Jordan's private aviation development takes a step forward this summer as a cadre of national pilots begin duty on RayaJet's latest addition to its fleet. Two captains and two co-pilots purpose-trained by instructor and veteran pilot Capt. Carlos Perez will qualify to be among the first to fly the Citation CE650 in Jordan.

Perez, whose aviation career spans more than 33 years, is bringing his long experience on aircraft ranging from 707s, 727s and 737s to DC3s and DC4s to bear on developing Jordanian aviation talent. The father-of-four has flown Arab businessmen into and out of Iraq on the CE650 but plays down the danger. "You follow the correct procedure, spiral down and take landing instructions," he says. "The vips disembark and you spiral up and out returning as agreed. From the base in Jordan it is 25 minutes in and 25 minutes out."

Perez, who had to get a special release form signed by his father when he joined the Peruvian Air Force aged 16, is now a aged 49 and enjoying his latest post in the Middle East. He left the military in 1978 and flew for a number of civilian airlines as he progressed his flying and training experience, but Jordan, he says, still provides something very different.

"I didn't know what to expect when I took up my initial contract," Perez says, "but it has been a very good experience for me. I very much enjoy Jordan - I didn't really appreciate what hospitality meant before living here. The cabin service is wonderful - for the pilot as well as the vips. I am having to watch my weight because the onboard food is so hard to resist."

Perez predicts that Jordan's private aviation sector in general, and RayaJet business in particular, will take off in the next few years. "RayaJet are doing everything right from the training and purchase of aircraft to the development of facilities - and providing traditional hospitality in the air."

A private jet pilot in Jordan, trained to at least the Part 135 standard or equivalent, can expect variety. In just a few weeks Perez has flown to destinations including Abu Dhabi, Egypt, Cairo, Beirut, Vilnius in Lithuania, Nice for the movie festival and Algiers.

RayaJet's pilots' training is focused to take into account Jordan's accommodation of European standards to facilitate its aviation sector's international development. The four Jordanian pilots have already undertaken detailed training in the United States and Perez is ensuring that they receive their full quota of practical experience before they become two of RayaJet's crews.

RayaJet, based at Marka, plans to accommodate short, medium and long range client point-to-point preferences by adding to its CE650 and Challenger 601. Company chairman Nader Dajani says: "We have a strong and focused business plan with an integrated approach to aircraft, facilities and training. We are determined to acquire the best aircraft and continue to attract the best pilots. Jordanian pilots are rated among the best in the region and fly for many of the world's leading airlines after graduating from the Royal Jordanian Air Academy or other Civil Aviation Regulatory Commission-approved training schools."

Dajani established RayaJet in October 2005 with a regional office in Amman. The launch aircraft was his own Challenger 601 which was placed under the management of EJME Dubai while a Jordanian AOC was obtained.

RayaJet attracted growing business so Dajani acquired the CE650 and pursued the acquisition of longer range aircraft with the capability to serve routes between Dubai and the U.K. and destinations further afield including the U.S. "Jordan's strategic location, its economic upturn and its tourist attractions underpin the growing demand for private jets," Dajani says. "We believe it is necessary to build a larger fleet of new and pre-owned aircraft."

Managing director Capt. Ramzi Matalqa, an aeronautical engineer and a previous captain of Royal Jordanian with more than 25,000 hours flying experience built up over 40 years, says RayaJet is ready to expand into a regional market hungry for safe operations and high standards of maintenance and service.