Press Release

Issued by DC Aviation.

November 10, 2011

DC Aviation, Germany's leading operator of business jets, has received the ETOPS 180 certification from the German Federal Aviation Office (Luftfahrt-Bundesamt/LBA) for the Airbus A319CJ VVIP fleet. Beginning immediately, the machines can be used on routes where the next airport is up to 180 minutes away.

DC Aviation has obtained an updated approval from the German Federal Aviation Office (Luftfahrt-Bundesamt/LBA) for expanded air traffic operation – the Extended-range Twin-engine Operation Performance Standards (ETOPS): As of now, the A319CJ VVIP fleet – currently consisting of three airplanes – can also fly on routes on which the nearest airport at every point in the route can be reached in up to 180 minutes. Previously, only a range of 120 minutes was allowed. This makes destinations like, for example, Hawaii possible.

On a long-distance flight from London to Barbados, for example, the flight time is shorted by an hour, since a more direct route can be flown. Kerosene consumption thereby also drops by two tons. The approval was preceded by a thorough testing procedure through the LBA: The air traffic authority examined all relevant documents of the business from the past five years – from airplane and engine records to safety information and other operative data. Also, the education level of the flying and technical personnel must meet special criteria.

Further, the 180 minute rule also applies to most of the other business jets of DC Aviation.