Business Aviation

The Cessna Citation range of business jets is the most popular in the world. The Cessna Citation Ascend is the latest upgrade of the legendary 560XL series. Extensively rethought and redesigned, it is anticipated to rule the Indian mid-size business jet market. Be it class, elegance, design or comfort, Textron Aviation takes them another level for the mid-size business jet category. As customers walk up to the Citation Ascend, they will appreciate its sleek design and modern features. The company worked with a Customer Advisory Board of owners, pilots, mechanics and passengers throughout the design process to better understand what they seek in the ultimate aircraft experience. The aircraft is designed to bring an entirely new cockpit, improved performance and a more luxurious cabin to the mid-size business jet market. The aircraft has a standard seating configuration of nine passengers and will have a maximum seating capacity of 12 passengers. Cessna Citation Ascend is well suited for the Indian topography due to its advantages and many enhanced features. Its charismatic features makes its different from other mid-sized aircraft available in the market. Design improvements on the aircraft deliver the ability to carry a higher combination of payload and fuel load while retaining access to short runways. Preliminary aircraft performance targets include: *A four-passenger range of 1,900 nm at high-speed cruise power (with an estimated maximum range of 2,100 nm) *Cruise speed of 441 kts *Climbs direct to 45,000ft in 30 min *4 Passenger Range: 1,900nm; 3,519km *Maximum Cruise Speed: 441 ktas; 817 km/h *Maximum Passengers: 12 *Takeoff Field Length: 3,660 ft; 1,116m   CABIN THOROUGHLY RE-DESIGNED FOR ENHANCED PASSENGER EXPERIENCE With a fully customizable interior, customers can select from a range of standard and optional features to best meet their needs. One of the main features is the flat floor that will provide a new level of generous legroom and flexibility for passengers. This is a game changer when it comes to comfort. A flat floor gives passengers more room to swivel their seats, stretch their legs and comfortably move around the cabin. Another key feature that enhances the spaciousness of the cabin is the new windows. Being 15% larger than before, they allow more natural light and relaxing views for passengers in every seat. All windows come with electric shade controls. Better quiet cabin technology means more comfort and less fatigue for passengers. The Ascend will be significantly quieter than existing Citation 560 series of legacy aircraft flying in India today. New seats with an ergonomic design with electrical controls. It can be tracked and berthed for passengers to sleep or relax. All seat locations come with USB-C charging ports (A total of 19 charging ports located across the aircraft) and seat upholstery can be personalized with quilting patterns and tailoring. Customers can customize the cabin such as choosing the cushion firmness of every seat, selecting stone or luxury vinyl flooring finishes in the entry area and lavatory, as well as the size of the forward refreshment center.   Wireless controls for passenger windows and entertainment system via the app-based cabin management system. This eliminates the need to update hardware and parts which may become obsolete during the lifetime of the aircraft. THE BIG DEAL NetJets’, the world’s largest private jet company recently became the fleet launch customer for the Citation Ascend with confirmed order of 100 business jets. The projected deliveries of the Citation Ascend are expected to begin in 2025 when the aircraft, currently under development, will enter into service. MORE TIME IN THE AIR, LESS DOWNTIME, ENHANCED WARRANTY Textron Aviation offers some of the best-in-class maintenance intervals for its products. This means less downtime and greater conveninence for owners and operators. This Ascend is enhanced by increased warranty for its engines (5 years or 3,000 hours), as well as aircraft exterior paint and interior (2 years). RANGE OPTIMIZED FOR REGIONAL FLIGHTS FROM INDIA With a typical load of 4 passengers, the Ascend’s range of 1,900nm allows operators to fly non-stop direct flights from Delhi to Phuket, Chennai to Singapore, and from Dubai to any point in India. The range is more than sufficient to cover the most common regional city pairs from India without a larger capital cost and associated running expense. BASED ON A PROVEN MIDSIZE BUSINESS JET PLATFORM The Ascend is designed to outperform and take customers further in style. It builds upon over 20 years of the 560XL series success in the market. world’s best-selling mid-size jet. Over 1,100 Cessna Citation 560-series aircraft have been built and delivered over the years. Many are used by charter companies in North America, Europe and South Asia. The 560XL jet series includes the Cessna Citation Excel, Cessna Citation XLS and Cessna Citation XLS+ models, all designed and manufactured by Textron Aviation Inc The Cessna 560 type rating and usage of the industry-leading Garmin G5000 avionics will make it easy to find trained pilots in India and the region as well as be trained and converted to the Citation Ascend. With its increased fuel load and useful payload, uses the improved Pratt & Whitney Canada PW545D which delivers better efficiency, thrust and range to reach more destinations from airports with short runways. USP : EFFICIENCY AND CAPABILITY AT ALTITUDE PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA PW545D ENGINES The Citation Ascend is powered by new dual-channel, FADEC-controlled engines. New materials and technology in the engines means better efficiency, improved range and increased thrust. The FADEC-controlled engines are also SAF-ready (Sustainable Aviation Fuel) for owners who like to reduce their environmental footprint. GARMIN G5000 AVIONICS A modern flight deck built for now and well into the future with Garmin® G5000® avionics, featuring the latest software and hardware. INCREASED PAYLOAD The Citation Ascend™ jet enables you to do more—carry more passengers or more baggage. It gives you more of what you need to keep your business running smoothly and efficiently. FULL FLIGHT REGIME AUTOTHROTTLES An autothrottle-equipped flight deck for reduced pilot workload, smoother operations and a better flying experience. HONEYWELL RE100

Aircraft on Ground or AOG is situation which no operator would like to face as it not only impacts the revenue but also bring sour experience to the client. In this feature the author who is industry expert dwells upon various key points to highlight AOG situation and solutions to overcome it. By Sudip Sharma When faced with an Aircraft on Ground (AOG) situation for a private jet, it’s crucial to act swiftly and efficiently to minimize downtime and get the aircraft back in the air. Here are the steps to handle a private jet AOG situation: Notify the Maintenance Provider: Contact your maintenance provider immediately and inform them about the AOG situation. Please provide them with all relevant details, including the aircraft type, the nature of the issue, and the aircraft’s current location. Request AOG Support: Ask your maintenance provider to activate their AOG support team. Many maintenance providers have specialized teams that handle AOG situations and can provide you with the necessary assistance. Define the Problem: Work closely with the maintenance provider to accurately diagnose the issue. They may ask you for additional details or request you to perform certain checks or tests to help identify the problem. Spare Parts Availability: Inquire about the availability of spare parts required for the repair. If the required parts are not readily available at the current location, explore alternative options, such as shipping them from another location or sourcing them from a nearby maintenance facility. Arrange for Technical Support: If the problem is beyond your maintenance provider’s capabilities, they may recommend bringing technical support from the aircraft manufacturer or a specialized vendor. Please coordinate with the necessary parties to ensure they have the required information and access to the aircraft. Consider Temporary Solutions: In some instances, temporary repairs or workarounds may be possible to get the aircraft back in service temporarily until a permanent fix can be implemented. Please consult with your maintenance provider and follow their guidance in such situations. Coordinate Logistics: While the repairs are being carried out, coordinate logistics such as accommodation for passengers and crew, transportation, and other support services as needed. Ensure clear communication with all stakeholders, including passengers, crew members, and other relevant parties. Follow-up and Updates: Stay in constant communication with your maintenance provider and keep track of the progress of the repairs. Regularly update passengers, crew, and other affected parties regarding the situation, estimated timelines, and necessary changes or adjustments. Quality Assurance: Once the repairs are complete, conduct thorough inspections and quality assurance checks to ensure that the aircraft is in proper working condition and meets all safety standards. Verify that all necessary paperwork and documentation are in order. Preventive Measures: After resolving the AOG situation, analyze the root cause of the issue and take appropriate preventive measures to minimize the likelihood of similar problems occurring in the future. This may involve maintenance process improvements, component reliability assessments, or other corrective actions. Remember, AOG situations can be challenging, but by promptly engaging the right professionals, coordinating effectively, and maintaining clear communication, you can expedite the resolution process and minimize the impact on your private jet operations. HOW TO HANDLE CLIENTS DURING AOG SITUATION ? In addition to the technical aspects of handling an AOG situation for a private jet, managing and communicating with your clients throughout the process is essential. Here are some guidelines for client handling during an AOG situation: Promptly Inform the Clients: As soon as you become aware of the AOG situation, inform your clients who are scheduled to use the aircraft. Be transparent and provide them with accurate information about the issue, the expected downtime, and any necessary changes to their travel plans. Prompt communication is crucial to building trust and managing expectations. Offer Alternatives: Present your clients with alternative travel options, such as arranging a substitute aircraft, booking commercial flights, or utilizing charter services from other operators. Discuss these options with the clients and assist them in making the necessary arrangements. Be flexible and accommodating to their needs as much as possible. Provide Regular Updates: Maintain open lines of communication with your clients throughout the AOG situation. Keep them informed about the progress of the repairs, any timeline changes, and any other relevant updates. Regularly check in with them to address any concerns or questions they may have. Offer Concierge Services: During the AOG situation, go the extra mile to provide concierge services to your clients. Offer assistance with rebooking hotels, ground transportation, or any other travel-related arrangements that may have been affected. This level of support can help alleviate stress and demonstrate your commitment to client satisfaction. Maintain Professionalism: Handle client interactions with professionalism and empathy. Understand that they may be frustrated or inconvenienced by the AOG situation. Listen attentively to their concerns and address them promptly and courteously. Show compassion and understanding, and assure them that you will resolve the situation quickly. Consider Compensation: Depending on the severity and duration of the AOG situation, you may need to consider compensation for your clients. Evaluate the circumstances on a case-by-case basis and, if appropriate, offer compensation or other gestures of goodwill as a token of apology for the inconvenience caused. Keep Clients Informed of Resolution: Once the AOG situation is resolved, inform your clients about the successful repair and the aircraft’s readiness for service. Reconfirm their travel plans and provide any necessary updates. Offer assistance in rescheduling their flights or making any additional arrangements required. POST-AOG FOLLOW-UP: After resolving the AOG situation, follow up with your clients to ensure their satisfaction and address any remaining concerns. This post-AOG support helps maintain a positive relationship with your clients and demonstrates your commitment to their satisfaction. Clear and transparent communication, empathy, and proactive assistance are essential to effectively handling clients during an AOG situation. You can strengthen your relationships and maintain client confidence by providing exemplary service even in challenging circumstances. “AOG situations can happen unexpectedly, and preparing for such events is crucial. Here are some additional considerations

Delhi,20th July 2023: Airavat Aviation (Airavat), a new venture by Transworld Group launches hyper-personalized air services with luxury private jet travel in the Middle East. Airavat has a fleet of Hawker 4000 super-midsize business jets which will operate on-demand flights to Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East from its Dubai base. India will be one of the major markets, among the Asian countries. According to reports, the Middle East and Africa Jet Charter market size is expected to grow from USD 511.52 million in 2023 to USD 851.90 million by 2028. With an eye on the growing market for luxury travel in the region, Airavat aims to cater to ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWIs) and business leaders and capture 8 to 10% market share over the next five years. “Today’s UHNWIs, HNWIs, business leaders, and C-suites not only seek customized travel experiences but are also increasingly environmentally conscious,” said Ramesh S. Ramakrishnan, Chairman of Transworld Group. “With the launch of Airavat, we aim to introduce a new dimension of bespoke luxury that seamlessly blends aviation, travel, and hospitality with sustainability. Airavat’s focus is to deliver best-in-class luxury private jet services to our customers.” The strategic selection of Airavat’s routes also aims to strengthen the Indo-Arab relationship by facilitating private aviation travel between these regions. As the private aviation sector experiences exponential growth, with some markets witnessing up to a 150% increase compared to pre-pandemic years, the Middle East has emerged as a destination renowned for unrivaled luxury experiences, innovative enterprises, and sustainable mega-developments. This vibrant region attracts affluent individuals and influential thought leaders from around the world.

Paris Air Show, 19.06.2023: At the Paris International Air Show, De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited (De Havilland Canada) announced the launch of the DHC-6 Twin Otter® Classic 300-G™ with combined purchase agreements and letters of intent totaling 45 aircraft. “For over 50 years, the DHC-6 Twin Otter has stood alone as the most reliable and versatile aircraft in its class,” said Brian Chafe, CEO of De Havilland Canada. “After extensive consultation with our customers, we are poised and proud to take this iconic aircraft to new heights with the new DHC-6 Twin Otter Classic 300-G.” “With the same rugged airframe, propelled by Pratt & Whitney technology, the lighter weight Classic 300-G will deliver increased payload range and decreased operating costs for our customers,” added Chafe. “Along with an all-new cabin interior and flight deck featuring the Garmin G1000® NXi fully integrated avionics suite, De Havilland Canada is once again driving the utility transport aircraft market forward.” “De Havilland Canada continues to shape aviation with innovative utility aircraft, and we are proud to offer our G1000 NXi integrated flight deck with the latest version of the iconic DHC-6 Twin Otter,” said Carl Wolf, Garmin Vice President of Aviation Sales and Marketing. “The G1000 NXi will bring wireless cockpit connectivity, enhanced situational awareness, visual approach capability, and our fully integrated GFC™ 700 autopilot with envelope protection to the Classic 300-G aircraft.” Over the course of the Paris International Air Show, De Havilland Canada will announce Purchase Agreements with our valued Twin Otter Classic 300-G launch customers. The Classic 300-G is the fifth generation of the Twin Otter aircraft, joining the current Series 400. All DHC-6 Twin Otters carry passengers, transport VIPs, move cargo, conduct medivac operations, and perform special missions in the world’s most unforgiving environments. When mounted on amphibious floats, these aircraft move seamlessly between paved surfaces and water-landing areas. As De Havilland Canada continues to grow its footprint in Canadian aerospace, the launch of the DHC-6 Twin Otter Classic 300-G will bolster the local economy by creating 80 and 91 permanent production jobs in Calgary, Alberta and Victoria, British Columbia, respectively.

Reigate (UK); 16th May 2023: As part of the expansion plan in the Middle East, ACC Aviation has appointed Hassan Chamas to head the company’s charter offering throughout the region. Hassan previously held senior positions at prominent operators and aviation companies across the US, Europe and the Middle East and brings a wealth of experience to the business. Joining ACC’s consulting and leasing departments already established in the region, Hassan will be working closely with ACC’s charter departments in Europe and United States to grow the company’s client and supplier footprint across the Middle East. At his appointment, Hassan said,”I am delighted to join the highly respected team at ACC Aviation and to begin a new chapter in my career. Thanks to the unparalleled knowledge and skill set of ACC’s global teams, I am confident that we can further develop the charter business here in Dubai and in the wider region.” Based in ACC’s Dubai office located in the Dubai Airport Freezone (DAFZA), Hassan’s immediate focus will be on bolstering the company’s offering for existing clients before laying plans for regional development and future growth. Richard Smith, ACC Aviation Air Charter Director, added,”ACC Aviation’s global charter business has grown rapidly in the last few years. With Hassan Chamas joining the team, we will further strengthen our aviation networks and breadth of experience. Our growing client base relies on a great understanding of how to execute charters safely and seamlessly while delivering fantastic customer service. We are excited to bring Hassan into the team and to help him build on the recent success we have seen.”

1st March 2023, Dublin: Avia Solutions, the aviation business group, has become an Irish-based company. Following the transfer of its controlling headquarters to Ireland, Dublin, the group also became the second largest Irish-registered aviation business behind aviation giant Ryanair. “Moving the company’s controlling headquarters to Ireland was a strategically important step for us in terms of our further development plans,” explains Jonas Janukenas, CEO of Avia Solutions Group. “Ireland is known as the hub of aviation. A large number of aviation companies are located here, hence, being closer to the aviation community we will be able to implement the group’s development plans faster and maintain market leadership.” According to Janukenas, the company’s financial instruments on the Dublin Stock Exchange have been purchased by the world’s largest institutional investors from the USA and Europe, so this was also one of the reasons for choosing Ireland. The group has offices spanning all across the world: Ireland, Lithuania, the US, United Arab Emirates, South Africa, Australia and Asia Pacific.Avia Solutions Group is the world’s leading and largest ACMI (aircraft leasing, maintenance and insurance) services group with a fleet of more than 165 aircraft. The group also provides various aviation services, such as aircraft maintenance, pilot and crew training, ground handling, and others. Avia Solutions Group employs more than 11,000 highly skilled aviation professionals across different regions of the world.

WICHITA, Kansas : 20th Feb 2023: Textron Aviation announced that it will now offer a gravel kit for its new twin-engine, large-utility Cessna SkyCourier turboprop that gives customers the flexibility to operate their aircraft in and out of unimproved runways around the world. First deliveries of the SkyCourier with the installed option will commence later this month. The Cessna SkyCourier is designed and manufactured by Textron Aviation Inc.The clean-sheet design aircraft achieved Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) type certification in March 2022 with first deliveries following just two months later. “Cessna aircraft have been moving people and critically-needed goods in and out of remote areas for decades, and this new capability allows SkyCourier customers to operate in some of the world’s most demanding environments,” said Lannie O’Bannion, senior vice president of Sales and Flight Operations. “The addition of this new gravel kit greatly enhances the already rugged reliability of the SkyCourier.” This additional option for the SkyCourier paves the way for further use in global markets by a variety of customers, including government agencies, law enforcement and militaries, air ambulance operators, freight haulers, corporations and humanitarian organizations. The Cessna SkyCourier twin-engine, high-wing turboprop offers a combination of performance and lower operating costs for air freight, passenger and special mission operators. In addition to the freighter version, there is a 19-passenger variant of the SkyCourier that includes separate crew and passenger entries for smooth boarding, as well as large cabin windows for natural light and views. Both configurations offer single-point pressure refueling to enable faster turnarounds.

The stakeholders of Business Aviation in India who operates aircrafts under Non Scheduled Operators Permit (NSOP) wants the government should give them the status of an organised industry so that their issues can also be kept at par with the scheduled operators. In a candid interview, Gp. Capt. R K Bali (Retd.) Managing Director, Business Aircraft Operators Association( BAOA), talks with Vishal Kashyap, Managing Editor, Aviation World about the key initiatives taken by his body with the MOCA which is yielding good results, but still some loose screws need to be tightened and requires prompt attention by the policy makers and regulators for holistic growth of the sector. How do you analyze the business aviation market post pandemic? What steps are being taken for the sector to grow up to its potential? After the pandemic there is so much growth, so much of demand that the charter or the private flying that we need to tap on this demand and going forward to optimize the business aviation which I means to charter the aircraft, to own the aircraft, for making business more efficient , more cost effective. And, one way of doing that is seeing that the growth is as per the potential which can only be achieved if we do some consolidation in the industry. And one thing which we are recently doing & accepted by the ministry on 10th October 2022 was the fractional ownership which is just quite a different model than what it was earlier . We have seen what lessons even US has learnt from it . Because they have started somewhere in 2004 and 2005.We have recently issued guidelines and see that going forward. These are: (i) Fractional Ownership: Through fractional ownership, one can reduce the cost of owning & operating the aircraft. Thereby, more growth will take place because people will be spending less money on the aircraft which they use to do it before. (ii) Rationalization of Taxes: The custom duty or import duty which is very high on private owning , that is 28 % + 3% cess, which adds to 31 %. We have already taken up by the ministry and they are quite convinced because there has been hardly any import. There is no point having such a high tax barrier that doesn’t allow the aircraft to be owned in the private category. Our recommendation to the ministry is to rationalize it and make it 12 % while for NSOP its 5 % which is ok. So, this is the change that we are trying to bring. (iii) Affordability of Airport Charges: The business aviation operates all over India as chartered or private operation under NSOP, they have so far been levied really unaffordable airport charges. We have taken it up and another step forward in this direction. By ministry agreeing and issuing directive to all the airports and AERA to make it itemized and we are further working on it to make sure that even the itemized charges are very reasonable and affordable. Though, the AERA adopts a soft touch approach to decide charges but they have to be comparable as you know ground handling is still not a regulated industry anywhere in the world. I was working on it till it became regulated as the workers are unlicensed. We have approached AERA and the government to have the charges rationalized as per the labor rates of skilled and semi skilled available, so that these charges are rationalized. (iv) Infrastructure: First option which will become more important as our operations increase. So, for every new airport or modification or improvement of the airport, we have asked for separate General Aviation terminal to be made available for business aviation parking and which is there to happen especially at big airport. Till than, the government has agreed with our proposal to allow non-standard parking as per fees for which DGCA has also been told by the government to issue to accommodate more aircraft in non-standard bays so that safety concern are looked into and we are able to have more aircraft flying to destination to the busy airport where the business presently is going forward .We know that the business is going to come from tier 2 & tier 3 cities also. Right now, we are looking forward to have more FBOs coming up at those airports as we have also shared a concept on FBO with the ministry. So, hopefully in the next 5-10 years when all the things will be in place with fractional ownership , tax rationalization and affordability of airport charges , we are sure that business aviation will grow to its potential in the coming years. How do you see the concept of GIFT city and its benefits in long term? The GIFT city was formed around three years back and it’s a very good step. In fact, we were lacking in that and that ’why government has come up with that. It’s a big initiative in the ministry specially the earlier Senior Economic Advisor Madam Vandana Agarwal who was spearheading this. There are some teething problems about banks getting actively involved to get lease rates or interest rates at very competitive rates near to what existing around the world. So, we are working on it and recently conducted workshop on it held by GIFT city head in Delhi in which secretary Civil Aviation also participated. Rest things are being discussed and going forward I feel there is lot of traction taking place there. But going forward I see that in next 3-4 years, GIFT city will be playing a major role in getting the aircraft imported at the rate at which people will not have to depend on other countries like Ireland and such states where people have been leasing aircraft. It is going to take time and as of now we are in the initial stages. Any pertinent issue that you think still needs to be resolved at the ministerial level? I

Farnborough, UK, July 20, 2022: Nordic Aviation Capital (NAC), the world’s largest regional aircraft leasing company, has agreed a memorandum of understanding to place the first two E190F passenger-to-freight conversions with Astral Aviation, based in Nairobi, Kenya. In May 2022, NAC and Embraer reached an agreement in principle to take up to 10 conversion slots for E190F/E195F, with first deliveries starting in 2024. The aircraft for conversion will come from NAC’s existing E190/E195 fleet. Sanjeev Gadhia, Founder & CEO Astral Aviation, said, “We are honored to be the launch operator of the Embraer 190F, which will be based in Astral’s Nairobi hub. It will operate on a combination of scheduled and charter flights on our intra-African network. The E-Jets are well known for their efficiency, flexibility and sustainability. We are confident that the E-Jet freighter platform will be a game-changing addition to our growing fleet. We are grateful to NAC and Embraer for choosing Astral to be the launch operator of the E-Jet Freighter.” Norman C.T. Liu, President & CEO of NAC, said “As a launch lessor for the E-Jet freighter conversion program, we are pleased to have executed a MoU to place two E190F aircraft with Astral Aviation, a leading cargo carrier servicing Africa. NAC aims to remain the leader in regional aviation and expand into larger narrow body aircraft, while building our full life cycle asset management capabilities.” Johann Bordais, President & CEO, Embraer Services & Support, said, “The response to Embraer’s P2F program, which was launched only in March of this year, has been incredible. NAC has already placed their first two aircraft, and it’s great to welcome yet another operator to our E-Jet family.”