Metrojet hires industry vets to solidify leadership status Hong Kong-based Metrojet (H410) has hired business aviation veteran Gary Dolski to lead its aircraft management and charter (AMC) unit and Alden Zhang to head up its base in Shanghai. The additions come as Metrojet CEO Björn Näf makes plans to return to Europe to “pursue a new challenge” later this year. “For the last seven years, Metrojet has grown from a Hong Kong-based company to a regional organization with presence in China, Philippines, India and Singapore,” said Näf. “2017 marks Metrojet’s 20th anniversary, and I am proud of our achievements thus far. I am delighted to have both Gary and Alden joining Metrojet’s management team to further strengthen the business.” As managing director of AMC, Dolski has oversight of flight operations, aircraft management and charter sales, client services and certified aviation
maintenance organization across Hong Kong, Singapore and China. He brings more than 35 years of industry experience to his new role, including holding leadership positions at Bombardier, MD Helicopters and Jet Aviation. Meanwhile, Zhang will serve as designate general manager for Metrojet, based in Shanghai. In this role, he will lead and manage Metrojet’s AOC setup in China, obtain the regulatory approvals of CCAR Part 91 and 135 and develop a business strategy that can support the company’s long-term growth in China. Zhang has more than two decades of experience in both commercial and business aviation, holding management posts in Shanghai with China Eastern Airlines, Swissair and Hawker Pacific Business Aviation Service Centre. Before joining Metrojet, he was director of flight operations support at Textron Aviation Shanghai. o
Minsheng taps into U.S. Legacy leasing market Minsheng Financial Leasing (Chalet 3) held a signing ceremony on Tuesday for the lease of three Embraer Legacy 650s to Jet Edge, marking its first such agreement involving U.S. operations. Jet Edge took delivery of the first of the Legacys at the end of March. All three of the super-midsize business jets are expected to enter service in the next three to four months, said Jet Edge CEO Bill Papariella. The Legacys continue a rapid growth for the Los Angeles-based operator, which now has 55 aircraft in its fleet but is in the midst of adding 10 more. The agreement begins a partnership between Minsheng and Jet Edge that might lead to additional aircraft and different models, Papariella said. He indicated that Jet Edge is eyeing Gulfstream models next. The company has expanded into a range of services, including a $100 million finance portfolio. Papariella indicated that while Jet Edge will operate the aircraft, they eventually will be sold. The plan would be to replenish the airplanes as that occurred, he said. Jet Edge, which formed a partnership with Asia Jet in 2012 to establish a base in Hong Kong, had also been developing a relationship with Minsheng executives, culminating in the lease. For Minsheng, the agreement gives it an entry into the U.S. leasing market and continues a strategy to become a dominant global player in the aircraft leasing market, said Wan Xiaofang, president of Minsheng Financial Leasing. Noting only does the agreement with Jet Edge mark a first for a Chinese
美捷新增猛将，巩固领导地位 总部位于香港的美捷商用飞机公司 （展台号H410）新任命业内备受尊 敬的杜以其先生（Gary Dolski） 负责其飞机管理及包机（AMC） 业务，同时任命张騄先生（Alden Zhang）领导美捷的上海合资企 业。新的任命发生在美捷公司首席 执行官蓝彼安先生（Björn Näf） 计划在下半年返回欧洲“迎接新挑 战”之前。 “在过去的七年里，美捷由一 家以香港为基地的公司发展成为 足迹遍及中国、菲律宾、印度及 新加坡的亚洲区域性组织，” 蓝 彼安先生说，“2017年美捷庆祝成 立20周年，我对于至今取得的成 果感到骄傲。我非常高兴能够迎 来杜以其和张騄先生加入美捷的 管理团队，继续推进和巩固美捷 的业务。 ”
作为AMC的董事总经理，杜以其 先生将负责香港、新加坡及中国的 飞行运营、飞机管理和包机销售、 客户服务及持续试航管理组织等范 畴。 他拥有超过35年的航空业经 验，曾担任庞巴迪、MD Helicopters及Jet Aviation的领导岗位。 同时，张騄先生将上任美捷上 海合资企业的候任总经理，负责 领导和管理美捷的中国航空运营 许可证（AOC）项目，获取中国 民航规章CCAR第91及135部的审 批，并制定美捷在中国长期发展 的业务策略。 张騄先生拥有超过20年的民用及 公务航空业经验，曾担任上海东方 航空、瑞士航空和上海霍克太平洋 商务航空中心的管理职务。在加入 美捷之前，他是上海德事隆航空飞 行运行支持总监。 o
GROUP LEADER HEADS UP ROUNDTABLE
Wang Fuhou, v-p of aviation for Minsheng Financial Leasing celebrates with Bill Papariella, Jet Edge CEO.
leasing company, but it represents the trust building between Chinese and U.S. companies, Wan said. Minsheng Financial Leasing has built a portfolio of 300 aircraft, with business aircraft accounting for almost half of that total. Wan noted this is part of a larger effort to foster development of the industry in China from the OEM to the supplier and the operator. But the company is also focusing on international expansion, she said. o
China Business Aviation Group co-founder, chairman and CEO Jason Liao held a roundtable forum with China-based media yesterday to explain trends in the Chinese business aviation industry. High fixed costs are an ongoing problem for business jet owners in China, he said, but when costs drop, flying activity will grow. Demand for secondhand aircraft has expanded in the country because buyers could get these airplanes much quicker due to the lengthy approval process for purchases of new jets. But now that the government has eliminated the approval requirement, sales of new and used jets should accelerate. Development of new airports is also increasing, “and we are very encourn aged,” he said.
PHILJETS ADDS TWO JETS Philippines private aviation solutions provider PhilJets Group has added two new jets to its fleet in the first quarter, marking its entry into the business jet market. PhilJets was founded in 2013 and is AsBAA’s first Manila-based member. Previously it was only a rotorcraft operator. Its subsidiaries, PhilJets Aero Services and PhilJets Aero Charter, also offers aircraft management, aircraft sales, helicopter tours, MRO services, spare parts sales and technical support. According to the company, the Citation XLS+ will be ideal for short regional flights such as Manila to Shanghai, while the Challenger 350 will serve longer legs such as Manila to Sydney. The jets will allow the operator to increase its range of services throughout the entire Asia Pacific region. n
JUST LIKE A WALK IN THE PARK What could be more pleasant than a sunny stroll down the static display line at ABACE? With close to three dozen aircraft to admire, the scenery couldn’t be more sublime.
www.ainonline.com • April 13, 2017 • ABACE Convention News 3