Interview with Umberto Valino

Business aviation: new challenges

Golf Méditerranée: What are advantages about Business Aviation?

Umberto Valino:

G.M.: How is market for business aviation developing and are new products are available?

U.V.:

G.M.: In what are Very Light Jets different from the remainder of the market?

U.V.:

G.M.: Taking into account the apparent democratization, what about the high traffic in the sky and safety withthe arrival of Very Light Jets?

U.V.:

Interview with Olivier Darfour

The Cannes - Mandelieu airport: strategically located

Anchored between the city of Cannes, famous for its film festival, and the city famous for its mimosa, the Cannes-Mandelieu airport has a geographical setting perfectly adapted for business aviation. A perfect occasion to talk about it with Mr. Olivier Dufour, Director of the airport.

Which thought process lead you to adapt the airport for business aviation?

The worldwide development, the large economic market of our region with a larger Europe and customers from the Middle-East increasingly present, the increase in business travel pushed the high contribution customers of the traditional airline companies towards the most effective solution for business, the business aircraft. A need was created for the decision makers who looked to saving time and discretion.

At what point are we today on the Riviera?

With 36,000 movements in 2006, the airports of Nice and Cannes- Mandelieu occupy the fifth European position preceded by Paris- Le Bourget, Milan, London and Geneva. Each airport which is managed by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry has its specificity with regards to traffic. Nice airport is aimed at fast rotation and planes of more than 2 tons which do not have access to Cannes- Mandelieu for environmental reasons. Cannes-Mandelieu airport which recorded nearly 12,000 business movements last year has positioned itself for welcoming services and infrastructures for aeronautical companies and plane owners wishing to locate their activities on the Riviera.

What are your development projects in this field for the Cannes-Mandelieu airport?

With this logic for favoring settled business aviation, we will build aeronautical hangars, administrative buildings, and we will propose to these customers a whole series of top-of-the-range services adapted to their needs. All this has been planned with the respect of our residents who gave their approval for the realization of these projects. In addition, we imposed specifications for constructions known as HQE (Haute Qualité Environnementale, High Environmental Quality) to the architects. It is essential that the development of the airport is done not only from the point of view of quality of customer service, but also with respect for quality of life and the environment of its residents.

What are these projects?

Two office spaces of 4,000 square meters will make it possible to accommodate a pole for training in air-related jobs and a “simulation and virtual pilot training” area. Moreover, three aeronautical hangars as well as two commercial ones, dedicated to business aviation, will be built. Everything is thus ready for the creation of an aeronautical pole at the very best European level.

Interview with Pascal Ravel

From its original starting point Anvers, Flying Group has become the main private and corporate aviation company in Benelux. At the same time, the Group has opened up on foreign countries and especially in France where major investments have been made on two chosen sites. At the Cannes-Mandelieu airport, with a 3 million euros investment, the project of a new hangar and offices is finished. At the Bourget airport, a VIP terminal is already operational, and a large hangar of nearly 5,300 m2 in currently under construction. A graduate from the "Ecole Nationale d'Aviation Civile", Pascal Ravel, General Manager of the Flying Group France is in charge of the development of the company's activity in France, based on the 2 key sites of the corporate aviation in France.

How is Cannes-Mandelieu set up?

How do you plan to attract your customers?

"We evaluate our customers' needs, we offer a custom-made service within human reach to better handle their time. With the freedom that a private jet has to offer to handle travelling where and when they want for fast action."

Why a private jet?

"The main benefit is a gain of time and productivity which makes it a necessary tool. It changes our life and makes travelling easier in total security and safety."

You offer co-ownership too?

"It is a revolutionary concept because it lets the customer have all the advantages of being an owner without any of the downsides. For example, after knowing their needs we suggest for them to buy a share of a private jet that fits the number of flying days necessary to match his need and budget. It has three advantages, financial (lower investment, flat managing charges, flexible cost for certain operational charges, guarantee of liquidity of the investment…), fiscal (in a few countries), and related to the management (skilled pilots, plane maintenance by the manufacturer, monitoring of procedures, flexibility…)."

What is your current fleet?

"The fleet currently has 1 Cessna Citation Jet, 3 Cessna Citation Bravo, 3 Cessna Citation Excel, 2 Cessna Citation X, 1 Challenger 604, 1 Falcon 900 C, 1 Falcon 900 DX and 1 Falcon 900 Ex Easy while 2 new Citation Jet will join the fleet by summer, one Falcon 2000Ex Easy by September. Next year will see the arrival of the best machines of the corporate aviation market, the Citation Mustang (Flying Group ordered 3), a Very Light Jet, and the Falcon 7X (Flying Group also ordered 3), Jet with a large cabin and a large autonomy with top technology."

The waterfall effect is totally appropriate for the impact while the right niche was found by the "very light jet" for an expanding Flying Group.