Global Coverage Closer for Free In-flight TV
Honeywell (Booth No. 7041) has introduced an upgrade to its satellite television system for business jets to allow operators to receive free-to-air satellite TV in China, India and Russia, thus matching the service available on the ground.
With the AIS-2000 system users can now receive free-to-air
TV via the Apstar6 satellite (Eastern China), Eutelsat W4 satellite (Russia) and Insat4B satellite (India). Users of that system can already receive free-to-air TV over Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The system can support up to six independent receivers for individual passenger viewing and control.

Meanwhile operators of the original Honeywell AIS-1000 system are able to update their receiver software via the Internet.

Hawker Improves Used Aircraft Offering
Hawker Beechcraft (Booth No. 7080) has launched a new program aimed at selling pre-owned aircraft that end up on its own books. Known as the Select Pre-Owned Program, it is designed to “limit the cost of operation for buyers of qualified pre-owned aircraft during the first year or first 150 hours of service [and covers] all scheduled and unscheduled aircraft, engine and avionics maintenance, and initial flight crew training,” said the U.S. manufacturer.

The flight crew training will be provided by FlightSafety International, while operators will also have a one-year subscription to Hawker Beechcraft’s computerized
maintenance tracking system.

“This program encourages potential owners to buy their airplanes from people who know them best–the people who designed, built, sold and maintained them in the first place,” said Mike Ellis, Hawker Beechcraft’s vice president of pre-owned aircraft “Through this program, we are providing another obvious reason to consider new aircraft we have available.”

Dassault To Add Line Service Station in Hong Kong
Jet Aviation Hong Kong will be a Dassault Falcon-authorized line service station by year-end, according to an agreement the companies signed on May 3. The facility at Chep Lap Kok Airport will be approved to perform scheduled and unscheduled maintenance through A and A+ level checks on the Falcon 2000EX EASy/2000DX/2000LX, Falcon 900 EX EASy/900DX/ 900LX and Falcon 7X.

Authorization initially applies to U.S.- and Hong Kong-registered Falcons. European approval is planned for the first half of next year. The French airframer is positioning $1.1 million in spare parts in Hong Kong to support the new facility.

AMAC Adds Widebody Completions Capability
AMAC Aerospace (Booth No.1079) will begin work on two widebody completions this year for Middle East clients. Agreements for the jobs were signed in March, launching AMAC into the widebody completions market.

The first contract is for a Boeing 777-300ER owned by the government of Abu Dhabi, scheduled for delivery to AMAC’s EuroPort Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg facility in November. In December, a 777-200LR owned by another Middle East client will arrive in Basel. In addition to maintenance and completions, AMAC also offers aircraft management and charter services.

Equiom Flymann Explains Offshore Ownership
Since its inception in 2007, the Isle of Man aircraft registry has attracted numerous business jet owners. Equiom Trust Co., which works with the registry under the “Flymann” banner, is at EBACE this year in Booth No. 166.

The company’s Capt. John Hills and Alex Beetham are poised to explain the advantages (tax and otherwise) of this offshore jurisdiction, which is located in the Irish Sea in sight (on a clear day) of England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. They can also explain how to form an offshore company, within which tax-efficient ownership of aircraft can be achieved, as well as VAT advantages.

The Isle of Man registry now has more than 200 M-registered aircraft and claims to provide a professional service without overcharging. The Isle of Man is the first dedicated corporate aircraft offshore register in the European time zones.