Expands Management Fleet With Airbus A319CJ

The Middle East and UK-based business aviation group Rizon Jet is progressing with the development of its new MRO facility and FBO Terminal in Doha, State of Qatar, which is now expected to open in January 2011. Rizon Jet is attending MEBA in Dubai this week with a large stand (C310 in the central hall) to introduce its bolstered management team and bring customers and potential customers up to date with progress on both new facilities in Doha, State of Qatar and London Biggin Hill Airport in the United Kingdom. A substantial investment in these two business aviation centers has been made to guarantee that they comprise the latest technologies and are state-of-the-art when complete early next year. Combined, they will create an additional 90 new jobs.

The company, headed by CEO Patrick Enz, moved into the Rizon Jet Centre at Doha International Airport at the end of October. Hand in hand with the infrastructure developments, Rizon Jet has now built up its operations and engineering capability, supported by some strong new management appointments. These include Captain Javed Latif who joins Rizon Jet as Director of Operations. He brings considerable experience in corporate aviation having flown a large variety of business jets after an illustrious career in the military. Simon D'Oyly, newly appointed Director of Sales and Aircraft Management, joined Rizon Jet this summer from AJA in Abu Dhabi. He was also previously MD of Aircraft Management with National Air Services in Saudi Arabia. Paul Macintyre joined Rizon Jet as Manager of Maintenance from Ocean Sky Engineering where he set up an EASA 145 Bombardier approved aircraft maintenance facility.

In Doha Rizon Jet has also been steadily adding to its maintenance and technical capabilities. It is set to obtain Qatar CAA 145 approval in December 2010 and is close to attaining EASA 145 maintenance approval in January 2011. For the longer term, the organization is pursuing approvals for maintenance accreditation on Bermudian, Isle of Man, Pakistan, UAE and Saudi Arabian-registered aircraft.

Rizon Jets's new FBO in Doha will be formally opened in January 2011 and will have a direct accessible to the apron.

The current managed Rizon Jet fleet comprises one Global Express XRS, one Hawker 900XPs and two Challenger 605s, all operating on the Qatari Air Operating Permit (registered under A7). A significant development underway is the addition of an Airbus A319 (ACJ) to its managed fleet. Oryx Jet, Rizon Jet's UK affiliate, is managing further one Hawker 900XP and one Premier 1A. "Our customer wants a comfortable and spacious environment for his family and friends during his travels. The new Airbus ACJ ticks all the boxes for his requirements. Moving into the management of an Airbus Corporate Jetliner was both a natural and desirable step for us," said Rizon Jet CEO Patrick Enz.

In parallel with developments at Doha, Rizon Jet opened its brand new hangar at London Biggin Hill Airport at the end of August 2010. The MRO facility has been focusing on its maintenance capability with Rizon Jet now holding approvals for the Citation 560 Series, Hawker family 780, 800, 800XP, 850XP, 900XP and 1000, plus the Bombardier Challenger 600 series. It also provides support on wheels, tyres and batteries. Rizon Jet is also in talks with several OEMs to offer maintenance support on several aircraft types.

The two level FBO / VIP Terminal will be completed in April 2011 just ahead of EBACE next year. "Harmonzing and undertaking the shape and development of two, brand new, VIP FBOs simultaneously was, in hindsight, more ambitious than we first realized," acknowledged Enz. "Sourcing the right materials to do the work took longer than anticipated. However, the decisions we have taken to further enhance both FBOs and the consideration and attention we have put into choosing the right management and personnel means that our clients will experience a far more superior experience when Rizon formally opens next spring."

Rizon Jet's move to London Biggin Hill will see the group established in its new premises ahead of the 2012 Olympics, which the airport is placing a lot of emphasis on, addressing how it can provide capacity. "Hangar space in the south of England is in strong demand and we are getting strong interest in this, together with our third party maintenance capabilities," added Patrick Enz.

Supporting the continued strategy of providing a secure and safe service, the company has appointed UK headquartered, Control Risks, an independent specialist security and risk analysis consultancy, to assist their operations team. The international business, which has 37 offices on five continents, provides qualified advice that will shore up Rizon Jet's ability to manage unpredictable or hostile situations.

FMI: www.rizonjet.com