DAY 3 December 12, 2018 MEBAA PUBLICATIONS Convention News INTOSH c DAVID M DAVID Charter MEBAA 2018 ends on a high note VistaJet shopping for up to ten 7500s › page 8 by Mark Phelps It always takes a few days after a show ends presenting interactive product demonstra- sees good prospects for Aerion’s AS2 Mach Region before all the pertinent numbers and statis- tions from exhibiting companies. Also, the 1.4 supersonic business jet, now in devel- tics finally come together—how many visitors, MEBAA Conference Dubai was held in a opment in the U.S. Describing operators in Bizav, charter how many orders, how much money chang- curtained area right on the show floor. It the Middle East, he said, “We fly long dis- projections vary › page 10 ing hands. But the real worth of a show is not featured the expertise of industry leaders tances—to Europe, the U.S., Asia—so super- always measured by those numbers. It is more discussing topics of current interest, such sonic travel adds great value. To get there important to assess the quality of the interac- as the impact of blockchain on business avi- faster means you don’t have to be away from Rotorcraft tions that take place over three days, and this ation operations and maintenance, as well home for as long. Even though it served lim- can also be much more difficult to pin down. as updates on various aircraft programs and ited markets, we miss the Concorde.” New models helping As the numbers go, we know now that there other topical subjects. At the other end of the scale, Alnaqbi has a drive demand › page 15 were 452 exhibitors at MEBAA 2018 and 34 air- The Jetsetter Reception further supported passionate interest in promoting smaller air- craft on static display. Of those 34, more than MEBAA’s mission of creating “an ideal plat- craft in the region. He has distinct ideas on a half dozen are making their first appearance form for the business aviation industry in the needs for an air-taxi operation, for exam- Standardizing at the show, such as the single-engine Cirrus the Middle East and North Africa.” ple. “We have a huge market that is lost due IBAC reaches out to Vision jet, likely the smallest jet to ever grace “It’s important to bring trust to the show,” to the unavailability of aircraft. I have said the UAE skies. According to MEBAA found- Alnaqbi told AIN. “I want happy members. I repeatedly and publicly, you need to have at help › page 20 ing and executive chairman Ali Alnaqbi, the want to be able to deliver commitment and least 11 to 15 aircraft. Air-taxi needs critical show has experienced double-digit growth promise and pave the road for the next seg- mass. Providing a business aircraft solution every year—with 2018 showing a 15 percent ments of business aviation.” is not about widebody aircraft alone. The Debutante improvement over the last edition in 2016. Those future segments could mean smaller aircraft segment is still missing.” VIP Sukhoi Superjet at One new feature this year is the product urban mobility drone operations all the Discussing the recent closing of PC-12 demonstration theater on the show floor, way through supersonic aircraft. Alnaqbi continues on page 4 MEBAA › page 22 Pg_1-4_d1_v6.indd 2 12/11/18 6:29 PM STORY INDEX Academy 147 .................................................... 4 Cirrus Vision Jet makes Dubai debut AfBAA................................................................ 8 Airbus ..............................................................18 by James Wynbrandt Airbus Corporate Helicopters (ACH) ................15 The Cirrus SF50 Vision Jet is making its Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) .........10 regional debut at MEBAA 2018, introduc- Alpha Star Aviation Services ...........................16 ing the Middle East to the concept—and Argos VIP Private Handling .............................10 reality—of the personal jet. “Until now, we didn’t have a real pro- Bell ..................................................................15 posal for the audience here at this exhi- Boeing Business Jets ....................................... 3 bition,” said Stefano Cestarelli, regional Boutsen Aviation .............................................18 sales director for Cirrus Middle East and Cedar Executive..............................................20 Cirrus Italy. “Many people were waiting to see the real airplane, to sit inside, so Cirrus ................................................................ 2 there’s big interest.” Click Aviation Network ...................................20 What’s the reaction, now that MEBAA Comlux the Aviation Group.............................22 attendees have had a chance to see and sit Disabled Aviators.............................................14 in the single-engine jet? “The general comment is, ‘For the Dubai Airports..................................................10 smallest jet in the market, it’s really spa- Dubai South ...................................................... 3 cious inside,’” Cestarelli reported. Executive Gourmet ........................................... 4 With a 300 knot cruise speed, the five- A core group of local Cirrus SR series owners have already ordered three Vision Jets. Falcon Aviation ................................................. 6 place Vision Jet is designed to be as easy to fly as the company’s piston-powered SR aircraft, “It’s very, very easy,” Cestarelli said. customers. “I will be happy to make two Fireblade Aviation ...........................................17 series aircraft—the SR20, SR22, and tur- “I fly in this region myself. When you know people happy at one time,” he said. Gama Aviation .................................................. 6 bocharged SR22T— with safety features how to proceed you can fly with no big dif- Cirrus hands over the keys to all new air- Greenpoint Technologies ................................. 3 including its hallmark Cirrus Airframe ference compared to Europe. It’s actually craft at its customer delivery center in Knox- Honeywell Aerospace ...................................... 6 Parachute System (CAPS), which can quite permissive here.” He added, “There ville, Tennessee in the U.S. Here Vision Jet lower the aircraft to the ground by para- are initiatives in the UAE and in Saudi Ara- customers undergo training to earn the type IBAC ................................................................20 chute in the event of an emergency. bia to establish new airports dedicated for certificate required to fly any turbine aircraft. Jetex ................................................................14 Five SF50s have been ordered by cus- small, private general aviation aircraft.” “It takes a couple of weeks,” said Cestarelli. Krimson ...........................................................13 tomers in the region, Cestarelli told AIN. As for the difference between promoting “Generally one week of ground school and MEBAA Conference ..................................... 4, 17 Cirrus has previously shown SR models the SF50 in this region compared to oth- one week of flight, part simulator and part in at MEBAA, and has gained a foothold in ers, “The interest for the Vision Jet is more a real airplane.” The training is capped by a MENA Aerospace .............................................18 the region. Twenty-two are in the Emir- concrete here because there is a base of check ride with a designated pilot examiner. MJet .................................................................. 4 ates Flight Training Academy training high-quality clients who can afford it. It is “When [the instructors] say it’s your time Mototok ..........................................................22 fleet, the Royal Saudi Air Force owns 24, easier to deal with somebody who can really for a check ride, you are ready.” NasJet Private Aviation ...................................16 and seven are privately owned. place an order and purchase a Vision Jet.” That’s partly thanks to the training “The community of pilots is not very With orders backlogged, there is about program Cirrus has developed for the Saudi Airshow ................................................... 6 big, but it is very active, and they like the a three-year wait for a new Vision Jet. Vision Jet, but also because the cockpit Saudi Arabia Business Aviation .......................12 idea of owning their own airplane and “But there are some possible options” for layout, instrument panel, and procedural Sky Prime Aviation Services ............................16 being in a position to fly freely,” Cestarelli customers who don’t want to wait that flow are the same as in the SR series, with Sukhoi Superjet ..............................................22 said. “Their families are spread around— long, Cestarelli said. “I have many clients which most Vision Jet buyers are familiar. Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain—and they who placed an order years ago and now Cestarelli noted the owners of the seven UAS International Trip Support ......................... 4 like to visit them in their own airplanes.” are not ready to take delivery.” Cestarelli private SR aircraft in the region account VistaJet Global Holding .................................... 8 As for navigating the regulations govern- can arrange to swap delivery positions for three of the five Middle East SF50 Women in Aviation ............................................ 2 ing flights in owner-flown general aviation among the can’t-wait and must-wait SF50 orders to date. n Women in Aviation on a Mission at MEBAA license. That same year