B/CA Show News - NBAA 2007 Day 2 - (Page 50)

N B A A 2 0 07 London’s Many Airports Host Bizjets London is basically full, business aviation airport-wise, that is. The only places with any real availability are Biggin Hill just six minutes away by helicopter but, then, London Heliport is pretty full, too. Stansted. Luton and London City have run out of concrete, and Farnborough is fast reaching its movement’s cap. Lydd (London Ashford) is 77 miles away, but it has plenty of space and, as it says, it’s “the environmentally acceptable solution to runway congestion in the Southeast.” Business aviation is such a success around London that it’s been “hoisted by its own petard.” ufacturer representatives from around the world. Next June, a new 169-room luxury hotel opens on the edge of the airfield and nearby a 154-room hotel by the year’s end. The airfield’s capabilities include airframe, electrical and hydraulic systems, avionics and engine maintenance on Challenger, Falcon, Gulfstream, and Hawker Beechcraft aircraft. Also on the field is Flight Safety International’s flight crew training center with a full complement of 14 Level D Full Flight Simulators. London Biggin Hill Hours of operation: 07.30 - 21.00 Mon - Fri, 0900 - 2000 Sat - Sun. Distance from London West End: 20 miles*. This is London’s only close-in general aviation airfield with capacity to spare. It has a generous cap of 125,000 movements, of which 70,000 is currently the annual average, with 15,000 business aviation movements included in the total. July’s overall business aviation movements were up 50%, but more normally are rising around 30% per year. It’s rapidly becoming a major business aviation airport with Jet Aviation as an FBO and major maintenance provider. Jet is taking on extra engineers, and offers Falcon 900, Challenger 601/604, Global Express, Citation and Hawker maintenance. Air Partner, the world’s largest aircraft charter broker, is building a new mega hangar here, its first ever; and confidence in the airport is booming with Biggin Hill executive handling refurbing its FBO terminal with a new 150,000 sq ft of adjacent ramp space added this year. A close-by site for a 4xBBJsized hangar has planning permission, and final negotiations are in hand. Four other hangar projects are being planned on the south side, sized from 15,000 sq ft to 40,000 sq ft. Permission on the building of a four star Ramada Hotel should be known by Christmas. London’s Canary Wharf business development can be seen on a clear day, and many companies think it’s the place to base themselves, especially with so many other London airports on capacity or close to it. Helicopter shuttle flights from Biggin have gone up 100% over the last 12 months. Biggin is a port of entry to the UK, making it a perfect arrival point for U.S. traffic with minimal hassle. It is also very popular with U.S. pet owners as Biggin is the only London GA airport London Ashford Lydd Hours of operation: 09.00 – 19.00 seven days. Distance from London West End: 77 miles*. The UK’s most southeasterly airport, Lydd, was re-named London Ashford Airport Lydd in mid 2005, and has since opened a brand new FBO passenger terminal. The ground floor of the FBO terminal covers about 1,300 sq ft and TAG Farnborough will be adding a new hangar in distinctive wave style. includes VIP facilities and Farnborough is operated by FAL Aviation UK Ltd. The FBO’s Charlie apron is new as is the 13 acres of Hours of operation: PPR 07.00 – 22.00 Mon Bravo ramp. Fri, 08.00 - 2000 Sat - Sun. The 24-hour airport is being developed as a Distance from London West End: 40 miles*. regional and corporate aviation facility, capable TAG’s Farnborough is the UK’s only dedicated of handling two million passengers per year by business aviation airport and has been very suc- 2012. More than $12.4 million already has cessful in attracting business. So much so that it been spent on its infrastructure and navigational is fast reaching its maximum allowable annual upgrades. The airfield licensee is London Ashmovements of 28,000, which could occur for the ford Airport Ltd, which is a wholly owned first time next year. In 2007, movements are subsidiary of FAL Holdings Group. FAL Aviation is currently offering helicopter expected to be above 25,000. TAG turns away 1,500-2,000 weekend movements each year transfers from the airport to the London Helibecause of its capped 2,500 annual weekend port at Battersea; it takes 25 minutes by movements limit. The company is trying to get chartered Sikorsky S-76 and, according to its continued on page 52 this weekend limit doubled to 5000 and stay magazine ad, is priced from within the 28,000 cap until this, too, can be lifted. $2,300. FAL argues that 35 minIt’s a major gateway for transatlantic flights utes is saved by flying into London and boasts its own customs and immigration on Ashford, rather than a nearer site. It is also very popular with Middle Eastern London airport, because of minclients, who regularly operate their VVIP air- imal pattern holdups, no slot restrictions and minimal taxi time. craft here. The airport’s single, nearly Over $400 million has been spent by TAG on upgrading this ex-military airfield. Farnbor- 5,000 ft runway has been reough’s flying wing passenger terminal has surfaced and re-profiled, and pereverything in spades; luxury passenger suites, mission to add about another conference rooms, excellent crew rest rooms and 1,000 ft of runway is at a local planflight planning. The top floor office area houses ning stage but meeting stiff local A Falcon 2000 points toward the new ramp at London Biggin Hill. just about all of the major business aircraft man- opposition. 50 September 26, 2007 www.aviationweek.com/shownews http://www.aviationweek.com/shownews

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of B/CA Show News - NBAA 2007 Day 2

Contents Spectrum Stresses Freedom Adam Shows A700 Cabin User Fee War of Words Execujet Boosts Services Saab's Got Your Back CAE Covers the Field London Airports Roundup Pratt & Whitney Canada Another Show! A More Digital Jeppesen CMC Rides Bizjet Wave Thales Weighs In We Fly the Eclipse 500

B/CA Show News - NBAA 2007 Day 2

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