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Le Bourget Bids to be Europe's BizAv Capital
Michel de Ronne, the newly appointed chief of Paris-Le Bourget,
has a mission: to make it the business jet capital of Europe.
He is heading a 15-year drive by Aéroports de Paris (ADP)
to develop industry here and boost annual business aircraft movements
from the steady 53,000 per year of the recent past to 65,000 by
2004.
The French government and the ADP have earmarked $15 million over
the next five years to add ramp space and develop land to the
north of the airfield for aircraft charter, maintenance and avionics
companies. In addition, currently based companies will likely
spend $25 million to $30 million of their own money over the next
three years to improve and expand their facilities, de Ronne told
Show News.
Le Bourget is home to more than 100 aviation companies, making
it the most complete corporate aircraft base outside the U.S.,
according to de Ronne. It is billed as the leading corporate business
aviation airport in Europe, and until TAG Aviation took over London-Farnborough,
was the only European capital airport totally dedicated to business
aviation.
"We operate purely as a business airport-and will stay that
way," says de Ronne. A limit of 25 passengers per aircraft
keeps holiday charter flights away, but there are no restrictions
on the physical size of aircraft. While takeoffs are banned between
2230 and 0600, arrivals are permitted 24 hours a day.
By Mike Vines
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