Germany's DC Aviation is giving special priority to the expansion of its fleet of Gulfstreams with a new G450 just delivered and more ordered for 2009. "We charter Gulfstreams to business and private customers alike," says sales director Jonas Kraft. "Our clientele appreciates the uncompromising comfort. It is for this reason that we will be continuing to expand these fleet types."

The Stuttgart company is currently operating a total of 31 jets ranging from the Learjet to the A319 CJ. The range of aircraft includes two G550s, a G450 and a G150. "The G450/G550 segment is powerful with its very spacious and luxurious cabin and an attractive cruising range for long haul flights." Kraft says.

He points out that, with a cruising range of 4,350 n.m., the G450 can carry up to 16 passengers non-stop from Berlin to Washington D.C. or from London to Dubai. "In the case of the G-550 the cruising range of 6,750 n.m. even the Paris-Beijing flight is possible non-stop - with the same equipment."

Kraft says the luxuriously furnished cabins are divided into three private areas and offer amenities such as a full galley for treating passengers to gourmet delicacies and numerous entertainment systems such as satellite telephone, personal monitors and CD/DVD players "so there is no risk of boredom."

The conference area and two comfortable divans are complemented by six comfortable full-size sleeping berths. In addition, Kraft says, the pilots enjoy external cameras, an enhanced vision system (EVS) and "planeview-cockpit."

However the expansion of the fleet by the former DaimlerChrysler spin-off company is not restricted to Gulfstreams, as reported in EBAN June. Kraft says: "In the next few months alone we are expecting another G550, three more A319 CJs, a Challenger 850, our seventh Legacy 600 and the fifth Learjet 40/45", says md Stefan Buschle.

DC Aviation, formed by the merger of Cirrus Aviation and the former DaimlerChrysler Aviation, provides aircraft chartering, operation and maintenance of business jets. It employs over 380 and operates a fleet of aircraft that has an average age of 2.44 years.