UK-based Raytheon dealer NAC Aviation is about to deliver its latest sale, a Premier I. Sales broker Brian Jones said: “This aircraft will go to a private individual who’s going to base it at Farnborough airport. He’s a pilot-owner who has progressed over the last three years from purchasing a single piston, a new King Air and now the Premier I.

“We also helped in the sale of his King Air, so the whole process flowed very well. I actually supplied the King Air in the first place and it’s staying in Europe, which is good because they usually go back to the US.”

NAC sells both new and used Raytheon aircraft, Jones said: “Following Christmas, business has certainly been quieter than expected. Normally the run-up is quite busy and then there is a lull from just before Christmas through to the middle of January, while people are on an extended break.

“What we saw this year was a lull from earlier than Christmas to the back-end of January, before we had some enquiries coming through. Now, although interest levels are increasing for all products, the attitude is that no one will make a firm commitment because they think prices will fall further.”

He added: “In this current market I think the Premier I is certainly one of the easier Raytheon products to sell. Over the last couple of years light jets have become far more popular with owner-pilots, as the choice being offered by manufacturers increases. Raytheon didn’t have a real stopgap between the turbo props and the Beechjet (which is a two-crew operation), whereas Cessna had the CJ series, which they do very well on. But now the Premier I has come along, perfectly priced at $5.75 million, offering a very fast, single-pilot certified, comfortable jet, which is ideal for European operations.”

The sales broker explained: “The Premier I mainly appeals to the pilot-owner rather than the charter operator and is ideal for fast 1,000 nautical mile sectors. When people come in to look at the Premier,

they’re generally going to look at the CJ2 as a comparison.

“I tell them honestly that both aircraft are good – but it depends upon what type of mission you want to do. The Premier I fits the bill for those who want cabin comfort and speed, whereas those who want to fly into shorter airfields are better off with the Citation.

“What we have found is that people who buy into the Raytheon range tend to stick with it because there are so many aircraft to step up with. If your goal is to stay sitting at the front-end and you’re not flying too much, then the Premier is probably the aircraft to settle with. Stepping up would mean needing a second pilot due to the complexities of licensing issues with the larger aircraft.”

NAC is part of a market which has suffered considerably over the last 12 months. “When we talk to customers it seems that they fall into two different categories.

“There are those who work in industries that have suffered from a fall in stockmarket values, so they don’t have the confidence to make the sort of capital investment that an aircraft requires. Those with the funds are just sitting back and waiting, because they believe they can make the buy of the century,” he said.

The company is now preparing to give the Premier I a big marketing push over the next year. Jones added: “This is a new product which is now really starting to establish itself. There is a growing confidence for it amongst customers and we can now deliver aircraft to people within 12 months of ordering.”