GI Aviation’s pledge to bring a more
affordable private air charter service to the Gulf Region has been realised.
The company announced at MEBAA this week that
it has obtained its Air Operator’s Certificate [AOC] from the GCAA (UAE General
Civil Aviation Authority), enabling the start of commercial flights with its
fleet of Pilatus PC-12NG aircraft.
“We are delighted to obtain this approval from
the GCAA. Our team have been working hard this past year to deliver a brand new
entry level service for business aviation in this region, which has until now
been dominated by larger business jets. We have received significant interest
from a number of parties who are keen to fly with us. We are focused on the
value proposition we offer our clients” said
Her Excellency Hafsa Al Ulama,
Managing Director of GI Aviation’s parent company, Global Ideas.
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(L to R): David Lawlor, Head of
Projects and Corporate Finance, GI Global Ideas; Yousif Al Hammadi,
Director Security & Government Affairs, GI Aviation; Marios T. Belidis,
General Manager, GI Aviation; Matti Auterinen, Chairman, Hendell
Aviation; Mikael Lees, CEO, Hendell Aviation. |
GI Aviation accepted its first eight-seat
PC-12NG aircraft this spring. Featuring a spacious BMW DesignWorks interior, it
will be the first aircraft of this type to commercially operate in the GCC
region, bringing with it unique operating characteristics inherent to the
PC-12NG. This includes the capability to take off and land on short runways
typical of remote locations or islands as well as the ability to access paved
and unpaved airstrips. The aircraft’s impressive versatility will enable GI
Aviation to serve leisure, corporate or medevac charters flying on journeys of
up to four hours with a range of 2,000km. GI Aviation will take delivery of its
second PC-12NG aircraft in January 2017.
In obtaining the GCAA AOC, GI Aviation is
pleased to endorse the work carried out by Hendell Aviation of Finland whose
consultancy services were instrumental in helping obtain the AOC.
Matti Auterinen,
Chairman of Hendell, congratulated GI Aviation: “We have been preparing the
ground work for the first PC-12NG commercial operation in the Middle East since
Q3 2015, calling on our own experience as the first commercial operator in
Europe with this type of aircraft since 2013. The GCAA regulations and
requirements closely followed EASA with key differences adapted for the UAE and
the region. However, the overall compliance environment toward CAT SE-IMC is
similar. The very professional framework established in the UAE by the authority
is strict, but fair. We are very proud to have been able (for the second time)
to participate in the ongoing development of what is a very exciting sector in
business aviation,” Matti said.
Mohammed Al Katheeri,
Acting Chief Operations Officer of Abu Dhabi Airports, said: “We welcome GI
Aviation to Al Bateen Executive Airport and wish them well with their new
venture. By bringing affordable, flexible charter options to the market, they
open up private aviation to a whole new demographic. We are pleased to be able
to help GI Aviation along the road to success and look forward to working with
them.”
GI Aviation has extensively researched the
market and identified a need for charter services on popular city pair routes
currently flown by some legacy carriers on scheduled services. “At GI Aviation,
we are able to serve all the major business and capital cities within the GCC
and surrounding region and will also serve popular resort destinations like Sir
Bani Yas, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah,” said
Marios Belidis,
General Manager of GI Aviation. “We will provide an exemplary charter service to
both the existing charter market and to the executive first / business class
traveller looking for an entry into the charter market. We will, on certain
short distance city pairs, serve as a real alternative to flying first /
business class. Our focus is to ensure that we provide a time and cost effective
service which is responsive to clients’ itineraries and requirements, while
maintaining the highest standards of quality and safety in our operation. We are
delighted to be pioneering a convenient and efficient way of flying for the
region and will be taking bookings before the end of 2016.”
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