Executive & VIP Aviation International December 2007

Publish Date: 01/12/2007
Publication: Executive & VIP Aviation International

Stefan Vilner, CEO of JetBird, has an ambitious plan to develop a European air taxi model from his Dublin base; we talk to him about his vision. Also in the December issue, XOJET and Wondair talk strategy as they ramp up their respective operations. Greg Thomas straddles the divide between private charter and airline operations at PrivatAir while the UK's Twinjet stays very much in the private charter niche but harks back to the golden age of aviation. Multiple choices are very much on offer at Flight Options; this fractional owner describes what these are.

From the aircraft maintenance perspective, Dubai Aerospace Enterprise clarifies its recent maintenance shop acquisitions and Marshall Aerospace explains its offering to the private jet set after pursuing military and airliner business in recent years. Then there is Sabena technics which has developed an appetite for private jet interior completions from its French base. We stay in France for an exploration of this country's private jet airports and ask whether this country has developed a blueprint for private jet airport future success.

Then we tackle the hardware. First we talk to airframers Gulfstream and Grob; and then we move on to engine-builders Snecma and GE Honda Aero Engines. We also enter the worlds of interior lighting, ground support equipment, large cabin completions and military airfields for executive use. To round off this issue, we interview Joe Leader, the President of the Air Taxi Association.