Oriens Aviation, the exclusive
British Isles Pilatus Centre, is looking forward to a busy EBACE later this
month, hard on the heels of completing three aircraft deliveries this Spring.
It is currently working on one sale
which should be ratified later this summer. Oriens’ London Biggin Hill-based
demonstrator (G-DYLN), which replaced G-RABB, will feature on the static at
EBACE, Europe’s premier business aviation trade show, during 28 to 31st May for
Pilatus.
“We had a lot of interest
in the aircraft at AERO Friedrichshafen last month,” noted CEO
Edwin Brenninkmeyer.
It is a show that goes from strength from strength for us, he observed. Sales
Director Craig Lammiman
added that the business is seeing an increased interest from existing and
potential customers about connectivity and Wifi installations - on both new
units and retrofits. We look forward to talking with specialist companies about
this during EBACE, he added.
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Oriens Aviation Pilatus
PC-12NG G-DYLN will showcase at EBACE. |
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Meanwhile, Oriens’ new Service
Centre at Biggin Hill, Oriens Maintenance Services, which complements its sales
activity with MRO support, plus warranty work, AOC and pilot training advisory,
has got off to a good start since its formal opening in February. It has
performed one annual inspection, a couple of 100-hour checks, handled a few AOG
situations and has a healthy number of forward bookings for maintenance over the
next few months.
“The Pilatus PC-12 has been voted
No 1 for service for the last 15 years consecutively by Professional Pilot
magazine and it is accepted that once customers purchase a Pilatus, the
relationship does not end there. It is just the beginning. They become part of
the Pilatus ‘family.’ In fact, 57% of Pilatus owners upgrade to - another
Pilatus, noted Edwin Brenninkmeyer, highlighting Oriens’ move into MRO and
technical support, through the acquisition of Avalon Aero, has been extremely
well received. The bringing together of our team and theirs has worked very well
and we are starting to enjoy the benefits of being a one stop shop, he added.
Increased Pilatus PC-12 flying
“The pro-competitive relaxing of
rules on Single Engined Turboprops flying commercially is going to lower the
product price-point,” commented business aviation analyst WINGX Managing
Director Richard Koe.
‘This will be the year to see whether the popularity of the leading
single-engine type amongst owners will be translated into a larger charter
market.
PC-12 flights in the UK were up
an average 12% last year. London Biggin Hill Airport single-handedly recorded a
17% increase in flying among private users. |