC-12s. He also plans to increase his PC-12 fleet to 56 over the next four years. “A twinjet with short field characteristics was high on our list of priorities,” Antoniadis explained. “My existing frax owners told me they wanted a faster and longer-range aircraft, as they had become used to the time savings realized by operating into short general aviation airfields and private strips. “We’ve been tracking the SPn program for some time and are looking forward to being the world’s largest SPn operator.” —Mike Vines 1 As a veteran of legal wars, was business aviation’s modest victory at DCA worth the cost in time, money and political capital? Bailey: “Millions for defense, and not one cent for tribute,” makes good sense in that context. General aviation is always under attack by somebody and a retreat of one inch raises the lust in the opponents. So, yes, I think it was a worthwhile fight, and if it were my decision, I would not have hesitated to invest a lot of money in that fight. the DayJet and Pogo air taxi concepts. Just pop up and go. If people get in the habit and the operations get good endorsements - “It cost 50% more than the airlines, and, boy, it was worth it!” - and the wives say, “Do that, and you’ll be home for dinner,” then it could take off nicely. 4 You’ve been an aircraft manufacturer and modifier. Any plans to return to the airplane business? SPn jet is seen as boon companion for PC-12. 2 You’ve provided lots of counsel over the years. Do you think NBAA’s leadership is making the right moves for business aviation? Bailey: In reviewing the record, in listening to what people have to say, and in speaking with him myself, I have to conclude that Ed Bolen was a good find. For a Washingtonbased organization, the higher the level at which you can operate, the better. And he’s up there. Bailey: Not really. However, I’m a consultant to Oxford Aviation, which is developing a terrific maintenance, paint and completions operation in Sanford, Maine. They are topnotch folks and in the right place at the right time. I have great hopes for them. What I like to do most is rejuvenate airplanes as with the Bailey Bullet - I took a good Piper product, the Twin Comanche, and made it better. Russians Halve Bizjet Import Tax Russia has cut its 20% import duty on large business aircraft by half, to just 10%. This applies to aircraft in the 15-20t class at the moment, but reports suggest that this lower tax will also be applied to aircraft in the 2-15t category later in the year. Rumors had been circulating for the past few years that the Russian government was planning to do this and so encourage Russian business aviation growth. As many as 200 business aircraft around the world could be Russian-owned, but the vast majority have been operated under foreign registries to the —Mike Vines present time. 5 Was that your most unique aircraft? 3 Business aviation is in a climb. Will it last? Bailey: I hope so. Aviation is so cyclical, but airline service is so miserable now that operating business aircraft is much more appealing. You get more done in business aircraft. NetJets and other fractionals allow businesses to keep the asset off their books, which is a bright idea. Also, I’m intrigued by Bailey: Well, shortly after I bought Enstrom, I was flying a new helicopter when a tail rotor drive pin snapped on me. I took three quick turns and went down onto the ice. That smashed the airplane, though I didn’t get hurt. As a new owner of the company, I didn’t want an interruption in the production series, so I took the identification plate off the wreck, built an entirely new helicopter around it, and sent it to New Zealand. Number 49 is a pretty unique aircraft. 134 September 25, 2007 www.aviationweek.com/shownews http://www.aviationweek.com/shownews
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