In this year’s review of air charter in France, the vast majority of the operators have expressed optimism for the future – although one operator is unsure whether his company will exist at all in three months time. Five of the 15 companies surveyed are planning to add aircraft – ranging from the Airbus A319CJ to the R22 helicopter.

Our review begins at Paris Le Bourget Airport where Aero Services Executive is introducing an Airbus A319 CJ expected to be delivered in June 2001. The 29-seat aircraft joins a fleet comprising three Falcon 10s, two King Air 200s, three Falcon 50s, two Falcon 20s, one Falcon 900B and one Falcon 900EX.

Jean Rabourdin, marketing manager, believes that having a fleet with a range of six to 29-seat aircraft is important for a successful business.

The company operates corporate, medevac, and cargo flights. Aero Services has FBO, hangar and

private terminal facilities at its Le Bourget base.

“Thanks to the good health of the French economy business aviation will grow in France in the coming year,” Rabourdin told EBAN.

No new facilities or aircraft are planned for the future. Rabourdin is expecting the company to increase its flying hours in the future having seen an increase last year.

Avialim uses one King Air C90 for taxi, cargo and medevac flights – freight represents its major

activity. The company has office and hangar facilities at Limoges Bellegarde Airport.

“Business Aviation will grow because of the good health of the French economy”

Managing director Jean Philippe Blondeau said: “Business success comes from good partnerships with other companies which take benefit of our excellent location.”

To maximise Avialim’s growth and develop the company further is Blondeau’s vision for the future. The company experienced a 20 per cent increase in flying hours last year and Blondeau expects these increases to continue.

TAG Aviation is expecting to add a Falcon 2000 and a Global Express at its Le Bourget base. These aircraft will join a fleet consisting of two Falcon 900EXs, Two Falcon 2000s, three Learjet 35s, three Learjet 45s, two Learjet 31As, two Falcon 20-55s, one Challenger SE, one Citation II and one Citation Excel.

TAG’s focus is on corporate and business flights. Manager for France and Belgium Tourvielle de Labroullé said: “Owning our fleet allows us to provide our clients with an immediate response as well as direct control over all aspects of safety, service and quality.”

Talking about performance Labroullé said: “2000 was a very good year in France and 2001 has

been good so far. Our passengers want quality.”

When asked about recent interesting customers, Laboullé was unable to comment, he said: “Sorry but it is difficult – our customers make a choice in TAG Aviation for our confidentiality.”

Helitime is a taxi and photo helicopter operator using two AB 206 Bs and one Robinson R 22. Based at Deauville, chief pilot Gerard Bouin highlights service and security as most important to business success. He is unsure whether business aviation in France will grow in the coming year but does forcast Helitime’s flying hours to increase in that period.

Aquitaine Helicopteres is looking to buy one R22 and one R44 in the future to accompany its existing S350 B and Bell 206 B3. The corporate and photo operator has bases both in the Pyrenees and in Bordeaux.

The company reports that it has no facilities at its base nor plans to provide any in the near future.

He predicts that Aquitaine Helicopteres and business aviation in France will perform positively in the coming year.

“Owning our fleet allows us to provide clients with an immediate resonse”

Alasair’s manager J. M. Joubert is expecting his company to buy a B 1900 in the future – its fleet currently comprises one BE 90, one BE 20, one BE 1900 and one C550. Alasair possesses operations facilities at its Colomar Airport base and carries out taxi and charter flights with quotations given on request. Like many other French operators Joubert believes business will grow during the coming twelve months – he highlights good circumstances in his home country as a major influence.

Group Bories Aerien is hoping to increase its ambulance activity. The company also carries out all aerial works and has a flight training school. Its operating bases are situated at Aérodrome de Pont-sur-Yonne and Aérodrome de Montpellier.

The company’s large fleet is made up with six Bell 47s, five Allouette IIs, one Allouette III, one Hughes 500D, three AS 355s, two Cessna 188s, three Grumman AgCat 164s, and one Socata ST10 Diplomate.

Manager Jean Bories thinks that regulations are the most important factor influencing his business. He also foresees a positive future.

“NAT Executive is planning to offer handling facilities for business aircraft at Nancy”

Air Provence International provides express air freight with two HS 748s and is based at Marseilles-Provence.

N.A.T. Executive has bases at Nancy and Le Bourget where it has offices. The company is planning to offer handling facilities for business aircraft at Nancy in the near future.

One B200 is employed for corporate, taxi, medevac and freight operations.

Helijet is based at Chambery Airport in south east France where, it reports, facilities to enable connections with winter ski resorts are being planned.

The company’s Raymond Prevot credits its success to customers travelling to winter resorts. Helijet uses one PA31T, one AS350 B2, one SA348 J, one R44 and one R22 to provide corporate, taxi, photo and pilot school services.

Transport Air is planning new facilities in July this year. The company already has office facilities at its Avignon Airport base where it provides corporate, medevac, taxi, fret and school services using one Piper Cheyenne II and one Beech 90.

A larger aircraft and school are also on Transport Air’s agenda. Pilot Yann Grodé believes that the additional aircraft along with commercial relations will boost business which has been increasing over the past year.

Dijon-based Air Bor is looking to increase its fleet with the purchase of a Piper Cheyenne III to accompany its existing two Beech 90s and one Piper Cheyenne II.

The taxi operator has a maintenance unit and aviation school at its base and has no immediate plans to expand on these.

Commercial director Christian Michelot said: “Organisation in operations, cheap aircraft, pilots who know the job very well and a positive economic trend are what provide success.”

Michelot reports that Air Bor’s flying hours increased by 35 per cent last year, he also thinks this will increase in the coming year.

Michelot recalled for EBAN the recent rescue of a tired customer: “A French minister came to us having missed her train becuase she had overslept.”

SAF Helicopteres covers an extensive range of operations which includes mountain rescue, sporting events assistance, fire fighting, mapping, electrical lines surveys, as well as corporate, taxi, medevac and photo operations.

Its services are provided by a large fleet comprising one Bell 206, one Bell 407, one Bell 214, two SA 316Bs, three SA 315Bs, one AS 350BA, one AS 350 B2, one AS 350 B2, two AS 355 F1s, two AS 355 Ns.

SAF is based in Albertville with main operating bases in Courchevel, Gap, Annecy and Huez. At both Albertville and Courchevel the company boasts maintenance, fuel service and ground handling facilities.

EBAN asked president Eric Fraissinet what affects business performance, he said: “Unfortunately weather conditions, but also general economic recovery and the marketing capabilities of the company.”

Fraissinet’s plans for the future are to expand internationally, he says that the company may also be planning new facilities.

Dassault Falcon Service operates four Falcon 50s, three Falcon 900s and one Falcon 2000. Based at Le Bourget airport, it offers mostly corporate services and provides FBO, handling, pilots’ lounge, pax lounge, meeting rooms and hangar facilities.

Communications manager Severine Roux told EBAN that the company is planning to refurbish most of its aircraft with an aim to optimise its FBO services and fleet.

Roux is sure that French business aviation is growing and identifies the global economic situation, fuel prices, pilot recruitment and training, and customer loyalty as essential areas of importance.

In EBAN’s last French regional review, carried out in December 1999, Air Gama was hoping to buy a Citation Excel before 2002. The company’s situation has changed since then and it is currently not making plans for the future. Reports Fabienne Jubert: “Our chief pilot is leaving the company and we don’t know what will happen.” Managing director and chief pilot Jean-Maurice Jubert is departing Air Gama in August this year and the company is waiting to make a decision on its future.

Fabienne Jubert continued: “ We don’t know if he is going to be replaced or not, if no one can take the job then we will probably sell the aircraft and Air Gama will no longer exist.” \r

The taxi and medevac operator uses one C550 and is based at Toulose-Blagnac airport where it has a private terminal.

Jubert does not forecast business aviation growth in France because of heavy paperwork related to European and French regulations. She is expecting steady numbers of flying hours over the next year.

Amongst the company’s more glamorous recent customers was super model Claudia Schieffer.