Corporate jet makers woo high fliers

New Delhi: Private jet manufacturers, aircraft maintenance firms, private oil companies and airport operators, are setting up dedicated Fixed Base Operations (FBO) for the first time in the country to tap this growing market.
FBOs offer private jet owners one-stop service not only for repairs, maintenance, hangarage and re-fueling, but also facilitate getting security and flight clearances, flight planning, custom clearances while flying in and out of the country. That, apart from other value-added services like car rentals, charters, private lounge, and gourmet meals.
What it means for the busy country or city-hopping corporate head-honcho is that he has a private enclosure of his own in the airport with exclusive walk through facilities.
To start with, aircraft manufacturers want to collaborate with maintenance and repair companies to offer FBO services in the country. Aviation analysts note that the profile of the private jet owner in India has changed over the last couple of years. Till a few years back, a typical private aircraft owner with a small turbo-prop airplane would largely fly to remote manufacturing sites within the country.
State governments too were among keen users of such aircraft for VVIP travel. However today’s corporate chieftains now want to traverse countries, if not continents.
31/01/07 Sudipto Dey/Economic Times

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