Sogerma Named an ACJ Outfitter
ACJ program VP Richard Gaona |
Airbus has named EADS Sogerma as the sixth approved outfitter for
its Corporate Jetliner, ACJ program VP Richard Gaona said here yesterday.
EADS Sogerma is an experienced Airbus maintenance and cabin
completion operator, with facilities at Toulouse, France and Lake
Charles, Louisiana in the U.S. The company will initially outfit up
to two ACJs per year, rising to a maximum of four annually from mid-2002.
It is currently outfitting its first aircraft, which will soon be
delivered to Paris-Le Bourget-based charter operator Aero Services
Executive, and will shortly begin work on a second ACJ, for an undisclosed
customer.
Aero Services Executive's ACJ is being outfitted with a three-abreast,
2+1 interior, with five fuel tanks providing 5,000-5,600 nautical
miles range. It is scheduled to be on display and making customer
and press demonstration flights at the Paris Air Show in June, along
with Qatar Airways' ACJ.
Dubbed "New Orleans Express" by Gaona, the Aero Services
ACJ will also be at September's NBAA meeting in that city.
Why no ACJ at EBACE? Gaona said he'd hoped to lease the London-Luton-based
Twinjet ACJ for Geneva, but found that the aircraft-which flies
around 900 hours a year on charters-was already booked by a client.
"Whenever we want to book an ACJ at short notice, it's usually
too late, the aircraft's working," he said, looking none too
disappointed at the aircraft's popularity.
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