EBAN’s annual FBO survey is just months away now and the magazine has teamed up with Boutsen Aviation to provide one lucky entrant with two tickets to next year’s Monaco Grand Prix. All entrants have to do is rate three FBOs in categories ranging from customer service to technical capability, send back their entry card (included in this and next month’s issues of EBAN) and they’ll be entered into the free prize draw.

For the last two years, Universal at Stansted has been voted the number one FBO for Europe but many other facilities will be vying for the top spot. Execair Birmingham, Mallorcair, Service People and Rotterdam Jet Centre are just some of the names which have appeared in the top ten over the years and will surely be challenging once again.

Speaking from the company’s Monaco office, Boutsen Aviation founder and former racing driver Thierry Boutsen spoke of his most abiding memory of the Monaco Grand Prix. He said: “Monaco is the most fascinating, most challenging Grand Prix of the season. It is the only race happening ‘down town’, where we reach 300 kph between the walls at some places. I will always remember the days (1985-1986) when we were racing with 1200 BHP turbo engines in our 500 kg cars.”

Asked about the current fortunes of his business, Boutsen said: “We had no phone calls during the 10

days which followed September 11, but since then the activity has rebounded.

“Business has slowed down this year in general, prices have dropped, but we have managed to increase the number of aircraft sold this year so far, thanks to the hard work of all members of our team, their efficiency and focusing on their job.

“In my view, terrorism is something that authorities need to fight on the ground. I don't know any measure that could reduce the threat to business aviation, except extreme care from everybody for any

suspect movements.”

Since March 2001, Boutsen Aviation has also been acting as Piaggio’s exclusive dealer for its P180 for France, Monte Carlo and Belgium. Said Boutsen: “We have been working very hard on marketing the P180. People in France do not know the aircraft well enough yet but our main goal is to show the aircraft and its qualities. Of course, we have been hit by the economic slowdown, but have more and more requests for the aircraft, and do hope to finalise at least one sale this year.”