Global business aviation group Jet Aviation is expanding its activity in support of Asia Pacific operators with additional approvals from authorities across the region to maintain several aircraft models. At the same time, the Europe-based company is increasing the size of its facility at Singapore Seletar Airport, where it has seen growing volumes of traffic. It also has added three more jets to its managed fleet, taking the total number of aircraft it operates in this part of the world to 33.

In recent weeks, Jet Aviation’s maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facilities in Asia were approved by authorities in Singapore, Malaysia and Taiwan province to support the Gulfstream G650, the Boeing 737 (Boeing Business Jet) and the Airbus ACJ (319/320/321) family registered in their territories. The new approvals also covered Malaysia-registered G650s and Taiwan-registered G550/650s. The company also recently secured G650 support approval from European and Hong Kong authorities.

In addition to Singapore, Jet Aviation also has MRO facilities in Hong Kong, and it will open a new operation in Macau later this year. In November, the company will open a third hangar at Singapore’s Seletar Airport, where it operates a full-service FBO. The 3,850-sq-m (41,400-sq-ft) hangar will be available to tenant operators and will have room for a pair of BBJs and five G550s. There will also be an additional 380 sq m (4,090 sq ft) for the facility’s cabin interiors and 315 sq m (3,390 sq ft) of storage space—nearly doubling the existing footprint.

The third hangar is being built by Aircraft Support Industries and MERx Construction—the two companies that added the Seletar facility’s second hangar in 2014. The foundations are now laid and the two-story annex shell structure and all temporary structures have been erected.

With the new hangar, Jet Aviation will have 11,650 sq m (125,400 sq ft) of hangar space altogether. The new facilities will incorporate a revised workflow for MRO projects and improved air conditioning to deal with Singapore’s high humidity.

“We are building this third hangar to meet the growing demand in the region for business aviation services, particularly for large, long-range business jets,” said John Riggir, vice president and general manager of Jet Aviation’s MRO and FBO facility in Singapore. “The new hangar will significantly boost the capacity of our maintenance, FBO and parking operations.”

The expansion is certainly needed because 2016 was Jet Aviation’s best ever in Singapore, where it beat all previous records for handling aircraft.  The FBO, which in December achieved IS-BAH standards certification from the International Business Aviation Council, is currently looking after the vintage Breitling DC-3 on its world tour.

Over the past six months, Jet Aviation (Booth H218) has signed aircraft management agreements covering two G650s and a Bombardier Global 6000. Its 33-ship fleet in the Asia Pacific region now include seven G650s, nine G550s, six G450s, two G200s, a Global Express, three Global 6000s, two Global 5000s, a Challenger 605, a Dassault Falcon 900LX and a Falcon 7X.

“We are steadily growing our aircraft management fleet in Asia as business jets are regularly being exchanged and added to the market,” said Daniel Helfenstein, director of key accounts and deputy managing director of the company’s aircraft management operation in Hong Kong.

ACJ On Display

This week at ABACE 2017, Jet Aviation is showing off an ACJ319 for which its facility in Basel, Switzerland, provided a VIP cabin interior. The aircraft is operated by Austria-based MJet and is certified to carry up to 19 passengers.

The cabin includes spacious double “wet” and “dry” galleys, lounge and dining areas, space for passengers' staff andfor the flight crew, as well as a private bedroom with en suite bathroom and shower, and a guest lavatory. The interior is finished in high-gloss American Black Cherry and Santos Rosewood hardwoods and veneers, alongside finely stitched upholstery and leathers. The bathroom features real glass mirror and a basin of molded Corian.

“We have significant experience in outfitting VIP aircraft, backed by extensive in-house capabilities to consistently ensure the highest quality within optimized time frames,” said Neil Boyle, vice president and general manager of the Basel completions center. “The Airbus ACJ319 interior displayed at ABACE truly demonstrates our superb craftsmanship in combining innovative design, state-of-the-art technology and uncompromising luxury.”