Hawker Beechcraft Celebrates Baron 50th Anniversary with Special Limited Edition Model

TAMPA, Fla. (Nov. 5, 2009) – Hawker Beechcraft Corporation (HBC) is marking an important milestone – the 50th anniversary of its high performance piston twin, the Beechcraft Baron – by offering a limited edition model that incorporates elegant interior design features and amenities, a choice of four distinctive external paint schemes, and high performance Hartzell Scimitar propellers. More than 6,700 aircraft have been produced since the first Baron-55 was introduced in 1960. HBC is displaying its Baron, as well as information on the 50th anniversary model, at its exhibit #5016 at the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) Aviation Summit Nov. 5-7 in Tampa, Fla.

“The success of the Baron is a testament to its exceptional design, innovation and value-enhancing improvements over the years, and to its loyal and enthusiastic customer base,” said Shawn Vick, HBC executive vice president. “The Baron continues to be the performance leader among twin engine piston aircraft and provides versatility, speed and range/payload capability that are the best in its class.”

Designed to celebrate the Baron as an industry standard, the golden anniversary aircraft incorporates specially-engraved, 14-carat-gold Baron and 50-year emblems into the power quadrant and pilot/co-pilot control wheels, matching wheat leather seats and removable headrest covers with an embossed Beechcraft shield, and leather-wrapped yokes in an exclusive wheat finish. The aircraft also sports a heritage Beechcraft shield sculpted into the velvet cut Baron Brown carpet in the club seating area. Rosen sun visors, a Lightspeed Zulu headset and air-conditioning round out the internal enhancements.

Externally, the Hartzell blended airfoil Scimitar propellers equipped with unfeathering accumulators will provide a performance boost, while a choice of four color palettes and a specially-designed paint scheme give the anniversary aircraft a unique look. The limited edition Baron is identified by an exclusive number sequence (1/12) and proudly displays the heritage Beechcraft shield on the tail. Each aircraft features distinctive 50th anniversary commemorative graphics on the nacelles and fuselage, with upper leading-edge wing surfaces finished with select anniversary paint.

The Baron series debuted as an updated version of the Model 95 Travel Air. A stretch of the fuselage in 1970 changed the model designation from the B-55 to the B-58 and allowed for the addition of two more seats in the cabin. The current model, powered by two 300 horsepower Teledyne Continental IO-550 engines, has a maximum gross weight of 5,500 pounds. The G58 Baron has a maximum level speed at 6,000 feet of 202 knots or it can fly for up to 9 hours at a cruise speed of 167 knots, burning 18.6 gallons per hour at 10,000 feet. The 50th Anniversary model offers a useful load of 1,504 pounds.

Hawker Beechcraft Corporation is a world-leading manufacturer of business, special mission and trainer aircraft – designing, marketing and supporting aviation products and services for businesses, governments and individuals worldwide. The company’s headquarters and major facilities are located in Wichita, Kan., with operations in Salina, Kan.; Little Rock, Ark.; Chester, England, U.K.; and Chihuahua, Mexico. The company leads the industry with a global network of more than 100 factory-owned and authorized service centers. For more information, visit www.hawkerbeechcraft.com

Hawker Beechcraft Announces Availability of Seatbelt Airbags for Baron and Bonanza

Drawing to Win AmSafe Airbags to be held during AOPA Aviation Summit
TAMPA, Fla. (Nov. 5, 2009) – Hawker Beechcraft Corporation (HBC) today announced the availability of AmSafe Seatbelt Airbags for the pilot and co-pilot seats on its Baron and Bonanza aircraft. HBC’s parts and distribution organization, RAPID, is taking orders for the Airbags, which can be installed at any AmSafe approved service center. HBC will be holding a drawing for a free airbag safety system during the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) Aviation Summit Nov. 5-7 in Tampa, Fla. Attendees can register by visiting the HBC exhibit #5016 at Peter O. Knight Airport.

“We are continually looking for ways to improve the safety features of our aircraft,” said Christi Tannahill, vice president, Hawker Beechcraft Global Customer Service and Support. “We are pleased to offer the AmSafe Seatbelt Airbag upgrade, which will help protect occupants should an accident occur.”

Statistics show that most crash events are survivable, especially when head and neck injuries are minimized. The AmSafe Seatbelt Airbags for the Baron and Bonanza are self-contained, modular restraints designed to protect occupants from serious head-impact injury and enhance one's ability to exit an aircraft following a survivable accident. Integrated into the lap belt portion of the seatbelt, the AmSafe Seatbelt Airbag inflates in less than 90 milliseconds and, unlike automotive airbags, safely deploys up and away from the occupant, making it a safe restraint for passengers of all ages.

The seatbelt airbags are available through HBC’s RAPID parts distribution and can be installed at more than 500 AmSafe authorized service facilities worldwide, including Hawker Beechcraft’s factory-owned locations. For pricing and installation information, contact RAPID at 888.727.4344.

Hawker Beechcraft Corporation is a world-leading manufacturer of business, special mission and trainer aircraft – designing, marketing and supporting aviation products and services for businesses, governments and individuals worldwide. The company’s headquarters and major facilities are located in Wichita, Kan., with operations in Salina, Kan.; Little Rock, Ark.; Chester, England, U.K.; and Chihuahua, Mexico. The company leads the industry with a global network of more than 100 factory-owned and authorized service centers. For more information, visit www.hawkerbeechcraft.com.

A White Beach Christmas Party at Indigo Pearl in Phuket

(Hong Kong, November 03, 2009) – Award-winning Phuket resort, Indigo Pearl is celebrating a 'White Christmas' with beach party featuring DJs, fire dancers and a spectacular Christmas themed buffet.

The festive event is being staged in Arabian-style 'majili' tents on beautiful white sand Nai Yang Beach from 8-11pm on December 25, and is priced at 1,990 Baht.

With DJs playing 80s and 90s dance favourites, and a bar serving a wide selection of cocktails and mocktails, the Christmas beach buffet features a carving station with traditional Christmas turkey, honey-glazed ham and roast lamb on a spit, plus a seafood BBQ fiesta including king prawn, lobster, swordfish, tuna and baby octopus.

Appetisers include an extensive seafood selection of prawn, crab, mussels, oysters, herring roll mops and smoked marlin, salmon and red snapper, along with cold cuts, grilled vegetables and salads.

Festive desserts range from Christmas pudding, Yule log cake, cookies and gingerbread men to kirsch cream with cherries, chocolate tart, Italian trifle, tiramisu and Drambuie panna cotta, chestnut mousse, cheesecake, lime tart, pecan pie and tropical fruit.

Seeing in Christmas in style, at end of the evening, will see each guest release a white Kom Loy lantern, a Thai tradition. For guests who book accommodation at Indigo Pearl over the Christmas period, a special priced ticket for the event is available at THB1,500.

Indigo Pearl is a luxury 5-star spa resort distinguished by its fusion of modern architecture and Thailand’s tin-mining heritage, just 10 minutes from Phuket International Airport.

As well as sublime pampering at its onsite spa, it offers a host of recreational options from water sports and yoga to mountain-biking and guided sightseeing and shopping outings.

Room rates over the festive season will start from THB15,000 net. A minimum 5-night stay is required.

For more information on Indigo Pearl and its various packages please visit: www.indigo-pearl.com.

FlairJet’s first Phenom 100 touches down at London Oxford Airport

The first UK ‘G’ registered Embraer Phenom 100 (G-SRBN) has arrived safely at its new home at London Oxford Airport, touching down at 1528 local time on Thursday, 29 October. At the controls were FlairJet CEO and Captain David Fletcher and Captain Graham Rose. They were met by the FlairJet team, friends and family at the Oxfordjet FBO with champagne at the ready.

“The aircraft handled brilliantly. It was a joy to fly,” said David Fletcher, enthusing especially about the spectacular approaches into the Caribbean, the Dutch Antilles of St Maarten and the fjords of Narsarsuaq, Greenland.

FlairJet formally accepted the aircraft from Embraer in Sao Jose dos Campos following the certification of airworthiness issued by the UK CAA. The delivery was completed in two stages with the Phenom 100 originally leaving Embraer’s Brazilian facility for delivery to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Stops were made at Brasilia, Belem, French Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Saint Maarten, and Turks and Caicos’ Providenciales International Airport. Then, following a brief stop at NBAA in Orlando, the aircraft routed Richmond International Airport, Virginia, Quebec, Goose Bay, Narsarsuaq Airport in Greenland, Keflavik, Iceland and Wick, Scotland, before its final destination – London Oxford Airport. Total ‘delivery’ flying mileage was 7,730 n.m.

David has now swopped the left-hand seat of a Monarch Airlines’ Airbus A320 to concentrate fully on running FlairJet. “In many ways the Phenom is similar to the A320 with its intelligent flight management system and ease of operation, but it is much more fun to fly.”

FlairJet’s second Phenom 100 (G-DRBN) has now arrived in Florida and is due to arrive into Oxford on Friday, 6th November.

FlairJet, backed by three London-based QCs, are managing these two entry level jets from a third party, prior to the arrival of their first purchased aircraft in 2012. FlairJet pledges to offer a personalised, quality service, moving away from the traditional air taxi - pitch up and fly culture. With a range of 1,160 nm (with reserves) FlairJet will focus on easy to reach cities in mainland Europe, domestic UK routes and also Scotland and Ireland. Its USP will be to deliver ‘a transparent, easy use, easy to book service. FlairJet is targeting travellers who wouldn’t usually consider private charter because they perceive it is too expensive, or are too intimidated by the process.

Oriens Advisors launches in Europe providing business expertise to the light jet sector

Aviation consultancy Oriens Advisors is pioneering a fresh and innovative new service to the European business aviation market. The London, UK headquartered company aims to help European businesses operating in the light jet arena to achieve commercial success by offering a full range of advice and consultancy.

“Too often new entrants in the very light jet market are focused on technical and operations matters, not how they are going to sell and market their services. This is crucial to their success and this is where Oriens sees its niche,” said company founder Edwin Brenninkmeyer. Edwin is a former venture capitalist. Previously with Entrepreneurs Fund, he exclusively focused on VLJ investments. He is also on the board of LinearAir, a successful US air taxi operator.

Oriens Advisors will specialise in an evolving sector of business aviation which embraces the new breed of efficient light jets, and entry level jets such as the Phenom 100 and Cessna Citation Mustang. Oriens also plans to work with related businesses and anticipates the client list will include not just operators, but also OEMs, airports, government, high net worth individual purchasers, FBOs and IT support businesses.

“In my previous role I saw many VLJ start up business plans and realised they had many common strengths and weaknesses. In the aviation industry there are innumerable technical and regulatory hurdles to overcome. As a result most of the VLJ entrepreneurs tended to focus on areas that are not commercial and strategic. Our aim is to resolve the missing elements and support these businesses to leverage the broader value chain, so integrating them into the wider aviation market”, says Brenninkmeyer. “This is hugely important for an operator’s long term survival.”

Oriens’ expertise will cover lobbying for funding; marketing strategy creation, diversification to generate cash flow; guidance on lobbying regulatory bodies, strategic analysis of green issues, to scrutinising infrastructure or implementation of IT. The company’s directors will work closely with its clients, either taking a seat on the board or working in-house, or advising on outsourcing of commercial functions such as HR, marketing or finance.

Eyeing Central Europe

With a European focus, Oriens is eyeing opportunities in Southern and Central/Eastern Europe where they identify a need for expanded low cost personal jet services. “There is a wealth of manufacturing in Eastern Europe, often located in remote and difficult to access areas. There are also a number of military airfields that can be utilised by light jets. We can see vast potential for expansion and are currently in discussions with a number of companies looking to develop in this area,” comments Brenninkmeyer.

Oriens is privately funded by Brenninkmeyer and two fellow directors Archie Garden and Michael Ricks. Garden hails from a financial services background with over 20 years of financial and IT experience having worked at Barclays and Standard Bank. Ricks is a former partner at Deloitte Consulting and KPMG Consulting and an expert on business strategy and revenue generation. Having strong existing relationships with airports and operators, and a wealth of experience in business plan generation, finance and IT, their joint experience positions Oriens well to support the European aviation market.

Edwin, Archie and Michael will attend the Quaynote Communications Future of Business Jets Conference in London during 4-5 November in London.

Image – Left to Right – Archie Garden, Edwin Brenninkmeyer, Michael Ricks.