British Aerospace to Market Limited Number of Avro Business Jets

With increasing interest in large transport-type corporate jets, British Aerospace will not be left behind. The company plans to offer perhaps two or three aircraft per year to corporate customers that require the niche capabilities the quadjet is producing for so many regional airlines, especially in Europe. The big niche is the ability to operate into and out of 3,200- to 3,300-foot runways with Stage 3 noise-in style.

"We call it one of the world's best-kept secrets," said Alan Stiley, who heads the British Aerospace regional aircraft U.S. operation in Herndon, VA. "We are not looking to set the world on fire in quantity, but rather in quality," he said here Monday. Base price for the aircraft is $26 million-"nicely equipped for $30 million," he added.

There are still a few of the older BAe 146s in corporate service. Formula One Administration of the U.K. has a BAe 146-200 with 60 conventional seats and eight executive seats, operating from smaller airfields that allow more convenient access to European Grand Prix circuits. In the U.S., Texas oilman W.A. Moncrief is currently having a 146-100 refurbished with a corporate interior to replace a Stage 2 BAC 1-11.

There are six additional versions in other parts of the world, and as additional older airline 146s come off leases, the company expects some of those to be reconfigured as well. BAe Assets Management Jets (AMJ) believes the aircraft offers owners of large Stage 2 executive aircraft such as the BAC 1-11 a relatively young and inexpensive replacement. With good Stage 3 noise margins, the 146 also assures operators of a long potential service life.

Stiley said that about 20 companies have expressed some interest in new Avro executive aircraft. "It is more a matter of how many we build." The company has sold 115 Avro 70/85/100 aircraft and production is committed to mid-2000. There was no indication it would build more than its planned 20 per year.

However, the company makes some quite favorable comparisons with existing business jets, such as the DOCs of a Gulfstream II. "British Aerospace realizes that not all operators require the ultra-long-range capability of today's large business jets and corporate airliners and strongly believes that the Avro Business Jet offers a new a new choice to the corporate operator. The Avro Business Jet is unique in offering an airliner size cabin and small-jet airfield performance, all at a large midsize jet price," Stiley said.

By Arnold Lewis