Lisbon-based charterer Heliavia Transporte Aereo has bought a Falcon 50EX for the purposes of both business and medical evacuation. EBAN spoke to company president Hipolito Pires about his choice of aircraft.

Pires said: "We chose this aircraft because it is the best in its class and also because it does not have ETOPS limitation.

"We fly regularly with this aircraft to Europe, the USA, Africa and carry out some flights to Asia. The furthest we could fly in the Falcon 50EX would be Lisbon-New York or Lisbon-Eastern Europe."

With regard to the client's use of the aircraft, Heliavia says that 80 per cent fly for business purposes and 20 per cent fly for pleasure.

Besides the Falcon 50EX, Heliavia operates a Falcon 900C, a Falcon 50 and Falcon 20.

Said Pires: "We are considering the option of trading in the Falcon 20 for a Citation Excel."

One of the companies of the giant Hipogest group, Heliavia presented in 1999 chiffres d'affaires in excess of 70 billion Escudos (around US$318 million).