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L-R: David Lawlor, Head of Projects and Corporate
Finance, GI Global Ideas; Yousif Al Hammadi, Director Security & Government
Affairs, GI Aviation; Marios T. Belidis, General Manager, GI Aviation; Matti
Auterinen, Chairman, Hendell Aviation; Mikael Lees, CEO, Hendell Aviation
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GI Aviation’s pledge to bring a more affordable private
air charter service to the Gulf Region has been realised. At the MEBAA Show in
Dubai, the company announced it has obtained its Air Operator’s Certificate
[AOC] from the GCAA (UAE General Civil Aviation Authority), enabling the start
of commercial flights with its fleet of Pilatus PC-12NG aircraft.
“We are delighted to obtain this approval from the GCAA.
Our team have been working hard this past year to deliver a brand new entry
level service for business aviation in this region, which has until now been
dominated by larger business jets. We
have received significant interest from a number of parties who are keen to fly
with us. We are focused on the value proposition we offer our clients” said Her
Excellency Hafsa Al Ulama, Managing Director of GI Aviation’s parent company,
Global Ideas.
GI Aviation accepted its first eight-seat PC-12NG aircraft
this spring. Featuring a spacious BMW
DesignWorks interior, it will be the first aircraft of this type to
commercially operate in the GCC region, bringing with it unique operating
characteristics inherent to the PC-12NG. This includes the capability to take
off and land on short runways typical of remote locations or islands as well as
the ability to access paved and unpaved airstrips. The aircraft’s impressive
versatility will enable GI Aviation to serve leisure, corporate or medevac
charters flying on journeys of up to four hours with a range of 2,000km. GI Aviation will take delivery of its second
PC-12NG aircraft in January 2017.
In obtaining the GCAA AOC, GI Aviation is pleased to
endorse the work carried out by Hendell Aviation of Finland whose consultancy
services were instrumental in helping obtain the AOC.
Matti Auterinen, Chairman of Hendell, congratulated GI
Aviation: “We have been preparing the ground work for the first PC-12NG
commercial operation in the Middle East since Q3 2015, calling on our own
experience as the first commercial operator in Europe with this type of
aircraft since 2013. The GCAA regulations and requirements closely followed
EASA with key differences adapted for the UAE and the region. However, the
overall compliance environment toward CAT SE-IMC is similar. The very
professional framework established in the UAE by the authority is strict, but
fair. We are very proud to have been able (for the second time) to participate
in the ongoing development of what is a very exciting sector in business
aviation,” Matti said.
Mohammed Al Katheeri, Acting Chief Operations Officer of
Abu Dhabi Airports, said: “We welcome GI Aviation to Al Bateen Executive
Airport and wish them well with their new venture. By bringing affordable,
flexible charter options to the market, they open up private aviation to a
whole new demographic. We are pleased to be able to help GI Aviation along the
road to success and look forward to working with them.”
GI Aviation has extensively researched the market and
identified a need for charter services on popular city pair routes currently
flown by some legacy carriers on scheduled services. “At GI Aviation, we are
able to serve all the major business and capital cities within the GCC and
surrounding region and will also serve popular resort destinations like Sir
Bani Yas, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah,” said Marios Belidis, General Manager of
GI Aviation. “We will provide an exemplary charter service to both the existing
charter market and to the executive first / business class traveller looking
for an entry into the charter market. We will, on certain short distance city
pairs, serve as a real alternative to flying first / business class. Our focus
is to ensure that we provide a time and cost effective service which is
responsive to clients’ itineraries and requirements, while maintaining the
highest standards of quality and safety in our operation. We are delighted to
be pioneering a convenient and efficient way of flying for the region and will
be taking bookings before the end of 2016.”
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