Homac Aviation is preparing to launch itself into the European business charter market. The company already owns a Cessna Citation Bravo and placed a firm order to acquire a second, brand-new Citation Bravo, which will join the fleet in August 2006.

In addition to business charter, Homac offers its services to operate and manage aircraft for various owners. The firm is expecting to receive its EASA approved AOC by the end of January.

As Homac Group has experience in managing a Fokker F28 for a big oil company for five years, it has experience in operating large aircraft worldwide and is expecting to have two mid-size or large business aircraft under management by the end of this year.

"We have chosen the Citation Bravo for the start of operation because it has perfectly proven over the years, that it is a reliable aircraft and a perfect fit to the market we intend to work in, which is Europe and northern Africa," said md Jan-Eric Putze. Homac anticipates that half of its flights will be booked through direct clients and through brokers.

The Bravo will enable the company to transport four passengers more than 1,600 miles non-stop. The aircraft can climb directly to FL410 and has a 45,000 foot operating altitude.

Homac Aviation's home base is Luxembourg, from where the operation is managed. Homac Aviation chose to centralise its business in Luxembourg - a country with very few charter operators - for a number of reasons, says Putze. There are no import taxes on purchases of new or pre-owned aircraft; no tax on aircraft fuel or equipment related to the aircraft; no annual registration fees; and the firm's employees enjoy a good social system and compatible charges on social security.

The Bravo is presently based in Friedrichshafen, Germany, where Homac is the major share holder of AIRplus maintenance, an EASA Part 145 maintenance organisation which maintains the company's aircraft. "Friedrichshafen, located in the centre of Europe, is the ideal base as it is the best gateway to the markets we intend to serve."

Homac Aviation S.A. was founded in 1995 as a parent company of Homac Aviation Services in Switzerland to operate aircraft on wet lease bases for other operators and to provide technical and operational support to aircraft operators.

With the introduction of its new managing director, Jan-Eric Putze, the company has begun gearing up to enter the business aviation charter market in earnest. "Being a manager for Deutsche Bank for several years before and holding a valid ATP licence, I am a perfect match to meet the company needs".

Paul Hoegen, ceo of Homac

Group, believes that Putze's administrational experience, combined with his skills and knowledge of aviation, will enable him to successfully sustain and expand the business of Homac Aviation.