Press Release

Issued by Beechcraft Textron Aviation.

May 13, 2012

Hawker Beechcraft Corporation (HBC), the world-leading manufacturer of business, special mission, light attack and trainer aircraft, today announced Malta-based flight operator Orion-Malta has ordered a Hawker 4000 jet to meet the growing demand for charter services from business owners across the EMEA region.

Orion-Malta will be adding the Hawker 4000 – the world's most advanced super-midsize jet – to its Luqa-based Air Operators Certificate; the aircraft will complement Orion-Malta's current fleet that includes a Hawker 900XP. Hawker Beechcraft has both a Hawker 4000 and Hawker 900XP on display at this week's European Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition (EBACE) in Geneva.

"We are delighted that the Hawker 4000 is Orion-Malta's aircraft of choice to support its growing charter offering across Europe," said Sean McGeough, HBC president, Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific. "This purchase reflects our positive outlook on what we view as an important region in Europe and this deal demonstrates that we are ideally positioned to capitalize on the new opportunities arising in the area."

Orion-Malta Director Boris Ioffe added: "Our customers expect the best service from us, which is why we selected the Hawker 4000 from a range of aircraft available to us. The Hawker 4000 stood out due to its exceptional cabin comfort, storage facilities, additional range and unrivalled technology. Another key factor in our decision was the global support service provided by Hawker Beechcraft, which we are sure will give our customers the peace of mind to enjoy their flight, wherever their destination."

HBC sees Malta as a key growth market within Europe for a number of reasons: firstly, its geography allows for swift business travel to mainland Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. Malta also boasts some of Europe's lowest initial and recurrent fees associated with business jet operation. Lastly, its membership in the EU means that jets registered here have freedom of movement within the other constituent states. This, coupled with its residency laws, makes it the perfect base for non-EU buyers to register their planes, and HBC expects a growing number of non-EU citizens to take advantage of Malta's unique proposition for business travellers.

The Hawker 4000 is the flagship of the Hawker line: the composite fuselage Hawker 4000 sets the standard for quality, performance and value in the super-midsize business jet class. With a 3,280 nautical mile non-stop range and cruise speeds up to Mach 0.84, it features a sophisticated composite fuselage, all metal supercritical wing, powerful Pratt & Whitney Canada FADEC-controlled engines and state-of-the-art Honeywell Primus EPIC avionics.