Cirrus Aviation has outlined its plan to replace its existing fleet with Bombardier aircraft, having purchased a second brand new Learjet 40 at EBACE. The deal comes five months after the company took delivery of Europe’s first Lear 40.

Managing director Gerd Brandecker told EBAN: “Since we started operating the Lear 40, a lot of additional customers are approaching our company and a lot of clients are moving away from the Lear 55 or Lear 60, so sometimes it’s sufficient to have a Lear 40.

”It’s a little bit more expensive and we don’t have as much experience with the Learjets but at the moment reliability is 100 per cent,” Brandecker added.

“The aircraft has really surpassed our highest expectations, combining great range for six passengers with cabin comfort that’s above the standard for this category of jets.

“Since we started flying in February, customer feedback about our first Learjet 40 has been overwhelmingly positive. The aircraft has proven to be ideal for our charter fleet so it makes good sense to add a second jet.”

The new aircraft will have exactly the same interior and black livery as the company’s other Lear 40

but, in response to clients’ demands, it will also have an Airshow system on board.

“Experienced customers are asking for Learjets and Challengers as they are strong, fast aeroplanes and they give the customers a feeling of safety,” said Brandecker. “Speed is very important – if you are on, for example, a two and a half hour leg with 50 knots of headwind, its good to have an aeroplane which is able to fly at 470 knots.

“If you have a Citation, for example, with 420 knots, the ground speed is 350 knots. That will cost you another 30 minutes and business customers are always impatient!”

The current Lear 40 in Cirrus’ fleet has proved popular with clients; the average utilisation is 1.5 hours per leg and, since operating the plane, it has accrued about 60 hours of charter flight per month.

The company, based in Saarbrücken, Germany, is expecting delivery of the Lear 40 in December and is hoping to increase the total number of Bombardier aircraft in its fleet to 15 by the end of the year.

“We decided to stay with Bombardier; our intention is to sell the Citations and just operate and maintain Bombardier products as we would like to stay with one family,” said Brandecker.

“We are very happy with the Citations but it’s much easier for us to stay with one product.”