Press Release
Issued by Deutsche Aircraft.
May 21, 2007
328 Support Services GmbH (328 SSG) rolled out Dornier 328 jet Serial No. 3181 from its Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany facilities this weekend. Fitted out with a 14-seat luxury 'Envoy' interior, the aircraft will fly direct to Geneva to feature on the static display of EBACE, Europe's premier aviation show during May 21-24. A formal handover to MIKADO CAPITAL Ltd's Chairman Jon Thor Hjaltason is planned for the afternoon of Tuesday 22 May at 2.30 pm on the Static Display at the Show.
The owners of Mikado Capital Ltd are also the owners of Icelandic executive charter company IceJet, which is also making its debut at EBACE (Stand No 246). Reykavik-based IceJet introduced its first 14-seat Envoy to service at the end of November, together with a newly refurbished 19-seat corporate shuttle Dornier 328, (Serial No 3220 and 3147) both modified throughout by 328 SSG.
328 Support Services is working to complete two further 328s for MIKADO (Serial Numbers 3149 and 3161) by July. The last aircraft, which has already been sold, will feature the addition of long range fuel tanks, enabling a 2,000 nm range. The option to fit these tanks is only available from 328 SSG and can either be fitted as part of the conversion, or as a retrofit solution.
"We are getting an increasing number of requests for the 328 Jet in executive/VIP role especially when fitted with long range tanks," said 328 SSG new Chief Executive Officer, Dave Jackson. "The aircraft is really coming into its own for corporate aviation use. There really is nothing else in its category that offers such a generous cabin, rugged characteristics and short take-off and landing (STOL) performance. "We are currently responding to requests for interior conversions from a number of new customers for up to 10 further aircraft," he said. In response, the company is working on offering five possible cabin layouts, as well as the current 'Envoy' layout.
328 Support acquires ex Gandalf 328 jet
So confident is it on the demand, 328 Support has just acquired a secondhand low-time 328 Jet (Serial No 3134) which was previously flying with Gandalf Airlines in Italy. It has already placed the aircraft with a UK client and will convert the aircraft to the client's layout interior and apply long range tanks to the aircraft. With the addition of long range tanks, this will enable the aircraft to fly direct as far as Russia or into the Middle East from most European capitals. 328 SSG is also working on the refurbishment of 328 Jet Serial No 3206 and Serial No 3221, one of the last production aircraft.
New CEO for 328 Support Services GmbH
Dave Jackson succeeded Wolfgang Walter as CEO of 328 Support Services GmbH in February 07, adding to his responsibilities as CEO of its sister company, the business and regional aircraft maintenance specialist, Jet Engineering Technical Support Ltd (JETS). Dave Jackson has worked in Senior Customer Support and MRO roles with Field Aircraft Plc, Lucas (now Goodrich), Aviall and the Anglo Normandy/Aurigny Group. Prior to joining JETS in summer 2006, he headed up European Automotive Operations at Exide Technologies. He has customer experience with major OEMs such as Rolls Royce and Airbus through to major airlines such as Air France and American Airlines.
328 Support Services GmbH complements JETS' mainstay maintenance activities on the 328 jet and turboprop family. Earlier this year, it completed checks for Air Alps and modification work for Tyrolean Jet Services and is now looking to grow these maintenance activities to complement the VIP conversions.
With the 328 Jet's popularity increasing, Jackson expects to see up to 180 of the 211 aircraft ever built flying flying by 2008.
At EBACE last year, MIKADO CAPITAL Ltd agreed to take four previously stored 328 Jets, which originally saw service with Atlantic Coast Airlines, USA to place into the marketplace. "There is no shortage of interest," says Director Gunnar Thorvaldsson. "The 328 is the Mercedes of the air and our customers at IceJet love it," he enthused.
