NetJets’ European fleet to operate Phenom 300s by Gregory Polek
VistaJet selects JSSI for Platinum support by David Donald support programs for its other aircraft types. At the same time, it is also keeping a close watch on the Challenger 350 that was revealed this week at EBACE. VistaJet has been a member of Bombardier’s focus group for business jet development and has ensured that various options are incorporated. “We would want a higher spec than what is being shown here,” said Flohr, referring to the Challenger 350 fuselage on display at EBACE. “For instance, we would want a crew seat for a flight attendant. All of our aircraft carry flight attendants, even the Learjets, and they need a seat that allows the customer to maintain their privacy.” o
Mark Wilson, president and COO of NetJets Europe, with Embraer Executive Jets president Ernest Edwards.
Pilatus PC-12s have flown 4 million hours since 1994
DAVID McINTOSH
VistaJet announced yesterday that it is enrolling 50 Bombardier Global 5000s and 6000s with the Platinum engine and APU hourly-cost maintenance program operated by Jet Support Services Inc. (JSSI). Valued at more than $205 million at 2013 list prices, the deal is possibly the largest ever concluded for any hourly-cost maintenance program. JSSI was selected after careful evaluation, leading to what VistaJet founder and chairman Thomas Flohr described as “a very clear winner situation.” VistaJet already had two Globals and an AgustaWestland helicopter enrolled with JSSI. “We believe it’s a wise decision to get the Global aircraft covered under this program,” Flohr added. Under the agreement JSSI will support the Rolls-Royce BR710A2-20 engines and Honeywell RE220 APUs from its many worldwide service partners. The Platinum program covers scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, rental engines, supplemental lift, engine removal and replacement and shipping. As well as driving down maintenance costs, the program also provides budget stability. Last year VistaJet announced a massive 56-aircraft order for Globals (with another 86 on option). Deliveries are now starting, and all deliveries henceforth will be enrolled in the JSSI program (see also story on page 37). Following the Global support deal, VistaJet is examining the possibility of further
light jet market, its ability to fly “a little farther” than its competitors and its overall performance characteristics. “We’re really excited about the performance it’s got and the ability to operate in our primary operating area in Europe; it
MARK WAGNER
Neil Book, JSSI’s president and CEO (left), and VistaJet founder Thomas Flohr shake hands after cementing their engine support agreement.
NetJets Europe plans to operate Embraer Phenom 300s by early 2014, the two companies announced here at EBACE yesterday. Holding a firm order for 50 of the specially outfitted “Signature Series” light jets, NetJets took its first delivery on May 1 for its U.S. operations and expects to accept roughly two airplanes a month. Also holding options on another 75 of the Brazilian jets, NetJets has committed as much as $1 billion to the purchase and, according to NetJets Europe president and COO Mark Wilson, the planned investment in the European fleet will ensure proper economies of scale “in short order.” Speaking with AIN following the announcement, Wilson explained that although several European customers have already expressed interest in the product, yesterday’s formal launch means that NetJets begins the process of signing customers. He wouldn’t predict any customer signings here at EBACE, however. “I don’t know about that,” he said. “We’ll see. Sometimes these things happen very quickly and sometimes they don’t. Ultimately, our plan is to make sure we get a large number of these aircraft sold by the time it arrives early next year.” Wilson noted that NetJets evaluated “dozens” of different aircraft types for the new operation, but settled on the Phenom 300 due to its position at what he described as “probably” the top end of the
covers it completely. It’s not going to be used just for short hops.” Now offering Hawker 400s and Citation Bravos in the lightjet category, NetJets Europe will likely replace many of those airplanes with the Phenoms, said Wilson, as well as use the little Embraer jets as a growth platform. “Over time we will replace [the Hawker 400s and Citation Bravos], but it is over time,” he stressed. “We’re going to add capacity in the first instance and then we’ll see…” o
Pilatus PC-12 turboprop singles surpassed a milestone this week, with more than four million hours now in the fleet’s logbooks. Powered by a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A engine, the rugged Swiss aircraft is popular in a number of diverse roles.
12 EBACE Convention News • May 22, 2013 • www.ainonline.com
The global fleet of nearly 1,200 Pilatus PC-12s reached a major milestone this month by accumulating four million flight hours since the first copy of the turboprop single was delivered in October 1994. According to Stans, Switzerland-based Pilatus, the highest time PC-12 has logged more than 24,000 hours in operation as an air ambulance with Air Bravo in Ontario, Canada. “We are delighted and proud to reach this momentous occasion in the history of the PC-12 program. To those of us who
have been with the PC-12 since its inception, four million hours seemed to be an event our successors would experience,” said Pilatus general aviation vice president Ignaz Gretener. “Today, the PC-12 fleet adds one million flight hours every two years.” As part of the celebration this year, Pilatus’s design team outfitted a demo PC-12 NG with an Otto Lilienthal-themed paint job, graced with carefully applied “tailfeathers” painted on the PC-12 NG’s empennage. The Lilienthal PC-12 NG is on static display at EBACE. –C.T.