When Switzerland’s G5 Executive considered which midsize aircraft to add to its existing Gulfstream V, there were several options to hand but only one truly stood out. Manager and ceo Peter Fried had had previous good experience with Challenger 601s and also took a look at the Falcon 2000 but when Embraer came along with its Legacy business jet, Fried’s mind was soon made up.

Along with a chirpy gaggle of UK brokers, EBAN’s Richard Evans flew to Zurich to find out the finer details of a deal which will see G5 Executive become the first commercial operator of the Legacy in Europe. Said Fried: “The Legacy benefits from a whole new concept. Having double the size of comparable midsized jets and approximately three times the size of their baggage compartments, this aircraft is the ideal tool for executive charter, incentive travel, roadshows and concert tours.

“Thanks to its reasonable price, airline standard maintenance and reliability, we will be able to charter our Legacy approximately 20 per cent under the current market prices.”

G5 Executive will start operating the Legacy in the summer of 2002 and is also holding an option with US launch customer Swift Aviation, for another one in spring 2003. Asked about customer reaction to the aircraft so far (an experimental Legacy has already been displayed in London, Zurich and Dubai), Fried said: “The response has been very positive. We already have pre-contracts for more than 500 hours, before we’ve even started. Whether you buy or you charter, you’re going to get a lot of airplane for your money. That’s for sure.

“The only negative comments are that there is a little less headroom than in the GV. However, you cannot compare the GV with the Legacy and you cannot compare the flightplans – they are very different aircraft.” In addition to the standard charters G5 Executive is planning to offer with its new aircraft, the company will also offer customers the possibility of shuttle flights between odd locations. As concerns US travel, Fried said: “We do not expect to have the Legacy flying to the States too much because people do not like making a fuel stop. That’s why you wouldn’t gain anything from the 604 or Falcon 2000 – because, most of the time, you have to make a fuel stop with them as well. In any case, we can carry out nonstop flights with the V, unrestricted.”

It is only recently that G5 Executive has earned the right to fly, totally unrestricted, to and from the US and it believes it is one of few companies in Europe to entertain this privilege. Said Fried: “Immediately after the events of September 11, we decided to apply for an FAA Part 129 air carrier permit for the US.

“This will give us unrestricted access to the US for commercial operations. Since the tragedy in New York, most other commercial and all private operators have to apply for access every time they fly to the States.”

After clocking up 4,500 flight hours over three and a half years in the company’s GV, Fried says based on this successful operation, he has been pleased to place an order for the GV-SP and expects to be the first executive charter operator of the new aircraft in Europe.

In respect of the GV-SP’s interior configuration, Fried said: “The cabin layout of our new aircraft will be similar to the one in the GV. The new single seats will offer a better sleeping comfort. The galley and the crew rest area will be larger and the multimedia equipment of the cabin will be brought up to the latest technological standards. Depending on the situation on the charter market, we will either continue operating our current GV or sell it.”