FlyingGroup has launched its aircraft management division in France with a Falcon 50. Marketing and PR director Ben Paindavin says that the company's ambitions to develop business in France are proceeding well.

"Our big FBO development at Paris Le Bourget should be completed in time for the Paris Air Show next summer and that should provide another landmark for our growth in France," he adds. The Paris Air Show celebrates its centenary at Le Bourget from 15-21 June 2009.

The Belgium-headquartered group operates three of its current 20 aircraft from either Le Bourget or Cannes Mandelieu. As well as the Falcon 50, which is configured for nine passengers, it offers a Citation Bravo and a Citation Excel.

The Falcon 50 is being managed for the French division of an international company. "There are good prospects for the managed aircraft sector in France and we are very pleased to have attracted such a good model to start our fleet." Paindavin adds: "Obviously it will take time to build our services in France to the same level that we have achieved in Belgium in the many years that we have operated there. But we have made a strong start in France and we are building on this."

In Belgium he reports rising international demand for a recently refurbished Citation Jet configured for five passengers and based at Antwerp. The FlyingGroup fleet also includes a Citation Bravo configured for eight passengers; a CJ3 (seven); Citation Excel (eight); Citation XLS (eight); Challenger 604 (12); Falcon 2000 EX EASy (ten); and Falcon 900 DX (14).

FlyingGroup, which has a further 13 aircraft on order, offers aircraft management, shared ownership, aviation consultancy, and maintenance and ground handling at its Paris FBO. It has also developed its own Flying Card formula.