Basel for Boeing BBJ Workhorse

Jet Aviation Basel will complete a Boeing Business Jet that the airframer will use "as a corporate workhorse," Jet Aviation says, "demonstrating the capabilities of the BBJ to potential customers."

The aircraft will arrive in Switzerland late next month and is to be ready for delivery in mid-September 2001-in time for next year's NBAA. "This is a relatively short turnaround time for a project and aircraft of this magnitude, but we will deliver this aircraft on time," said Jet Aviation Basel VP/GM Rainer Albecker.

Among its special accessory items will be an entertainment/communications system with an Internet data port at each seat, connected to a main server with low-profile phased array antennas for "Connexions by Boeing" telecommunications.

Boeing's own BBJ will also have windows that can be electrically polarized to block UV light while not impeding passengers' views, marking the first airborne use of the technology. It will have two showers that use recycled water.

Albecker said it's "an honor" to have secured the Boeing BBJ completion job. The award came after "an exhaustive bidding process," said Boeing BBJ VP Thomas Lindberg, who stressed the need to have the aircraft ready for NBAA 2001 (which like this week's gathering will be held here in New Orleans).

Jet Aviation has already notched three on-time BBJ completions, but this is the first for which Boeing itself is the customer.