Aero-Dienst has taken delivery of a Citation CJ4, expanding its total fleet to 12. The aircraft can accommodate up to seven passengers and will run commercial operations on Aero-Dienst's AOC from its new base at Giebelstadt business airport.

Already operational from Nuremberg, both Munich airports and Düsseldorf, the company's new base is located in the heart of Mainfranken, the gateway to the tourism region known as Franconian wine country, and it has excellent connections to the scientific and business region of Würzburg.

Aero-Dienst says it is offering fast, easy check-in and a full service handling for crew and passengers, describing it as “just the perfect airport for business aviation.”

Besides Learjet 45XR/60, Phenom 300, Falcon 900EX EASy and 7X types the company used a CJ3 previously but is now benefitting from the superior speed and range offered by the latest acquisition, which is the next step up, according to aircraft management supervisor Andreas Strabel: “We have had the aircraft since 1st May and it is very reliable. We have performed lots of hours already and we did a lot of long range flights and there have been no problems up to now.”

Strabel points out the new features aside from the range and speed upgrade: “The CJ4 has a swept wing design and the outward appearance is nice. It's a little bit more dynamic than the CJ3. The engines are efficient and it has a bright cabin. Avionics for the pilots are great and there are also data link possibilities. It is very state-of-the-art and has a huge baggage compartment.

“We have a cabin layout of seven passengers with the side-facing seat close to the entrance door and in exceptions we have adapted the lavatory seat so we can fit eight passengers. A typical mission though is three to four or even five passengers.”

Strabel also states that Aero-Dienst is always on the look out for new managed fleet additions from companies that fit with its philosophy: “Our customer base is huge family-owned companies and blue chip companies, so our aircraft are really business tools. We are always looking to expand our activities at these locations and add more locations in the southern and western parts of Germany.

“We are not really in the broker business; our approach is to build up long-term relationships with mostly German companies, and start with them on a single charter flight. Then, after years and once they know the advantages of business jets, they sometimes decide to buy their own jet and then we offer the complete package. We have the service centre here in Nuremberg, for almost all major jet manufacturers. This is our strategy.

“But we do expand at the rate of one aircraft per year, something like that. It's not a huge expansion like other companies, but it is a solid operation nonetheless.”